Google Just accidentally, the whole cell phone industry.

[villa1n]

Was going to post this in mobile forums, but the level of epic i feel warrants news thread.

Here’s the price: $199 unlocked in stores. $100 rebate online if you have an active and old Google account. That $100 rebate is either to buy it $99 online from Google’s online phone store, for using on Android Marketplace or for using on any Google Checkout stores. Can also be used for T-Mobile or AT&T pre-paid Data SIM card service at $29 per month, no contracts required.

Google will push full VOIP usage on these, meaning no voice/sms plans needed at any carrier. Voice calls will go through Google Voice on Data SIM cards and will provide unlimited free voice calling. And SMS is replaced by unlimited free Gtalk.

Finally, Google will provide easy roaming data services in other countries. For example, if you go to Europe, you can roam on HSDPA data networks for the same price of 20€ per month, and if you only stay in Europe for a few days you won’t need to pay for the whole month. You may not even need to change the SIM card.

Source!

[Mad1723]

Oooooh, sounds like my next phone if the features are there! Never had any smartphones because of the enormous contracts and stuff, but this could be the phone that changes my mind!

[ecidious]

Holy ! where do I sign up?

[Warboy]

Wow. They did just Acciidentally the whole cell phone industry....

Screw paying 90 dollars a month for unlimited. Welcome 20 dollars a month for unlimited.

[Redsand426]

Can someone explain to a cellphone noob how this would work? Do you need an internet connection to call/text?

[Piotrsama]

Google Just accidentally, the whole cell phone industry.

Accidentally what?

Can someone explain to a cellphone noob how this would work? Do you need an internet connection to call/text?

WiFi, I guess.

[zalbard]

Nice prices, too bad it's for USA only.

[strange|ife]

well im in a new contract with ATT for another year at least left. This is good news though, this is one the cell industry has needed for a LONG time, and will force other players to adapt, or go bankrupt otherwise.

[munim]

Needs wifi across country first.

[villa1n]

Accidentally what?



WiFi, I guess.

<URL censored - some of their random banners contain acts that aren't even legal in all states>


And its no voice sms plan, just a pure data plan, so for example here in canada we have a new phone company, windmobile, 35$ unlimited internet/tethering with a voice plan, ... cheapest voiceplan 15$ a month ^^ so 50$ a month for unlimited everything... for here is crazy cheap! and 99$ for a phone, and all this Sans contract!

[Starscream]

Been reading about the Google phone for a while and that Google gave their employees one to play around with.

But for this price i wonder what the build quality is.
Or is Google losing alot of money per phone?

And i wonder when it will be available in Europe.

[Zigosity]

Holy. .

That's like.. 400$ less than they were expecting for this phone...

If it's available in Canada I'm buying it, no question.

[Redsand426]

Needs wifi across country first.

this

[villa1n]

Holy. .

That's like.. 400$ less than they were expecting for this phone...

If it's available in Canada I'm buying it, no question.

Buy it off ebay/from google directly .. its compatible radio.. tmobile bands = windmobile AWS bands.

[Helmore]

Seems too good to be true to me. So bring it on, I want one .

[randomizer]

If it's available in Australia (probably in Q4 2010 ) I might finally upgrade my Nokia 3310... or I might not.

[aka1nas]

Accidentally what?

WiFi, I guess.

They mentioned something about a data plan from one of the wireless providers still, so that implies that it's using a cellular network.

[Starscream]

If it's available in Australia (probably in Q4 2010 ) I might finally upgrade my Nokia 3310... or I might not.

Lets hope that people in Europe and Australia can buy one from the US store.
At max we would have to pay import tax for a 99 dollar phone.

I do hope Google has a large stock because im shure this thing will sell out fast if its true.

[Manicdan]

i guess if you dont wanna pay anything for a plan, you can still use it as if it was any other phone, as long as your in some wifi range. but they seem to offer a few options for carriers

[thephenom]

Great idea but only if you live in a city with free wifi!

[Manicdan]

i was gonna pay 100$ a month to get wifi for my car, then my cell will work just fine, lol

[ripken204]

im so confused. at first i was all excited, but if you seriously need wifi then this is pure fail.
the phone will be rendered useless when you aren't around free wifi.. which is like 99.9% of the time.

[Zigosity]

im so confused. at first i was all excited, but if you seriously need wifi then this is pure fail.
the phone will be rendered useless when you aren't around free wifi.. which is like 99.9% of the time.

You can still use cell internet ie. 3G\edge can't you...?

[ripken204]

well 3G is not wifi. will this phone support 3G? i assume so..
and if so, does that then mean we need to purchase it from someone (verizon, at&t)?

[villa1n]

im so confused. at first i was all excited, but if you seriously need wifi then this is pure fail.
the phone will be rendered useless when you aren't around free wifi.. which is like 99.9% of the time.

DATA PLAN enables you to use it anywhere there isnt WIFI.. an unlimited dataplan would be necessary if you want to eliminate the the use of sms/voice plan , pretty sure tmobile offers this, in canada windmobile offers this.