Google Nexus Rumored To Cost $530 Or $180 w/Plan

wkurzius writes "The new Google phone, the Nexus One, is rumored to cost $530 unlocked and will work on any GSM network. A subsidized version is also available for $180 and will get you a T-Mobile Even More Individual 500 Plan for 2-years with a $350 termination fee. Access to the phone is supposed to be invite only at first, with January 5th being the supposed release date."

Comments

Re:Expected price

[mjwx]

In Denmark, an unlocked HTC Hero costs ~620 USD. (including the Danish 25% VAT). Most people I know (myself included) buy phones unlocked (because my (current/prefered) phone company don't sell phones - but I like their simple "~10 USD/month for up to 1GB" data plan).

Using the "US to Danish price" conversion (multiply by 1.25, add some) it will cost around 670-700 USD in Denmark (of course payed in DKK).

The price does not surprise me. I am planning to replace my phone ½ year from now (then my current phone will have survived 2+ years). It will probably be an Android based, in that price range.

For comparison, in Denmark, an iPhone (unlocked 3GS/32GB) costs ~1100 USD.

Same story here in Australia, except jack those prices up another 20%.

USian's don't buy unlocked phones, the carriers there have a stranglehold on the market. Also its not easy to buy unlocked phones as the carriers do not use a common frequency (T-mobile is GSM 2100 and 1700, AT&T is GSM 1900 and Verizon uses CDMA, IIRC) so USian's need to pick a carrier before they can pick a phone. Also the carriers have no real need to compete, the US$79 plan they speak of in the article would be an A$50 plan here in AU with either a 500 MB or 1 GB data allowance.

Compare that to AU or EU where carriers share a common frequency (usually 2100 Mhz) and there is a large unlocked phone market.