Tue 5th of January, filed under Mobile Marketing
Google is expected to launch its first smartphone today, ending months of feverish speculation.
The search engine giant has invited journalists from across the globe to its headquarters in Silicon Valley, where it is thought the Nexus One will be formally unveiled. In early 2009, rumours surfaced that Google was secretly working alongside Taiwanese manufacturer HTC to create a so-called ‘iPhone killer’. Although the company has always maintained silence in public, it quietly distributed prototypes to thousands of Google employees in the run-up to Christmas.
The Nexus One will see Google go head to head with established rivals such as Apple, Microsoft and Nokia in the rapidly expanding smartphone sector. Unconfirmed reports suggest it will feature a 3.7-inch touchscreen display and a 5-megapixel camera, while the unlocked price tag is expected to be around £330.
Google has been investing heavily in phones recently. In November 2009, the company acquired mobile marketing specialist AdMob in a stock transaction worth £469 million. The purchase gave it a strong foothold in the mobile display sector, prompting speculation that it is trying to dominate phone advertising in the same way that it dominates online advertising.
Meanwhile, its free Android mobile operating system is now used by many handsets, including the T-Mobile G1 and the Motorola Droid. Indeed, today’s formal press invitation hints that Google will continue to expand its mobile presence.
“With the launch of the first Android-powered device just over a year ago, we’ve seen how a powerful, open platform can spur mobile product innovation,” the invite explained. “And this is just the beginning of what’s possible.”
Posted by Richard Frost
