Engadget: Google’s Nexus One smartphone to be available by invitation only
Going by Engadget’s December 23 reports, citing an ‘inside’ source, the Android 2.1-based Google Nexus One smartphone, which will be launched sometime next year, will be available by invitation only.
Google has thus far relied on other companies, like HTC, Samsung or Motorola, to provide network support and hardware; and the launch of its own high-tech phone, to be manufactured by HTC, will fortify its presence in the mobile telephony arena.
As per a recent Google blog entry, the company is presently allowing some of its employees to test its new mobile phone, which relies chiefly on Google’s online services for mobile internet functions.
The Google Nexus One would likely be sold directly to consumers, with Google intending to omit mobile service providers. Google might allow the consumers to buy its phone and select their carrier over the Web – evidently an attractive value offer for the buyers!
However, saying that Google’s ‘invitation-only’ strategy for the device is apparently a strange one, Engadget added: “Our tipster doesn't have information on how those invites are going to be determined, other than the fact that it's Google doing the inviting -- if we had to guess, current registered developers are a strong possibility.
Engadget also added: “…but the good news, we suppose, is that T-Mobile will apparently sell the phone directly at some to-be-determined point in the future.”
