I don’t like Nexus S being released and here is why.
Yesterday Google announced release of next google experience phone Nexus S. I’m a big fan of google experience phones and I do think that Nexus One was the best device on the market. Do i think that Nexus S is better than Nexus One ? Um, yes and no . Why don’t i like Nexus S ? I do like it as a phone. However, i do believe it’s not gonna sell well enough. And then it doesn’t, next time OEMs show up on device portfolio meetings at the carriers they will have an armor to sell Sense/TouchWiz/Blur and other custom experiences. And if carrier will ask something along the lines “Can we have this one in white and pure google experience?” OEM will argue that - Look do you want to sell phones or no ? Google tried it twice. They both sold really really bad compare to our experience phones. How many Galaxy S we sold - a lot - Nexus S - is a tear drop in the sea. Why ? Because our UI is better and customers are voting with their wallets.
I really do hope that i’m wrong, but it’s is a realistic scenario.
Why do i think Nexus S won’t sell ? Let take a look from consumer and developer point of view.
Consumer :
Nexus S released on the smallest US network, after Thanksgiving. TMobile have very nice portfolio of android phones MyTouch 4G, G2 and Galaxy S. Lots of people did upgraded to phones currently available. I have really big doubts that out of that SMALL customer base that are eligible for upgrade people will be choosing Nexus S. For one it doesn’t support “4G”, so here goes some chunk of customers, then “I need a keyboard” issue - there more people not choosing Nexus S. And some people sadly will prefer touchwiz on Galaxy S. So out of the SMALL number of people ready to upgrade lets say only 30% will go with this phone. That will be generated sales similar to Garmin phone. And it’s not enough.
Ok, but android have huge development community and Nexus S will be flying out from the shelves to those folks right ?
Developer :
If i’m a developer who buys devices on my own budget - i’ll pass. - Chances are that i already own Nexus One/Droid/Desire/Evo. Nexus S just not justifying upgrade with price of 500$.
Yeah, big/medium dev teams will pick it up - but Nexus S is not that different from current devices on the market as Nexus One once was, to make every developer to want one.
And then there is whole issue that not having trackball and SD Card. For consumers its a plus, in my opinion, for dev phone is not. Cause i can’t test those things on the phone.
So i’m hopeful that i’m wrong, but it the same time afraid that Nexus S will cause more damage than bring the good.
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