When a new cell phone handset is first spotted in the wild the techies swoon over it the way scientists do when making a big discovery. At first there is a lot of hype and a lot of wild pontificating about what the new discovery may mean to society, but in the end the reality is often much less exciting. Recently Google confirmed that they are testing their first branded handset, dubbed the Nexus One, by allowing various company employees take it for a spin for testing purposes. Various PC columnists at a number of web sites have already been able to take a look at the Nexus One and to this point all the reviews seem very good. The Nexus One would not really be considered exciting at all were it not for the fact that:
- The Nexus One is rumored to be an unlocked phone, meaning that it can be taken from carrier to carrier simply by swapping out the SIM card inside it.
- It runs on Android, Google's own mobile operating system. This means that the phone will almost certainly take full advantage of all of Androids capabilities that other phones until now have been unable to fully realize.
- It may be sold directly from Google, meaning that no contract (or extension of an existing contract) would be required to use it on your favorite wireless carrier's network.
- The latest improvements to the Android platform bring forward new capabilities and services like free voice navigation features with turn by turn directions that most other carriers charge steep monthly fees for.
In the end only time will tell which of these rumors prove to be true. Google has a long track record of doing everything it puts its mind to (and doing it very well), so these expectations are not far fetched by any means. What could it mean for consumers and for the cell phone market? More choice for one thing, and a solid alternative to the Apple iPhone for those that do not wish to be on AT&T's network. Be on the lookout for the Nexus One to be released to the public sometime in the near future. Until then, enjoy the media circus that is sure to surround it for months to come.
