I thought it was time out for Apple's Iphone "monopoly" in the cellphone market capitalisation and was quite happy to hear that Google's is out to challenge the almighty Iphone. Sad to read today's paper that Google's first attempt at retail has encountered a speed bump.
Scores of buyers of its first 'own brand' smartphone, the Nexus One, seem to have experienced 3G connection problems.
The much-hyped phone is sold directly through its website at google.com/phone. Google started selling it just four days ago to consumers in the United States, Britain, Singapore and Hong Kong. Already, some eager users gotten their hands on it have been posting their problems on the Google Mobile Help Forum.
Their complaints centre on the phone constantly switching between 3G and the slower EDGE (Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution) networks, resulting in tardy responses when they surf the Internet. Voice and SMS functions are unaffected.
At press time, Google had yet to reply to these complaints.
Google's touchscreen phone, touted as a rival to Apple's iPhone, is made by Google's manufacturing partner, Taiwan's HTC. It seems that HTC is clueless about the cause of the 3G connection issues. Technology publication nexus404.com reported that one user had contacted HTC about the problem but was referred to US mobile network operator T-Mobile instead. Although the phone is sold by Google on its Web store, HTC provides customer support in Singapore from its care centre.
The phone - which costs US$577.31 (S$807) and comes with a 12-month warranty - was not sent to local telcos for testing, but Google had given an assurance that the handsets would work here in Singapore.
I think the way Google launches it product fail in its marketing effort in making the "right note" to buyers and either they are rushing in time to soft launch or not looking more seriously in the advertisement and proper retailer backup support with proper media promotion on it's handset, already showed sign of poor product marketing tactic and this may lead to users losing confidence when snag appears, although such could be easily rectified with less uproar if handle in proper professional manner.
Wake up Google ! Get the right partner and not HTC ( Hard to Connect ) perhaps.... :)
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