5 opportunities Google missed with Nexus One

[rpsingh]

It is no secret that Google’s launch of Nexus One phone was less than stellar. Google had so many opportunities to become a game changer in the mobile phone market but missed most of it either because it was in a hurry to launch or just didn’t think hard enough to be different from Apple’s iPhone and others. Here is a list of my Top5 opportunities they missed. Let me know what do you think?

Read more at R. Paul Singh’s Blog

[SteveRyan]

Creating a VOIP only phone sounds like a great idea, but VOIP has limitations. The call quality can vary constantly, and signifigantly more than what we are acustomed to with our current mobile devices.

Switching to VOIP has been turned down by many organizations. Will the call quality be the same? Is it reliable? Unfortunately, it isnt.

Another issue is security. All data is transferred over the web; its open game for anyone.

Interesting perspective on the other missed opportunities. The worldwide launch was close enough for me! With active noise cancellation and the speaker phone, I think a bluetooth free call is very possible while driving down the street.

[Keiran]

I really hate when people post links to their blogs instead of making their point. Here's his blog post.

It is no secret that Google’s launch of Nexus One phone was less than stellar. Google had so many opportunities to become a game changer in the mobile phone market but missed most of it either because it was in a hurry to launch or just didn’t think hard enough to be different from Apple’s iPhone and others. Here is a list of my Top5 opportunities they missed. Let me know what do you think?

1) New Data only Phone – Google was Industry’s only hope for creating a data only phone i.e. a mobile phone that worked exclusively on the data network wherein voice was just a data service running on VOIP (voice over Internet protocol). With Google Voice it had a chance to do so but failed to deliver a new experience and instead chose to just add Google Voice this as another application something Skype has been doing on many phones for a long time.

2) Worldwide Launch – No mobile phone manufacturer, except RIM in a limited way, has ever succeeded in launching a phone globally on the same day. Google came very close with availability on its web site but missed a part of US, China, India and Korea by not having all GSM and CDMA support at the same time.

3) Pricing Model – Google had a great opportunity to create a low price smart phone and break the mobile operator’s hold on multi-year contracts in the western world where mobile phone is subsidized by the operator. It could have subsidized the phone for a while and create a new pricing model. It could have become an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) if that is what it took to pay for the phone. Instead Google did whatever everyone else did but settled on taking smaller margin between itself and its partner HTC.

4) Speech as a New Interface – Google came close but only got to a beta or alpha stage for using Speech as a new interface on Mobile. Another missed opportunity!

5) Getting rid of Bluetooth Headsets – Despite various new styles, very few people like their Bluetooth headset but are forced to use it due to various handsfree driving laws. Google seems to be getting close to eliminating them with a better audio design but wait - it does need a Car Kit that according to Google is still not available. Again in a hurry to launch!

Bottomline, Google missed an opportunity to change the mobile industry and just became a me too player challenging Apple’s iPhone. What do you think?

R. Paul Singh

I fail to see the importance of most of your points (like, why is a worldwide launch important? At best this is a marketing stunt), and you should really try to back up statements such as this -

4) Speech as a New Interface – Google came close but only got to a beta or alpha stage for using Speech as a new interface on Mobile. Another missed opportunity!

Please, explain.

[Jonnei]

Why do people keep complaining about Google not doing enough? If you haven't noticed, good starts with the idea and then gets everyone involved to make it better. Google has already said they are changing how things work with mobile phones, with "baby steps".

[Dream]

Horrible blog imo. Sounds like another iPhone fanboy blog.

[NXS]

RP, hope you stick around and this wasn't just an advert for your blog.

I'll agree with the others on VOIP - in its current form it isn't ready for prime time over the networks that these phones are connecting to. For the folks on dedicated lines and office builds where QoS can be implemented, it's awesome - I just don't think it's the voice line killer yet.

So, no mobile phone manufacturer ever succeeded in launching a phone globally - why are you looking for Google to?

Regarding the pricing model, it's commercialism (if that's the right term) at its finest -- the phone was released with a price point that mirrors other similar, and often less capable, smart phones. They're selling it, obviously, at a price that people are willing to pay for it. I purchased mine unlocked to get out of the continuous two year cycles I've been in.

I'm only on day two with Android/N1, but why is this only alpha/beta stage voice? I've been using mine to search the web, get movie times, and chat with my friends and have no issues (and my girlfriend will attest that I'm quite a mumbler).

Can you backup the claim about bluetooth headsets? With all the manufacturers and all of the styles, are people still not finding something they like? I haven't heard any complaints.

[NXS]

Originally Posted by Dream

Horrible blog imo. Sounds like another iPhone fanboy blog.

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion.

The blog itself isn't really terrible (imo), he does a good job expressing his thoughts and writes pretty well, he just isn't backing them up, providing references, or making a very strong case for his points --- which will make most of us geeks (maybe just speaking for myself), jump all over it.

Now, once the N1 gets a real base, it wont matter how much anyone puts behinds claims like these, the fanboys will come out in droves and no one against them will be heard. It's been true of iPhones, BlackBerry's, and soon for N1's.

[deadwood]

My .02 on VOIP is that you cant rely on VOIP in the WAN market. You think dropped calls are bad on your providers now just think when your in a non 3G market or in that corner office where WLAN signal is horrible.

No thanks ill stick to Cell Tower technology.

[Fuse]

1) New Data only Phone
There are many concerns before this can become commonplace such as bandwidth issues and security. It will be nice to see it one day, but I wasn't expecting it to be this day.

2) Worldwide Launch
Agreed. But when you have what you think is a great product, it's better as business to make some money now than have a moneymaker sit on a shelve somewhere.

3) Pricing Model
Point noted, but blame HTC for this. They have a bigger hand in cost than Google does.

4) Speech as a New Interface
Find me someone who does it better...and I wouldn't goto MS for that example.

5) Getting rid of Bluetooth Headsets
Hurry to launch? Perhaps there is some merit there and I'd love to see your source on that - but I'm not really getting what you mean by this one. So there is no support for BT Headsets? How so? Is it because they didn't include one? If that's the case then think about the after market for BT headsets and how easily available they are. Personally, I have a BT enabled car, so have no need for one. Even if I didn't have it, I wouldn't want a BT headset. I still believe they're a waste and I have a feeling if they did include one you'd complain about the price more.

Bottomline, You're right about this being over-hyped and giving the impression it's a game-changer. But you fail to see this for what it is: an amazing phone among other slower options.

[diablos991]

I believe the importance of this phone lies in the amount of exposure that a multi country unlocked phone will give android.

The more people that get android, the better the apps will become. That is when it will truly trump the iPhone.

I agree that your arguments are rather weak. I am currently selling my iPhone since my N1is on the way today.