In an update this morning, Google has implicitly confirmed that the previously announced Nexus One variant for Verizon will be no more, instead suggesting pre-orders for the forthcoming HTC Droid Incredible which features nearly identical or superior specifications to the Nexus One while including HTC’s Sense UI.
While Google has not stated as such, this also places the Sprint variant in doubt, as the CDMA version of the Nexus One was initially developed specifically for Verizon Wireless, with Sprint stating support for the device much later in the development cycle.
Update: Google has released the following statement
We won’t be selling a Nexus One with Verizon, and this is a reflection of the amazing innovation happening across the open Android ecosystem. Verizon Wireless customers who want an Android phone with the power of the Nexus One can get the Droid Incredible by HTC.
Uh, and how exactly is this a confirmation in any way? Google has been recommending the Motorola Droid as an alternative for Verizon customers since the day that the Nexus one was launched. This does not state in any way that the Nexus One won’t be coming to Verizon.
I’ll be the first to admit that it has taken way too long for the Nexus One to come to Sprint and Verizon, and it may not come at all, but this is not even an implicit confirmation, this is just phone bloggers trying to fill up space with rumor and innuendo and no facts. It’s pathetic really.
Google doesn’t have an interest in selling Nexus One on Verizon anymore. The Incredible was developed by HTC alongside Nexus One to be a more powerful device.
I suspect Google’s original plan was to use the Sprint CDMA version of the Nexus One on Verizon, but as initial reaction to the Incredible was positive, Google realized that few, if any people on Verizon would purchase the device.
On Sprint, there’s a clearer case for Nexus One since EVO 4G will be both more expensive, and only really catering to people in 4G markets. Considering 66% of the US population won’t have 4G/WiMAX this year, it makes sense to sell those people a Nexus One instead and save money.
Google! Google!
With “Nexus One” out…what can one do, at SPRINT?
I guess on June 23rd,”Evo” will be distributed nationwide?
ThankYou
with nexus1 out i guess now its only the droid the big non sense ui phone so what it doesnt have the advanced 3d gaming graphics chips n 1ghz nor the greater RAM…. so if u dont like sense ui n looking for something basic less complicated non sense ui U STILL GOT THE DROIDDDD… coz DROID DOESSSS
Who is to say the Nexus One will be cheaper than the Evo? I would be utterly shocked if that were true. Consider the HD2 is cheaper than the NExus One, and runs basilcally the same hardware as the Evo.
Also, the 66% of Americns that don’t have WimAx will still have the same EVDO Rev A in the Evo that the Nexus One runs…
Obviously I don’t know for sure, but I would be kind of surprised if there was a Sprint Nexus One that was cheaper than the Evo.
It’s quite possible that this will kill the Nexus One on Sprint, so let’s not rule out anything at this point.
A similar situation happened at Sony Ericsson. When Verizon backed out of the T606, Sony Ericsson didn’t see CDMA as profitable, and pulled out of the T608 on Sprint.
It could happen that Google will either back out of Nexus One on CDMA, and point people to the EVO 4G and Incredible as their recommended alternatives.
I’ve long suspected that Google intends however to leverage Nexus One as a long-running play, rather than quickly leapfrog it with a “Nexus Two”. I think they are trying to set it as a new baseline for free-with-contract phones, and thus simply keep selling it at lower and lower prices as the phone gets cheaper to manufacturer.
The Nexus One as a “free with contract” would be a pretty awesome deal. I hadn’t thought of that, but you may be on to something there.
Of course, by the time we see that, it may be outdated and obsolete.
I am actually kind of anxious to see the Nexus 2, or whatever they end up calling it. The rumors of it being a Motorola device with a slide out qwerty make it seem nicer to me than all the slab devices HTC is putting out.
So it looks like it’s official now (per the update with Google’s statement) that Google won’t be selling a Nexus One for Verizon.
This could mean Google was lying about making money on the Nexus One and they are cutting their losses.
It could also mean Verizon refused to give them the green light.
Or it could mean HTC caught them off guard when they made the Incredible.
Either way, it’s pretty weird for them to say the Nexus One is so successful, announce a version for the largest carrier in the USA, and then later cancel that version because the manufacturer of the Nexus One released a similar phone on the same carrier…
@SaltyDawg
“The rumors of it being a Motorola device with a slide out qwerty make it seem nicer to me than all the slab devices HTC is putting out.”
