Google Nexus One - WTF



Anyone who knows me, or has read this blog, or has overheard me talking about my phone, or seen me wearing my sweet Dork Forest shirt could probably tell you three things, 1- I am into tech, and 2- I use Google for everything, and 3- I love my phone. I literally walk around town talking about Android in general and I have enjoyed watching the contacts in my Google Talk list acquire little android robots next to their names, as I talk them into new Android phones! Well, when I started hearing rumors about Google possibly launching their own phone I was intrigued. Then, shortly after that I started to see spy cam shots of this alleged phone, followed by some video and leaked specs and... wow, it was all I could talk about forweeks (ask my wife, thought she was gonna kill me). Then, Engadget gets one sent to them (in the friggen mail) and today Mashable received one too. Turns out Fred at A VC had one the whole friggen time! I know what your thinking, "well how's yours?" I KNOW! That's what I was thinking too! My phone must be sitting at home in a cute little box just waiting to be unwrapped by me! Guess what? It wasn't. I know, I am sad too, but as I fought back the tears I remembered hearing  the Nexus one phone would also be subsidized for use on T-Mobile (hey, that's my network). So I go to google.com/phone to check out subsidized rates and... WTF?!? 





Here are the rates for the Nexus One (copied from Google's pricing page):



"You can choose to purchase the Nexus One from the Google Phone Webstore without service for $529 USD, or with a qualifying T-Mobile US service plan at a discounted price:


  • Nexus One without service: $529
  • Nexus One with new, 2-year T-Mobile US service plan for new customers: $179
  • Nexus One with new, 2-year T-Mobile US service plan for qualifying existing T-Mobile customers who are adding data plans: $279
  • Nexus One with new, 2-year T-Mobile US service plan for qualifying existing T-Mobile customers who are upgrading their data plans: $379
Please note, the Google Phone Webstore will automatically check your new or upgraded service plan eligibility if you choose to purchase your phone with service. If you have questions about your service plan eligibility, please contact T-Mobile for more information."


OK seems straight forward... wow that plan sucks, but that should not apply to me because I am on a family plan.
Guess what homies... turns out Family Plans don't qualify. Yep, Google hates family. OK, that's totally not true, but seriously WTF? So if I wanted this phone (which I friggen do), then I would need to pay $529 (which I friggen can't).
Son of a bitch Google, this is the first time you have ever made a product, that I wanted, vastly outside of my price range, I do not like where you are going here. I am not completely arguing that $529 for a sweet ass phone is outlandish, but it is to me, and I have already bought two of your other Android phones (G1 & MT3G). Obviously, you've got some extra change, at least enough to throw a handful of these devices out for free... to people who probably could of afforded them at full price (but I get the marketing strategy). i heard once that you want to be revolutionary, to be ground breaking. Why not make a pony that breathes fire (awesome)?!?!? That would be revolutionary, that would be ground breaking. Selling a $529 phone with weak subsidies and bad plans, is not.

This is a sad day for me as an eccentric Google Fan boy an avid Google supporter, admitting that I am disappointed in.. neigh, pissed at you, is a huge thing for me. Shit, I have even publicly defended iGoogle social. As upset as I am with you, at you, with not having $529 to drop on a whim, I am still going try to get one of these phones. Whether through trying to save, take donations, some super shady rate plan line dropping and re adding and fan-dangling with my current plan, or through more sinister means remains to be seen.
All I am saying Google is WTF?


FTC Disclosure: I didn't get shit for this post. Thought I made that pretty clear.

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