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Google to sell nexus smartphones, tablets direct, report says by wwy yrj
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Google to sell nexus smartphones, tablets direct, report says by WWY YRJ
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| Article Posted: 11/24/2012 |
| Article Views: 53 |
| Articles Written: 1412 - MORE ARTICLES FROM THIS AUTHOR |
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Google to sell nexus smartphones, tablets direct, report says |
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Business,Business News,Business Opportunities
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Google is reportedly moving to more direct sales of its Androidsmartphones and tablets in an apparent move to wrest control awayfrom wireless carriers that install their own services on Androidgear or block Google apps like Google Wallet. The so-called Nexus devices, using a familiar Google name, will runon the next version of the Android mobile operating system, dubbedJelly Bean, with a portfolio of devices expected to go on sale byThanksgiving. The new direction, first reported by the Wall Street Journal relying on unnamed sources, aligns withvarious reports that indicate Google will work with hardware maker Asustek to launch, possibly in June,a pure Android tablet called Google Play to sell for $200. That device is seen as a way for Google to compete against the $200Kindle Fire from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet , which run on forked versions of Android that lessen user dependency on Google service and apps, analystshave said. According to the unnamed sources in the Journal, Google plans togive multiple mobile device makers early access to new releases ofAndroid, such as Jelly Bean or Android 5.0, and to sell thosedevices directly to consumers.
Google's current practice is to workwith one vendor at a time to produce a lead device before releasingthe latest software to other device makers. The lead devices arethen sold to the public through retailers and wireless carriers. In addition to giving Google more control over the end product, thenew approach is also designed to give Motorola Mobility, which is being acquired by Google , access to Android software at about the same time as othermanufacturers would get it. Google wouldn't comment on the story.
Analysts said the Nexus approach makes more sense than Google'sstrategy thus far. "This is a good thing," said Ken Dulaney, ananalyst at Gartner. "It gives Google a smaller set of phones tolaunch, making it a more focused event, and it assuages fears byOEMs that Motorola will get advantages," he said. Google has wrestled with getting updated software to phones andthrough carriers in a timely manner, Dulaney said, so it's possiblethe Nexus approach will help speed up the process.
"It's reallyunfortunate how slow Google has been to get Android 4.0 on someexisting phones," he said."That can't go on." Jack Gold. analyst with J. Gold Associates, said Google's Nexusidea should allow device makers to infuse more differentiation inAndroid products. By working with multiple vendors, Google can alsoget feedback from vendors before a final release, in hopes ofmaking the product better. One factor that isn't clear, Gold said, is how much Google willcontinue to sell Android phones with U.S.
carrier partners, whichsell them at $200 or more below the cost of selling them unlocked,but also require a two-year service contract. Google recently putthe Galaxy Nexus , considered a pure Android device, on sale on its Web site for$399, double what carriers charge. Verizon Wireless and Sprint sell the Galaxy Nexus for $200 and atwo-year contract, but Verizon doesn't support Google Wallet on thedevice. Rob Enderle, an analyst at Enderle Group, said the success ofGoogle's Nexus concept depends on how smartphone makers respond.
Some of the phone manufacturers may still add innew features and services to the phones other than Android, whileothers could release phones with Android-only code earlier tomarket. "Overall, this is a positive for the Android platform, which hashad more than its fair share of issues coming to market," Enderleadded. Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and otherhandhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matton Twitter at @matthamblen or subscribe to Matt's RSS feed.
His email address is . See more by Matt Hamblen on Computerworld.com. Read more about mobile and wireless in Computerworld's Mobile and Wireless Topic Center. I am Energy Agents writer, reports some information about construction machinery market , sumitomo construction machinery.
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