I could not agree more, always admired the MOTO design, however the “OS” never matched the aesthetics, but with “Android”, it can be a game changer.
As an example, the “Devour”, has an Applesque Laptop look and quality feel, consider a superior spec update and it could easily make it a formidable device over any Samsung Moment, or for that matter any current quality HTC keyboard unit.
http://www.mobiledia.com/phones/motorola/devour.html
Thank You
As far as Sprint, it will have the HTC EVO which is both 3G and 4G compatible you could use it in any market. Having the nexus is pointless when the price of the EVO is slated to be around the $200 mark and offers a lot more bang for the buck. Nuff said.
Google wouldn’t mind if Android 2.1 with a 1 GHz Snapdragon seemed “cheap and outdated” as a $0 no-contract phone. They know one of the toughest parts of getting into mobile user’s marketplace is the continued pace of feature phones. They want feature phones to die.
Keeping an old, outdated Nexus One around for $0 with contract, and supplying it with Android firmware updates, would be a huge win for Google. They have no problem shaping the Android roadmap so that’s viable for them to do.
Well on the topic of feature phones, it’s probably only a matter of time before they are all running Android anyway.
Android is free, so why wouldn’t anyone want their feature phone to run Android?
Carriers are starting to treat feature phones like smartphones anyway, with higher data plans, so why not?
Microsoft, for being as stupid as they have been in regards to Win Phone 7, actually saw this coming. Their Kin phones are nothing but feature phones running Win Phone 7. And it’s probbaly been something they planned for a while- since they bought Danger specifically to make low cost feature phones running Windows Mobile.
To me though, it just seems like if some company wanted to make a low cost feature phone, Android being free would be the way to go.
@ Chris
“Keeping an old, outdated Nexus One around for $0 with contract, and supplying it with Android firmware updates”,
…a concept MS could never grasp, this will assist GOOGLE enhance it’s footprint for the masses, hence possibly ascertain the number one spot in the mobile industry even sooner.
On a different subject, I visited a Socal Radio Shack and was informed that the “Hero” if purchased at $479 +tax, it can be activated without a change in plan:
“disregard the contractual requirement and keep using your plan”!
Also could one have SPRINT flash any VZW Android and use it with a none EP ?
Thank You
F1,
Sorry, but your hopes of bypassing the Everything Plan requirement are incorrect.
The terminology from Radio Shack simply means that the contract date will not be reset if you pay the full retail price. It does not bypass the Everything Plan requirement, you will not be able to activate the Hero on an older or incompatible plan.
While Sprint did agree in a 2007 settlement to allow Verizon and other foreign ESNs to be activated on their network, they have failed to implement this part of the settlement. Considering the attorneys in that class action were paid long ago, there isn’t any motivation on their part to hold Sprint to account for that part of the agreement.
As such, while Sprint promised to allow third party devices, it would likely take another class action lawsuit, with limited potential gains for an attorney, to enforce it. As such, I don’t see it happening any time soon. Sprint seems content with waiting for 4G via Clearwire to allow for an open network. And, even there, we’re seeing signs of resistance with WiMAX MEIDs from third-party providers.
Finally, as I have said in the past, while Sprint may allow Nexus One to be sold direct from Google onto their network… Sprint will likely enforce the same Everything Plan requirement on MEIDs of all Nexus One devices as part of the agreement. As such, grandfathered plan holders shouldn’t be waiting with baited breath for the Nexus One to be their next device.
SaltyDawg,
Google’s fear is that OEMs will create scaled/watered-down versions of Android and/or Symbian for feature phones. Much like Dell Aero, these will be locked-down versions of Android that lock out open apps, as well as Google’s lucrative features (search, etc).
Google wants to make sure that the baseline of Android phones, as well as the vanguard of superphones, both are open and free. OEMs want to push customers into higher-end phones for those capabilities. They want to cripple their lower-end phones (even if they run Android) so that people are forced to buy more expensive phones.
Even if an OEM doesn’t have an auxiliary revenue stream from crippling Android on their feature phones, it benefits them to do so in order to highlight their mid-range and high-end devices.
