Google Enters the Cell Phone Market

The release of the highly anticipated Nexus One cell phone marks Google's entry into the cell phone market. It also signifies yet more diversification by the Internet giant as Google markets its brand name and user-friendly philosophy to other technological markets. The marketing tagline used by Google is "Web meets phone". This new gadget certainly lives up to that expectation.

Google has designed this phone to bring the entire Internet experience in a cell phone. The device has a definite feel of software behind it, from the physical design to the look and texture of the operating system and applications that run on it. It may surprise Google fans to know that while Google is responsible for the software, the design and manufacturing credit goes to HTC. HTC built the phone and Google installed the software, resulting in a slim, chic phone.

The first version of the phone was launched on January 5th, 2010 in conjunction with T-Mobile's 3G network. With a subscription to T-Mobile lasting two years, the price for the phone is pretty cheap at only $179. If the user wants the phone to be unlocked, the price jumps to $529, and it works on other networks such as AT&T's EDGE and 2G networks.

Users can buy five phones per Google account. The phone has some great features, such as the ability to voice-guide drivers using GPS signals. The direction program on the phone can be hooked up to the user's car via a port on the phone, making it easy to use the phone as an in-car computer, as well.

Unfortunately, many people reported problems with the phone, such as random re-dialing of phone numbers, connectivity issues with different networks, etc. Most of the problems have been fixed with an upgrade to the Android operating system called Froyo, also known as Android 2.2.

The Nexus One is actually expected to not generate much revenue for Google, apparently due to only half-hearted marketing efforts by subsidiary carriers. The price, however, is much lower than the iPhone, which means this phone is likely to compete with the iPhone for years to come, giving an opportunity to both Google and Apple to strengthen their product base.

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