Rumors have been flying fast and furious the past month about a true “google Phone” emerging.  What distinguishes this device from the existing crop of Android devices? It will be the first phone sold directly to the public by google sans a wireless provider. (This isn’t entirely true, but more on that in a moment)

The fantasy

We first got whispers in the technosphere of a new Android handset that was making some waves inside of google. After the usual month of excruciating blurrycam spy shots and blog conjecture, some very impressive details came to light.

The gist of the specs we actually care about
1. Thinner than the iPhone
2. Qualcomm 1Ghz Snapdragon processor
3. 3.7 WVGA AMOLED screen
4. 5 Mgpx cam with flash and mechanical autofocus
5. First device with Android OS 2.1

Full specs are now available here

Further speculation hinted that google would bypass the traditional “sell an expensive phone for cheap and make it up in the contract” approach that’s employed with practically every other phone. Sounds good to me.

Well we now know the truth, and a once interesting concept has come crashing down.  I now feel confident I have all the details I need to write this venture off with a shrug and a “meh”.

The reality

The Nexus One will be available in two ways.

You can buy the phone……

1) ….directly from Google without a cellphone contract (unsubsidized) for $530
2) ….through T-Mobile with a 2 year service commitment to them for $180

To me, both ways end up occupying the extremes of the spectrum of failure.

Let’s start with buying the phone directly from Google.

The whole idea (and it’s a great one in theory) is this. How about we sell a phone, independent of a wireless network, and unbound by the accompanying draconian contracts?  This type of crazy thinking could really turn the industry on its ear.  Imagine if I could saunter into an Apple store, buy an iPhone, and then call up wireless provider X and activate it?  Later on, if I decide to switch providers, I can bring the phone along with me to a new wireless company. I’d say that’s a pretty awesome party trick.  The device and the network are seemingly as independent as ever.

Try and guess where I’m going to run with this ball.
(Hint: If I was google, It would involve doing a 180 and sprinting right back to my end zone)

The Nexus One is an extraordinarily advanced device, except for one minor niggling detail. The 3G cell radios in the handset only utilize AWS (Advanced Wireless Spectrum) frequencies! Since there’s only one US carrier that uses those frequencies, T-Mobile, it looks like we have a problem.  (I’m not sure what companies, if any, use AWS in Europe, so I’ll let my fictitious twin “Le Techrantaire” worry about that) ((Come to think of it, El Techrantador has a better ring to it))

Sprint and Verizon use CDMA transmission technology, so no luck there. Your fancy new Nexus One will have all the connectivity of a flower vase on those two networks. So it’s up to the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) boys, AT&T and T-Mobile. Technically the N1 WILL connect to AT&T (via GPRS and EDGE), but since Big Blue doesn’t use AWS 3G (i.e. high speed data) frequencies, there’s really no point in trying. It’s like having a Ferrari with an electronic speed governor set at 30 mph. We now know where the “One” in the name comes from, the ability to reach its full potential on a single network!  Were the google engineers too busy playing ping-pong in their hip offices to reach out to AT&T? Seriously, you couldn’t cram in a few extra frequencies on the handset radio? With the extra frequencies the consumer HAS CHOICE, which I assumed was the PURPOSE of this undertaking.

Blackberry has it’s line of “World Phones” featuring radios that can connect to CDMA AND GSM networks, so don’t give me any “not technically feasible” excuses.

Trying…..to……comprehend….but……am…..unable……..

Alright then, let’s get it from T-Mobile

There’s really not much to say here, so I’ll let an ordered list take over….

Some things I don’t like
1. The early termination fee for the first 120 days is a wallet busting $350
2. There is a single plan available, $79 (+ tax) a month unlimited data & text, but only 500 talk minutes
3. Don’t like the plan? Tough, it’s the only one in town
4. If you have an existing plan (cheaper or more minutes, etc), you HAVE to switch to the above plan to get the N1 (or go buy it unsubsidized for $530 + Tax)

So basically it’s like buying any other phone on T-Mobile, except the ETF is double, and the calling plan options are NON EXISTENT. Sounds like a hell of a deal, where do I sign up?

One last thing
Oh the best part, you can get a TWO LINE ENGRAVING on the back.  LOOKOUT, THE PLAYING FIELD HAS BEEN CHANGED FOREVER!  If you peruse through the _{Terms of Service} you’ll notice that once engraved, it CAN’T be returned.

So a timeless classic like……

Congrats on graduating hun!
Love Mom & Dad

……is going to cost you several hundred bucks.

I’d offer a Caveat emptor to the parents doing rushed, last minute holiday shopping, but I have no doubt they’ll carefully read through the 20 page TOS and uncover this gem in no time flat.

Preliminary Conclusions

The only justification I can come up with for the N1’s existence is that it’s a trial balloon by google to establish sales channels and corporate relationships, or it’s an elaborate proof of concept to help get the unconvinced on board.  Of course what do I know, these guys are flying around in Gulfstream XXXV jets, and I’m still eating Chef Boyardee out of the can.

I’ll keep you apprised of the insanity as it unfolds….