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No Verizon Partnership For Google's Nexus One
starglider29a writes with news that Google and Verizon Wireless have abandoned plans for a partnership that would bring the Nexus One to the carrier's network. "Without a Verizon partnership, Google loses access to the carrier's more than 90 million customers, potentially blocking the phone from gaining more widespread popularity. The breakdown of the deal signals Verizon may view Google as a competitor rather than a partner when it comes to Nexus One sales, which are probably at less than half a million since the phone's January debut, said BGC Partners's Colin Gillis." A Google spokesman said, "We won't be selling a Nexus One with Verizon and this is a reflection of the amazing innovation happening across the open Android ecosystem." In a brief blog post, Google recommends a similar, Android-based phone from HTC for customers who want Verizon service.
Can you please enlighten me as to the great number of technical ways the Nexus is better? A better screen? Oh wait, no, that goes to the Droid. Better touch screen interface? Nope, the Nexus has be notorious with its issues... A GPU? Oh no, that's the Droid too. Better 3g connectivity? Oh wait, isn't the Nexus 1 having major 3G issues? Better WiFi? Oh wait, no, the Nexus 1 never actually got 802.11n... Battery Life? Kinda, the Nexus has 30 minutes more talk time, but the Droid has 20 hours more standby. Price? Oh no, that's right, you can find the Droid for $99... Oh I know, Android 2.1? Nope...
There are only 2 things that you can argue that the Nexus is better than the Droid at. CPU speed, and Network. In every other realm, they are at best tied and at worst the Droid edges out the winner...
If a man isn't willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he's no good
I don't think the success or failure of the effort depends really depends on how many Nexus One phones get sold. Google isn't trying to compete with Apple as a phone manufacturer, they are trying to prevent any one company -- whether its Apple, RIM, or anyone else -- completely dominating the smartphone market, because that's what keeps open, web-based services (like Google's) important for the smartphone platform, whereas if any single proprietary system dominated smartphones, that system's owner would be able to serve as a gatekeeper to services available on the platform, and that is a threat to Google's fundamental business model.
A number of Google offerings (notably, Android, Chrome browser, Chrome OS) aren't intended to dominate markets, they are intended to disrupt and prevent market dominance of closed platforms in their respective market. The Nexus One exists as part of that strategy for Android, and as long as it is drawing attention and serving as a tool to promote Android (even if most of the actual sales end up going to other Android phones), its working.