Google and Samsung may be announcing a “Nexus Two” smartphone at the mysterious press conference being held on November 8th in New York City. The conference will feature the launch of a “new Android device,” which is now suspected to be the next Google experience phone, meaning a phone featuring the latest hardware and most current version of the Google mobile operating system Android. In this case, it’s expected to be the first phone running “Gingerbread,” the code name for Android 2.3.
Now, a new report is claiming that this won’t be just any new Samsung Android phone, but the “Nexus Two,” a follow-up to Googe’s former flagship phone, the Nexus One.
The news comes from Taylor Wimberly, whose blog AndroidandMe has become the source for several insider-y reports about Android software and its associated mobile phones. Wimberly has a fairly good track record with only a couple of misses, but it should be noted that this story is, at present, is still classified as a rumor.
But what a rumor it is!
Wimberly claims to have spoken to multiple sources who have confirmed that Samsung is indeed launching a “Nexus Two.” Like its predecessor, this new Google experience phone is meant to be used as a reference device for developers (and Android enthusiasts, of course) as a demonstration of the latest and greatest capabilities found in Google’s mobile OS. A reference device like this is necessary because the open-source Android can be modified by the mobile carriers and OEMs who choose to use it on their devices, often removing features they don’t want to support (like Android 2.2 “Froyo’s” Wi-Fi hotspot feature, for example). A reference device, however, has all features intact.
Unlike the original Nexus One, which Google attempted selling exclusively online to poor results, the rumored Nexus Two will be sold in retail stores. This makes sense, given Google’s earlier admission that apparently, “many customers like a hands-on experience before buying a phone.”
According to a report by UK site City A.M., this “Nexus Two” will arrive in UK retailer Carphone Warehouse’s stores in time for the holidays, noted Wimberly. That would mean that this time around, the real “Google phone” may have a better chance at sales.
At Samsung’s press event, we hope to hear what U.S. carriers will be offering the device stateside. Wimberly even goes out on a limb speculating that we may see the phone in Best Buy stores:
If you want to go really crazy with speculation, Carphone Warehouse is a 50% subsidiary of Best Buy, who will begin selling 4G wireless service through Clearwire soon. Guess who else is a big investor in Clearwire? Yup, Google.
We hope that’s the case, but at this point, little is known. For new Samsung Galaxy S owners, the launch of an even better Android phone may be disappointing news. But that’s the problem with all technology, to be honest. The minute you plunk down your cash, something better is announced.
