Should Google Get Into the Phone Biz?
By Harry McCracken | Monday, January 4, 2010 at 9:20 pm
This seems to be the last evening we can ruminate on Google’s Nexus One phone without knowing everything there is to know about it. So I asked my Twitter pals “Do you think Google should get into the phone biz? Why or why not?” Read their thoughts, then add your own–and please join me tomrorow at 10am PT for live coverage of Google’s phone event.
@lsCool
nope. Google should stick with what it knows, software. Hardware is a whole other biz.
@andrewbrust
I don't think Google really wants in to phone biz. GOOG just wants to produce Android phone that sets high std for partners.
@andrewbrust
And I think MS should have done the same long ago. HTC does better with a spec than on their own, ya know?
@reneritchie
No, Apple wants hardware profit, Google wants eyeball profit. They want every phone, and make OS just to hedge lockout.
@harrymccracken
While I would love to see more competition, Google isn't the right company for the job. Let's see a Coby phone already! =)
@LawrenceH
It's all about portable Internet now, being able to talk over it is just a bonus. That's right in Googles wheelhouse.
@jumpseatnews
Heavens no. We're tired of seeing their corporate logo feces everywhere. G$ was M$ for the 2000's and becoming passe
@jXa
Google shld - jst long enuf 2 allow phone dsgrs to target end usr rather than restrictive carrier rqsts. result =Innovation
@tomforemski
GOOG doesn't need to be in the phone business unless it has a telco business, which is something it needs to do.
@aarongeek
yes, when google does something, they do it well (usually); and, more competition typically yields better products/services
@mikeho
GOOG should NOT get into the phone biz... They have zero experience at customer service. (promoting Android is OK, tho)
@ryenyc
It's the fastest way to customize their platform (Android) into a mobile-ad ecosystem. No one else will do that for them.
@erinbiba
Google is the opposite of a hardware company. And isn't the cell phone market crowded enough already? I'm underwhelmed...
@SeanBrunett
If Google can make the phone biz as efficient and productive as most of their services, I say yes.
@SeanBrunett
Telecom companies need to be shaken up to produce fairer and better products to consumers and Google can do that
@harrymccracken
Re: google in phone biz. well, maybe a simplistic answer, but, why not? competition is good!
@williamgarrity
If you think of it as the 'mobility biz,' definitely. All signs point to the future being ubiquitous and mobile.
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January 4th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
What will be interesting is if Google can break the subsidized business model of the U.S. carriers by selling a Nexus for $529 when the consumer can get it from T-Mobile or a virtually identical HTC Hero from Sprint for under $200. Will freedom from a two-year carrier contract be worth swallowing that big hardware bill upfront? We’ll see.
January 5th, 2010 at 6:23 am
Nobody should get into the phone biz. If you can extend the range of Wifi, the phone biz could simply disappear, with Skype and all to fill the gap. Then we could just lock the Verizon and ATT spokesdudes in a room and let them duke it out over who’s got the mariginally cr*ppier network without the rest of us having to listen.
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