Google Unveils New Phone

In an effort to shake up the mobile phone market, Google has unveiled the Nexus One, the latest smart phone running the company's Android operating system. Yet questions about Google's larger goals remain, notably in the advertising world. (Google.com)

The Nexus One is the first phone in a series of devices from various manufacturers and carriers, all of which will be sold in a newly announced Google store: <a href="http://www.google.com/phone" target="_blank">www.google.com/phone</a>. "The Nexus One belongs in an emerging category of device we call super phones," said Mario Queiroz, vice president of product management for Google.

The Nexus One can be purchased today with service from T-Mobile at $179, or without service for $529.

The phone highlights the Android 2.1 operating system (which carried the cute code-name "Éclair") that first shipped on the Verizon Droid, meaning this new phone incorporates all the same functionality as that device. Android features multitasking, letting applications run in the background, unlike the iPhone's one-app-at-a-time behavior.

The Nexus One's hardware specifications are impressive: It sports 3.7 inch OLED color screen, 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor , android 2.1 operating system. 11.5 millimeters thin, no thicker than a #2 pencil, and 130 grams, it's no heavier than a Swiss Army Knife.

Google cites innovation around the voice experience as well, almost as an afterthought. The "search by voice" app lets you speak a query rather than typing it.

Many analysts cite Google's purchase of mobile advertising firm AdMob as evidence that the company intends to further its position in the nascent mobile advertising market, however. They argue that Google-branded phones may allow the company to more closely control advertisements to users.

<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/05/google-unveils-super-phone-nexus-online-cell-store/">Click here to read more about the new Google phone.</a> (Google)

The revolutionary iPhone was introduced in June 2007, and it quickly became one of the most popular devices in the AT&T wireless portfolio. On July 11, 2008, AT&T launched the iPhone 3G, a next-generation, 3G-enabled device.

The iPhone 3G S and iPhone 3G harness the power of nation's fastest 3G mobile broadband network, currently available in nearly 350 major U.S. metropolitan areas. (AP2009)

Both the iPhone 3G S and iPhone 3G offer free Wi-Fi access at more than 20,000 U.S. hotspots.

<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,527402,00.html">Click here for more on the iPhone 3G.</a>