Nexus: Google’s Link Into Hardware

Was it any surprise that after the success of its Android 2.0 Mobile OS, Google would want to brand its own Android 2.0 based phone? They certainly are with the new Google Nexus. The phone will be manufactured by HTC but hardware design is mainly in Google’s hand. Many are excited to see if this offering from Google can stand up to its other competitors. It is hoped upon that the Nexus will surpass the Motorola DROID and stand toe-to-toe with Apple’s newest offering which is sure to be announced in January, 2010.

The Nexus will feature a 3.7” WVGA  AMOULED touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, expandable storage by way of Micro SD, a 5MP camera with flash is capable of using 3G networks. The phone will run Android 2.0 2.1 which comes with animated home screens, 3D elements, new grid layout and slew of other really cool features. With the inclusion of GPS you can definitely expect to see support for a slew of Google apps including Maps Navigation and visual search engine.

The Nexus appears to have all the perks one would find in an Android 2.0 phone, such as an overall faster operation system, contact integration with social networks such as Facebook, multiple e-mail accounts with Exchange support, searchable text and multimedia messaging, widgets, and the “Car Home” app, which offers larger shortcuts for functions you might need while driving, as well as easy access to voice control. The phone will be sold online by Google, and in theory, this means the phone will be sold unlocked and can be used with almost any carrier. The major problem with the Nexus is that it’s not officially released yet but is rumoured to come out Q1 of 2010 in the US.

Of course with no release date comes no pricing information. At a glance it appears the phone will be let into the wild by T-Mobile, but again, with the hardware design and Google’s wanting to sell the phone online on its own, it appears that the Nexus will be equipped to handle any mobile phone network. With the current positive showing of Android 2.0 phones, it would seem that Google should be able to design a phone that would rival even the iPhone. However only time with tell that tale.