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We’ve already known the Google Nexus One phone is no myth, with Google employees brandishing them about town in San Francisco and numerous specification and video demos coming to the fore.
Next week, we may well learn whether or not some of the other rumors about the device are fact or fiction. Google Jan. 5 is hosting an “Android press gathering” at its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters, where it will likely unveil the ballyhooed device we the media have come to know as the Nexus One:
Demonstrations sound great. I can’t wait to see how fast a device must be that impresses Googlers.
Unofficial T-Mobile blog TMO confirmed the launch Dec. 29, and that Google would sell the phone online, though in this screen capture T-Mobile was careful not to note the Nexus One by name. It’s like the Nexus One is Voldemort or something:
Seriously, this is the worst kept secret these days. We also now know T-Mobile, in its own words, will provide “billing, coverage, features and rate plans.” So you can pick T-Mobile, but not everyone will be willing or able to do this. It will be interesting to see what other options people will have for this GSM device.
What can we take from all of this? Well, for one we can lay the invite-only notion to rest.
Maybe by invite only, rumor-mongers referred to only the Googlers receiving the device. My guess the nasty rumor that developers are the only ones getting this device right away is, thankfully, poppycock.
Releasing this widely-anticipated device as invite-only would be a terrible play for Google and Android, even though some readers have claimed this would be a smart strategy mirroring Google’s plays with Gmail, Google Docs, Google Wave, et al.
In any case, I recently spoke to Bradley Horowitz, vice president of management at Google, and asked him what his favorite feature was on his Google Nexus One. His answer, though slippery, confirmed the device:
“My favorite feature is having one. That’s the cool part.”
That’s good enough for me. Until then, I look forward to Jan. 5, where I’ll be following via Webcast. Read more about this development on TechMeme here.