As such, that’s all the more reason why I think Nexus One will (or at least, should) stay around for the long haul. That way, Google can pressure OEMs to make their cheap, free-with-contract phones both open and powerful.
Its true about not being able to activate a hero on an “older plan” or any plan other than an everything plan. But I hate it when they say on on an “incompatible” plan. For example, the Sero plan. That plan is just as good as an everything plan and will work for the hero if sprint allowed it. I hate it when they say “incompatible”. Are they telling me then that the data on an everything plan is different from the data on on another plan? GIVE ME A BREAK.
I know you will never be able to get any android or webos phone on sero or other unlimited data plan other than everything but it still ticks me off. Oh well. What can you do. Sprint will just use the same line over and over “We are still cheaper than anyone else”.
For those who don’t want to give up their old unlimited data plans just remember that windows phone 7 will work with your phones and maybe just maybe microsoft will come out with a good OS finally. If not then android will have a lot of new customers and sprint will be getting a lot of extra money.
Windows Phone 7 sucks, so don’t even bother waiting for it. Maybe they can make it decent in a future version or an update or something, who knows. But the version that is getting released this year totally sucks.
Why does anyone care of the Nexus One was killed on Verizon, I say good riddance! I will NEVER buy anything that Google directly sells after seeing what level of support they gave with the Nexus One. If you buy the phone from the carrier THEY will support it and the support gets even better providing you have insurance. After 2 or 3 claims Asurion will give you a different phone at request. Google screwed over the T-Mobile people by releasing a crap phone that “had potential” on a crap network. I think this may have been one of the reasons Verizon decided to pass on the Nexus One just like the passed on the original iPhone. The carrier should be able to sell “in house” any phone that they provide service to. The only reason that Verizon wants the iPhone now is because Apple has proven itself and has a profitable fan base. Google already dropped the ball in the first quarter showing the world while the Android OS itself is great and still worth the time to develop, Google has failed in providing reliable hardware that works.
Google should just stick with making the OS’s and leave it to the big boys to make the hardware.
The big boys DID make the hardware, the Nexus One is made by HTC…
I know that HTC fabricated the device, however it’s who created the schematics that I blame here. Did Google just tell HTC to make them a phone anyway you want or did Google say manufacture the phone by using these designs blueprints…I was under the impression that Google created the schematics and handed them to HTC to fabricate, in this case it’s not up to HTC to say, “Oh wait your did it wrong!” The same thing goes to whoever creates the iPhone, Apple hands a manufacture a schematic and leaves it to them to fabricate the phone. If the phone is made the way the schematics dictates and within the acceptable tolerances of the electronics then the manufacture isn’t to blame here if faults occur, it’s who created the schematics.
If someone can find the patents of the Nexus One to see who owns the design technology–Google or HTC, I’d back off of Google.
Does this get my point better across?
I don;t know if Google told HTC what they wanted or not. I kind of thought HTC had a phone (or group of phones), and Google said, “We want that one.”
I’m pretty sure this is what happened with Motorola and the Nexus 2 as well.
If Google really did give HTC the schematics and all that, and then HTC turned around and made a very similar device, and got Verizon to carry their similar device- causing the demise of the Verizon Nexus One, then HTC is into some pretty shady practices.
I don’t know if this sheds more light on this but if HTC gave Google a selection of phones to look through and approve so that it can be called the Nexus One, can Google copyright HTC’s internal designs?
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/googles-nexus-one-trademark-denied-2010-03-17
Does this mean that Google is trying to copyright a name and the phones frame or the entire phone including the technology inside as well???
I just spoke to a SPRINT “activation hotline supervisor”, and posed the following questions:
1.Why the inconsistency at Best Buy & Radio Shack vs SPRINT, why regardless of paying the full retail price for a device, it will not work without an E.P.?
2.Why is it that “a 2007 settlement to allow Verizon and other foreign ESNs to be activated on their network, they have failed to implement this part of the settlement.”?
3.Why would the SPRINT store not allow one to have the OS swapped at will, i.e Palm Pro 850 w/MS 6.1 to ANDROID, despite Tier II requesting it by noting the account!
4.When will Los Angeles be on the “4G” map, why advertise “4G” on nationwide media networks and yet only be available in 28 markets?
