SmackDown: Google Nexus vs. the Apple iPhone

Written by: Matt Hartley on 1/01/10  |  Filed Under Mobile  |  Share    

Earlier we shared why Google’s Nexus One is no threat to the iPhone, but there are still strong indicators that the Nexus One could carve out a nice niche for itself regardless. The battle of 2010 will indeed be the Google Phone vs. the iPhone. The real question is if Google’s Apple-like unveiling tactics will be enough to get the Nexus One into the mainstream spotlight? Perhaps Google’s best approach is to continue to partner with other companies to release Android-powered phones, in addition to the Nexus One? If Google has their way, 2010 will be the year they close the gap on Apple once and for all.

What does this mean to you?

Overnight, I see little likelihood of Apple losing ground to Google. Not because of product differences, but because Apple can sell ice to an Eskimo. They are the marketing company that Microsoft used to be and have the sales figures to prove it. Masters of selling overpriced products, Apple is the only company in the world that can take Foxconn’s garbage and turn it into a goldmine.

Google needs to get a better marketing strategy in play before expecting tremendous success with the Nexus One release. And if they would like to get outside of the geek circles, they also better get some movies from Amazon made available as well. Apple kills them in content, too. Not just in apps available. I would gladly trade in my iBrick for an unlocked Nexus One phone free of AT&T that gives me the same functionality as the iPhone. If Google can get their act together with the points above, perhaps this can happen.

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  • Kim
    > I would gladly trade in my iBrick for an unlocked Nexus One phone free
    > of AT&T that gives me the same functionality as the iPhone

    Same functionality as the iphone? There is no such phone.

    But both the iPhone, and the Nexus, can be purchased "unlocked".

    Not sure why I would pay $530 for the Nexus... even unlocked it only lets me use *ONE* other carrier: (awful) AT&T
  • Kim
    > Masters of selling overpriced products, Apple is the only company in the

    I only paid $49 for my refurbished iphone.
    (Others were $19)

    That's "overpriced" for an amazing device like the iphone????

    I paid more than $19 just for the *CHARGER* for my old cell phone.
  • Sean
    I couldn't agree more Matt. Content is King, more specifically...fully integrated, easy and cheap to purchase, and centralized (iTunes) digital media is King. iTunes is already the number one retailer of music in the world, it's a small step to include other forms of content rich multi-media. Google has nothing even close to the ecosystem Apple offers.

    I realize many tech pundents hate Apple's closed system, but that is EXACTLY what the average consumer wants a safe, integrated, easy to use environment that works on all of their Touches and iPhones. I know, I have 3 iPhones and 5 Touches in my house and we just love it. The fragmentation of the Google environment will atract plenty of geeks and tech heads, but little else. The average consumer wont want the disjointed experience, it reminds them too much of the troubles of Windows.
  • @Sean: I concur. However, I would caution you to consider Google fragmented. They really aren't. If you look at Android, the ability for you to sync your contacts, emails and calendar items just by entering your email address is amazing. They are solving a major pain point. Every time I used to switch to a new phone, it would be a pain for me to transfer all my data, not only does Android puts it in the cloud, but it's just an email address away from syncing to any device. Google integration with the iPhone, or the ability to backup data using iTunes is spectacular as well. RIM is horrible with this. They are so clumsy.

    I also agree with you on a seamless experience. A lot of people will come out of the woods and claim all sorts of things, but the fact of the matter is - mainstream consumers don't have the time, the desire or the patience to learn new technology. They just want to get something that has proven to work.
  • Abdul
    Im a At&t wireless customer and I hope this phone comes to At&t.
  • @Abdul: Rumor has it, it will. Our story on that going up shortly. :)
  • lrd
    GH-

    Apple wasn't make making a me too clunky product-- a la Google.

    Apple leaped frogged all the smartphone makers with an entirely new platform.
  • lrd: I get that, but just because Apple has a sleek product doesn't mean no one else can come up with anything that's just as good. Also, don't forget there's a different target market for everything. I, for instance, used to love the Blackberry, but I moved away from that platform because it stopped being fun after I used the iPhone. Blackberries are sleek products.
  • Al
    Google is providing the underlying OS and helping with the UI layout. Someone else is making the hardware and the carrier is regulating the features. Sound familiar? It's Symbian and Windows Mobile all over again.

    Google's Android OS is not really competing with the iPhone, it's taking market share from Windows Mobile and Symbian. Apple and RIM make the whole widget and control almost everything. Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian can't compete with that.
  • @Al: So true. I completely agree. That's the big picture that everyone needs to understand. Android isn't necessarily competing against Apple, and you can't really measure success with the number of handsets sold. If Apple has a 3G and 3GS on the market, that's only two handsets for the entire platform. With Android, we are going to have 30, maybe more, handsets by the end of 2010. Just by sheer numbers, Android ends up winning, but is it really a win? Platform control could work in your favor or against you. Apple loosened up a little and gave control of the device to developers, and look at them now. They are crushing it. On the other hand, RIM, while still winning, is having issues because of such a locked down platform. If, as a company, you know how to deliver on a closed platform, which Apple certainly knows how to, you are going to deliver a better user experience hands down.
  • @RattyUK - Don't drink myself, so perhaps I was lacking there? ;)
  • lrd
    Here's the way I look at it:

    iPhones = 30 million ( plus another 20 million iPOD touches

    Nexus One = zero or nada or ( 1/Nexus One = infinity )

    Good luck Google!
  • @lrd: By that estimate, Apple should've never dabbled into the market because RIM was already selling millions of Blackberries before that. Not a good argument. But yes, just like any new entrant, Google needs all the luck it can muster to be successful.
  • rattyuk
    Gosh, you seem a little upset, perhaps you had too much to drink last night?
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