Nexus One - the less we know the better
It’s been barely a week since the long rumoured Google Phone made it’s first public appearance via Twitter. , and of course have since been awash with speculation over the phone’s capabilities, carrier compatibility, and how Google plans to market and sell it. All this in spite of the only official word from Google being a which merely hints at the existence of the device.
Whether or not this might be a deliberate tactic by Google, designed to fuel interest in the new phone, it seems that rumour is more powerful than truth, and that knowing just some of the facts is far more intriguing than knowing them all. Until Google comes up with an official announcement we can be sure that details will continue to leak, journalist will continue to generate copy, and bloggers will continue to project their vision of the perfect smartphone onto the phantom machine.
What’s interesting about this is not who might end up being right or wrong in their predictions. Sure, there’s been wild speculation and some clearly sensationalist ideas, and also on the other hand some fairly balanced analysis. What’s interesting is that it’s clear that it’s possible to imagine a phone that’s better than anything else that currently exists. And that there’s huge demand for it. It’s clear that many are frustrated with existing subscription models and data plans, fixed-term contracts and poorly designed phones, and can imagine something better. Whether this something better turns out to be the Nexus One or not remains to be seen, but the potential has been well illustrated this week.
It’s clearly significant that it’s Google who is behind this phone, because they’re a large enough player to make a real difference in the market. They have the track-record and the potential to redefine existing boundaries in innovative ways and much of the speculation this week testifies to the belief that Google could be in a position to do this. The real story this week, expressed through speculation and comment on the Nexus One across the internet, is the hope for greater freedom and choice in the mobile arena. Let’s hope that the Nexus One is a step in that direction.