Google unveiled its HTC-built smartphone the Nexus One Tuesday, ending months of speculation. The phone will run Google’s popular Android operating system and will be sold by Google directly.
The media are in agreement that the phone fails to live up to its hype, but are still talking about what effect the Nexus One could have, and why Google has entered the hardware market.
We’re looking at perspectives from CBS News, CNBC, CNN, ABC, and CNET.
The CBS Early Show demonstrates one of the features of the Nexus One- voice search.
“It does have some enhanced voice search so if you want to search for something you can actually use your voice. Do you want to try that out? Google Harry Smith. It’s searching right now, it’s working, and there you go. Take a look at this. That is very cool. So this is the kind of thing Google wants to get into.”
But an analyst on CNBC says the Google phone won't be that successful, because it can’t compete with Apple’s app store.
“People aren’t buying a phone because it has a cool screen. The reason why people are buying an iPhone or any device for that matter is these apps. And the numbers that Pete was going through, that’s 10 million apps a day are being downloaded for the iPhone. So Google can come out with whatever they want, they have 20,000 apps in their store, Apple has about 125,000. People are doing great things with their phone, and this just doesn’t change the landscape.”
CNN’s Ali Velshi says sure, it’s no iPhone killer, but it will push smartphone technology forward, a win for the consumer.
“...I think what it does is it ups the ante in the smart or the super smartphone world. Remember when the iPhone came out people said it was going to destroy blackberry. Blackberry’s doing better than it ever has before, but even Blackberry’s are better phones than they were before the iPhone, so I suspect iPhones will get better, Blackberry’s will get better...”
On ABC’s "Good Morning America," a reporter says Google is just trying to keep from being left behind.
“For Google, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Think of computer maker IBM getting left in the dust during the software boom, and Microsoft, playing catchup with the Internet. Google is trying to avoid that fate, and they’re squarely going after Apple’s iPhone market.”
The Nexus One is sold by Google directly, and can be purchased for $179 with a T-Mobile contract or unlocked for $529. A writer for CNET says selling an unlocked phone is a small step in the right direction, but is still disappointed.
“I’d like to see Google take over the monthly billing and let its users switch carriers at will... Freeing U.S. consumers from the yokes of the carriers would be the real revolution. Google could do more.”
So will the Nexus One push smartphone technology forward, or will it flop?
Writer: Newsy Staff
Producer: Nathan Giannini
