Once again, the wireless industry rumor mill is working overtime. Unless you’ve been stranded in the wilderness somewhere, or have been on some sort of self-imposed hiatus from the Internet (and really, how long do those last?), you’ve not only heard that Google is releasing its own wireless phone, but that it’s set to launch sometime in January. Not only that, but current rumor has it that the phone will be available through T-Mobile. There’s been talk for quite a while about a Google phone, and it looks like it’s just about here, only with a much cooler name. The Nexus One, seemingly a nod to the replicants in Blade Runner, is causing a lot of buzz across the blogosphere and on Twitter. The T-Mobile rumor does have a little more information to substantiate it, though. Apparently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) just approved the Nexus One to be supported by T-Mobile’s 3G network.
Lately, the Nexus One had been spotted being used with AT&T SIM cards, leading to speculation that the number two carrier in the United States might stage a coup and become the exclusive carrier of one of the most anticipated mobile devices. AT&T already has the iPhone, which has brought the company many more subscribers, but also many more headaches, and is still one of the most sought after wireless devices available.
It would make sense that Google would want its first real foray into the wireless arena to have the support of one of the major wireless carriers. Granted, T-Mobile still falls under that category, but at number four behind Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint, in that order. The next carrier behind T-Mobile is US Cellular which, while still considered a major player, is a regional carrier that hasn’t expanded much beyond the mid-western United States.
An interesting point to keep in mind is the talk floating around about the Nexus One being available as an unlocked device. In order to sell it this way, Google would probably have to sell it directly to consumers, with no middle man, at a price of around $500. T-Mobile, on the other hand, most likely won’t want a device on its network to be sold unlocked. The trade off is, with the standard two-year contract, customers will probably be able to get the Nexus One for around $200 thanks to subsidies provided by the carrier.
The question is, will T-Mobile be able to afford to subsidize the Nexus One if it grows in popularity as quickly as the iPhone did? This may be part of why T-Mobile is seeking a partner to share the cost of a new data-intensive device, and the 3G network expansion the carrier has undertaken this year.
It’s still early, as far as wireless device releases go, and more information will become available in the coming weeks. We’ll keep you posted.
Photo courtesy Engadget
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