Google introduces Nexus One: What is it really like?

Google has finally launched the much anticipated Nexus One phone that runs the Android operating system.  With Google’s history of market domination, is their entry into the phone market going to follow foot steps of their entry into the search engine market?

An HTC-built phone has a new tweaked and updated Android interface with a great sleek design but is it really the Google product that the world has been waiting for?

Hardware

• 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB RAM, 32GB-capable microSD slot, a 3.7-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display at 800×480, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720×480 video capture @ 20FPS, dual microphones for noise canceling and a trackball.
• Ultra-thin body
• Sleek curved edges
• Unmistakably and HTC device but there are plenty of design cues that scream Google.

Software

• Runs on Android 2.1
• Cool graphics and animated effects. (I only worry that this may hinder performance and speed but I can not tell just yet)
• Voice recognition that lets you speak into almost all fields.  This means you can dictate text and email messages.
• It’s fas. Partly from the Android 2.1 operating system

Battery Life

• Comparable to other similar devices and so far not complaints on battery life

Cost and Payment plans

• Unlocked for $530 or subsidized, with a T-Mobile contract for $180

The feature set seems impressive and the OS has some great applications and features that make Nexus One a good contender.  Would I trade in my iPhone for this device?  I still prefer the full touch screen capability of my iPhone, its sleek design and the 100,000+ applications that virtually let me do anything I can think of on my iPhone.  I am still waiting for “THAT” device that compels me to switch my iPhone ways.

It is a new year but not just any year we are entering.  We are entering the first year of a new decade and I want to call it the mobile decade.  Anyone that works in the mobile industry is probably nodding their head in agreement and is waiting for the rest of the world to catch on.

With the release of the new Google phone Nexus One, and the many other existing web-enable “smart” devices, there is a shift and change in consumer perception and behaviours with respect to mobile phones.  Consumers are starting to demand more from their mobile devices and their carriers for that matter.  Consumers want information wherever and whenever they need it.  This very rapid change in consumer behaviour is spearheading the mobile industry into a new era.  Similar to the Internet, the mobile world is about to exponentially take off and most of us will be astonished by its rate of growth.

Major changes have started and will continue to take place in the marketing world, media space and commerce arena just to name a few.  Marketing will no longer be in its traditional forms and mobile commerce will drive people to the point of sale or take them away for competitor deals.   Business will need to keep afloat the whirlwind of information to ensure they are still reaching their target consumers.  They will need to change and adopt new business models to maximize the benefits of this new space.

More consumers will rely on their mobiles to find news, information, entertainment and some will even venture to make purchases through their handheld devices. Brands and companies who want to stay on top in this decade will have to ensure that their marketing plans encompass a 360-degree approach that includes mobile advertising on key sites,  mobile-friendly sites and mobile applications to enable two-way communication with their target audience.

Although Mobile marketing will not come at the expense of TV or radio or other older media and mobile commerce may not replace storefronts, businesses will soon discover that mobile media and commerce are as efficient, if not more, in attracting and retaining customers.

Whether your business is currently pursuing mobile initiatives or are just planning to begin,  you have made the choice to get ahead. Enjoy the mobile decade and don’t let the numbers hold you back from getting ahead of the trend.  Start listening and ask your customers, they will tell you.