The REAL Google phone announced

[Mik]

http://gizmodo.com/5425146/the-real-google-phone-everything-is-different-now?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+gizmodo/full+(Gizmodo)&utm_content=Google+Reader

Buckle up.

Shit is going to get interesting.

 

[Vitamin X]

I think it's interesting, but I've heard rumors that it's going to be VOIP-only phone, using Google Voice as the number.

I do like the concept that this is going to be an entirely unlocked phone, to work on supposedly any carrier, although it remains to be seen if they'd go with GSM (AT&T, T-Mobile) or CDMA (Sprint, Verizon) technology if they did. I don't know if any of you guys remember, but there was a huge auction going on for a bit of wireless spectrum that all the major carriers were bidding for, as well as Google. Google had it all wrapped up, then Verizon came in at the last second and snatched it up with a huge bid.

I'm also really psyched because I can get out of my contract with Sprint next month because they changed the terms & conditions, so when this one comes out, my beloved Pre will most likely go byebye and I'll pick this up, if it's anything as good as the Droid.

 

[Smues]

I think it's interesting, but I've heard rumors that it's going to be VOIP-only phone, using Google Voice as the number.

Well that would kill my interest in it 100%.

 

[Vitamin X]

UPDATES GALORE!

It will be called the Google Phone and will launch in early January, 2010. It won’t be sold by any one carrier, but instead will be an unlocked GSM phone. In the U.S., that means T-Mobile and possibly AT&T, whose exclusivity deal with the iPhone is about to run out. It will be running Android 2.1.

The phone is “really, really fast,” says someone who has seen one in action. It runs on a Snapdragon chip, has a super high-resolution OLED touchscreen, is thinner than the iPhone, has no keyboard, and two mics. The mic on the back of the phone helps eliminate background noise, and it also has a “weirdly” large camera for a phone. And if you don’t like the touchscreen keyboard, a voice-to-text feature is supposed to let you dictate emails and notes by speaking directly into the phone.

WANT.

I don't like the lack of a physical keyboard- one of the things I like the most about the Droid and Pre- but I'll see how it works out. Again, good thing I can wiggle out of my Sprint contract if I want to soon.

 

[Mik]

I'm pretty excited too. I love my iPhone but this is the sort of thing I can get behind.

 

[Vitamin X]

I don't like GSM (less reliable than CDMA from my experience) but I love everything else. If it can be used as a VOIP phone using Google Voice in addition to it being a GSM phone then yes, yes, god fucking yes that would be sweet. That essentially combines the effectiveness of a home landline (more reliable because of your internet connection) with the convenience of a cell phone using GSM. You don't have to waste minutes with your carrier at home because you can rack up talk time with the VOIP functionality- and you don't have to worry about bad cell reception as long as your in-home WiFi is good as well.

That's a verrrry good concept. I just wonder how much Google could've done if they had snatched up that bit of wireless spectrum before Verizon swooped in at the last minute for it.

 

[J]

Well, that looks fucking amazing.

The Droid's keyboard is pretty shitty, in my opinion, VX. Maybe it's because I have super large hands, but I had a lot of trouble using it when I played with it.

I love the phone market. Always so interesting.

 

[Smues]

Any word on a possible price?

 

[Broward83]

your soul.

 

[Smues]

Well as long as there's no service contract...

 

[Vitamin X]

The Droid's keyboard is pretty shitty, in my opinion, VX. Maybe it's because I have super large hands, but I had a lot of trouble using it when I played with it.

If you don't like the Droid's keyboard, you'd HATE the Pre's. That said, I don't trust touchscreen keyboards for some reason, I feel like I typo with them a lot more. And I have fairly average size hands, so I guess YMMV.

I love the phone market. Always so interesting.

Same here. This is basically the electronics revolution that was going on with computers a decade or two ago, and it's cool we get to live through one part of it.

Funny, my smartphone feels more like a Personal Internet Device than a phone. I don't talk to many people so I could do just fine with a landline but when I'm bored or hanging out waiting for something, I just bust open my Pre and mess around on the net.

 

[Vitamin X]

So what, I'm gone for a couple weeks and no one updates on this bad boy?

Ladies and gentlemen, the Nexus One..

Oh be still, my beating heart. I'm saving up money for this guy for later on this year to buy it w/o contract since you actually get a better deal with T-Mobile that way. Check it:

At Google's new web store, where you can shop for Android phones and do live demos of them over the internets to see if you like it. You need a regular Google account and a Google Checkout one to actually buy the phone.

You can buy it today on T-Mobile for $180 with a new 2-year contract. Or you can buy it unlocked, without any service, for $530. Shipping's free.

Also, from the official pricing FAQ, if you're an existing T-Mobile customer, who's adding a data plan, it'll run you $279. If you're upgrading a data plan, it's $379.

The standard plan T-Mobile is offering for $80 a month includes 500 voice minutes, unlimited messaging (SMS and MMS) and unlimited internet.

UPDATE: Reader Ryan points out that if you buy an unlocked Nexus One, you should be able to sign up for a non-contract "Even More Plus" plan from T-Mobile. This offers the same 500 voice minutes, unlimited messaging and unlimited internet as the above contract plan, saving you about $150 in the 24 month long haul.

Oh, and you can get it custom engraved.

And, according to T-Mobile's site, even that's a little wrong since that plan actually offers UNLIMITED voice. The only thing I'm iffy about with this phone is that it's basically for T-Mobile (although the unlocked one could be used for AT&T as well, but motherFUCK THAT), which isn't known for having really consistent or great cellular internet speeds.

 

[bps21]

Meh. I love my Droid. It's the first phone I've ever had that I actually enjoy owning.

 

[NoCalMike]

Phone looks good, but I'm not leaving Sprint. We get a very good price on our service, which is also amazing and employee discounts really help out. We might have to settle for getting a lesser smart phone because of it, but I'm sticking with Sprint.

 

[vivisectvi]

The Droid is supposed to come out in Canada soon, under Telus.. I like the idea that I can use the touch screen or the physical keyboard with that phone (especially in winter when gloves don't work on touch screens).. but the Nexus One is one sweet looking piece of machinery, I'll tell ya whut. I wonder when that one is going to make it across the border...

 

[J]

I read Verizon would get the Nexus One later this year.

I'll be picking that up when it happens.