Google Stops Selling Its Own Phone

Dave Knott notes that Google has announced it will close its online cell phone store and no longer sell the Nexus One smartphone directly to consumers. "While the global adoption of the Android platform has exceeded our expectations, the web store has not," wrote Andy Rubin, a Google vice president of engineering, on the official company blog. "It's remained a niche channel for early adopters, but it's clear that many customers like a hands-on experience before buying a phone, and they also want a wide range of service plans to chose from." From the Globe and Mail article: "At least one aspect of Google's attempt to disrupt the world of mobile communications — selling phones directly to customers — has failed. ... [T]he decision to design and sell the Nexus One was perhaps more potentially disruptive for carriers. ... Google plans to continue marketing the Nexus One through 'existing retail channels, essentially partnering with carriers around the world. The Nexus One web store, meanwhile, will essentially become a marketing portal 'to showcase a variety of Android phones available globally.'"

Comments

Nice try

[jlechem]

But after looking at buying a Nexus One there were 2 primary options. Bend over and pay full price or bend over to T-Mobile and pay their price and lock in. And they only had two plans that were complete shit. I support as many new phones as possible but this wasn't priced well and the plan options they did offer just plain sucked.

Re:Nice try

[yincrash]

if you pay full price, you could get $20 / month off the t-mobile plans for people who are not on 2 year contracts, that worked out to be less than getting the 2 year plan over 2 years. i think they didn't advertise that well enough.

Re:It never should have sold one in the first plac

[Anonymous Coward]

Bosh. I paid for my Nexus One outright, and I probably wouldn't have even looked at it if I had to stop in at one of the phone stores. Those places are sleazy.

T-Mobile has month-by-month rates. A little more pricy, sure, but you are able to switch carriers at any time. Works for me.

It's unfortunate that Google is throwing in the towel so quickly. They're spending fortunes on ads, right now, they must have the money to spare. I don't think they've considered what they're doing.

But I do love my Android phone. It could stand minor hardware tweaking. The software resources are phenomenal.

Someone needs a history lesson

[cybereal]

I'm not sure which revisionist idiot informed the general OSS/Google fanboy world that selling unlocked phones directly to consumers was somehow innovating. Nokia has been doing this for years. I bought my last Nokia phone, the E70, well before even the iPhone was out directly via Nokia's website. You can still buy many Nokia products this way, including the venerable N900.

The prices may not always be the very best you can find but at least they are a trusted source.

Even More Plus

[tepples]

Wait, what savings do you get over time from going off contract?

Unlike AT&T, T-Mobile has a discount if you buy your phone up front.