5.Confirming “summer release of EVO” and availability via the hotline nationwide for all to purchase, however not certain regarding actual “Nationwide retail” release as of yet.
I have been promised an “email” reply, once the proper “research has been conducted”, at that point I will post it for all to see.
No matter what the outcome, I will no longer consider the purchase of any MS product,even if it means to have to give up my plan, I am disgusted with MS policies and substandard products.
Thank You
@Chris
“…if you pay the full retail price. It does not bypass the Everything Plan requirement, you will not be able to activate the Hero on an older or incompatible plan.”
Sadly, that was exactly what I was told yesterday by an experienced Radio Shack employee and also six months ago by a Best Buy Mobile manager,hence my call to SPRINT,I wanted a straight answer “from the horses mouth”!
Thank you for your above response!
@ Why Why Why????
That Patent filed by Google (and rejected) was for the name, not the Schematics and design of the Nexus One.
Just to clarify!
I meant to say that BB & RS both had indeed said that paying in full will in fact set you free of plan change!
Thank You
F1, you should know better by now, that policy hasn’t changed since the Instinct and the only work around is the data only plans. Don’t blame BB, RS or Sprint for you falling for misinformation, you’ve been railing on the plan change requirement for years so you clearly know. Take the phone back and keep using eligible devices or change plans.
@ Don Louie
First off,I have as of yet not made a purchase, I was simply inquiring, researching, maybe even hoping for a possible silent policy change! I am still contemplating the next iPhone vs Android, by July I will have finalized my decision.
Second, it is SPRINT’s job, to represent the product via a uniform fashion to the potential buyers period. The sales channels, Best Buy & Radio Shack need hence to be trained properly, so that it does not result in “falling for misinformation”, otherwise this is exactly what happens.
In closing, just because “that policy hasn’t changed since…” does not mean that it should never change!
Don Louis,even the SPRINT supervisor acknowledged mistakes at various levels including but not limited to sales, tech support….,we all know your personal passion for SPRINT, however constructive criticism only helps the company and by default the consumers.
Thank You
F1, you’re grasping at straws. Have fun with whatever you decice but know your current plan won’t fly with pretty much all smartphones on Sprint. You been campaigning for that super cheap, free perk plan to work for over a year, all I’m saying is you know better because as you,said no Sprint rep told you differently.
@ Don Louie
“,,,super cheap, free perk plan” ??
Last time I checked:
Hero full retail @ $479 plus 9.75 % tax, about $530,
plus $50 x 24 months=$1200 for the service,
A grand total of about=$1730
Or I could go the E.P. way:
Subsidized Hero @ $49 + $50 tax =$99
$70- 20%=>$56 x 24=$ 1344 for the service,
A grand total of =$1443
Well, let us take a closer look:
$1730-$1443=>$287 more, for my “super cheap, free perk plan” !
You see Don,I know you mean well, however, with all due respect, you missed my key point, which is the freedom of choice for the consumer, on hardware and plans,
I am willing to pay more, so that I can keep my freedom of choice and remain contract free.
Consider, that SPRINT, with one revision of the current policy, could make tens of millions of customers happy, and generate some seriously needed cash.
Holding on too tight, seldom does any good,
that goes for any kind of relationship, it just alienates both parties !
Thank You
I didn’t miss the point, you have been blasting Sprint and the plans for a while, my point is you know better regardless of of what 3rd party misinformation you get. Full price for the phone or not is no different than vzw subs who don’t want data on their 3G MM phones. I don’t remember where or what story you detailed your current plan but I do remember when you did I advised you of EREP or to keep your discounts with E plans, pay slightly more and you’ll be able to buy full price phone. That way you can stay out of contract to move to vzw for their iphone without penalty of an ETF. We are going into the 3rd year of these plans with more phones added all the time, Sprint or any other carrier for that matter isn’t Burger King. You can’t have it your way
With the coming of 4G on SPRINT, they will most likely revise the E.P. campaign. VZW iPhone release is not a certainty, furthermore by July we will have a better understanding as to how many versions of the iPhone there will be!
In regards to E.P. discounts in conjunction with a plan change & off contract status, I am not so certain if SPRINT is open to that.
Once the economy improves, I will consider a secondary (GSM) carrier, most likely an enhanced Tmobile, that would alleviate the stress of dependency on a single system.
Thank You