The Google Phone….At What Cost? [POLL]

By on December 14, 2009 in Android

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Google Phone will initially sell unsubsidized:

The phone, called Nexus One, was designed inside Google and will be sold, at least initially, without being subsidized by a wireless partner.

Initially, I was excited. According to initial reports, the Nexus One supposedly had not only Quad-Band GSM connectivity, but also had AT&T-compatible 3G connectivity. I thought I’d finally be able to use an Android device without breaking my AT&T contract! However, there’s the catch. As it turns out, the phone may only have T-Mobile’s 3G frequency access. Oh, Federal Communications Commission, why are you such a tease?

Wait a minute, a phone sold at a high unsubsidized price, but will only work on one carrier? That sounds familiar. To me, it seems that without AT&T compatibility, they’re going to lose a lot of customers. Not because AT&T is great, it’s not. But because Google’s only including one carrier for the US, and it’s the most Android-laden carrier out there. If you’ve got to switch to T-Mobile, you currently have 4 choices for Android: the G1, the MyTouch 3G, the Cliq, and the Samsung Behold II, and all of them cost less than $250. So, go ahead and vote. How much would you pay for the Google Phone, if you can only use it on T-Mobile?

About Ryan Trevisol

Background: I was born, raised, and live in South Florida. I have a Bachelor in Management Information Systems from FAU, and work as a Computer Tech. I also make custom electric guitars with my father, and do some freelance web design work. Interests: I use mobile technology every day. The only way to stay on top of my crazy life is to keep all the aspects of my life under control is to keep everything recorded, organized, and reminding me digitally.
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  • http://www.dumpsterventures.com/wayne Wayne

    Most new high quality phones retail for $500 or $600+ so I don’t expect this would be any different. Subsidization just capitalizes on our built-in irrational thought processes, especially for a carrier like T-Mobile that has the Even More Plus plan with a reduced unlimited data cost with no contract (and thus no subsidies). Over the course of 2 years, even if you only saved $30 a month by switching to Even More Plus or a similar plan, you’ll still save much more than the cost of a $600 phone.

    So then, if it’s hundreds of dollars cheaper to get an unsubsidized $600 phone, why aren’t the people paying $30 to $50 more a month for a subsidized plan in need of professional help?

  • http://www.dumpsterventures.com/wayne Wayne

    Most new high quality phones retail for $500 or $600+ so I don’t expect this would be any different. Subsidization just capitalizes on our built-in irrational thought processes, especially for a carrier like T-Mobile that has the Even More Plus plan with a reduced unlimited data cost with no contract (and thus no subsidies). Over the course of 2 years, even if you only saved $30 a month by switching to Even More Plus or a similar plan, you’ll still save much more than the cost of a $600 phone.

    So then, if it’s hundreds of dollars cheaper to get an unsubsidized $600 phone, why aren’t the people paying $30 to $50 more a month for a subsidized plan in need of professional help?