In a recently announced study market research firm NPD states that Google’s Android operating system edged up into second place in the US smartphone market during the first quarter of 2010.  While Google’s Android still trails RIM’s BlackBerry operating system I am sure that Google will more than take this news that they are the number two cell phone operating system in the US.  This marks the first time that Google’s Android has moved ahead of Apple’s iPhone OS in the market share.

NPD found that RIM owns 36 percent of the market share in the first quarter with Android coming in with 28 percent and unlocked Apple iPhone OS owning 21 percent.  This significant growth shown by the Android OS can be largely attributed to strong carrier support such as Verizon’s buy one get one free promotion which helped Verizon obtain a 30 percent market share trailing only AT&T who had 32 percent.  T-Mobile and Sprint held 17 and 15 percent of the market share respectively.

With the growing success of several Android devices this announcement does not come as much of a shock to the smartphone industry.  Google Nexus One Android has been making ground on the iPhone OS as soon as it was launched.  With several other top of the line Mobile devices set to the market and Adobe Flash technology set to be released with the next Android update I would expect this trend to continue.  I have a feeling that more and more people are going to be switching over to Android devices once they see several of the new phones that are set to be released.  Unless Apple’s iPhone OS 4 has a whole bunch of fascinating features I am not sure they will be able to catch up to the Android OS in terms of market share.

Recently Google has been busy updating its phone sales site and the latest word for Verizon Wireless customers looking to get their hands on a Nexus One is to look at the “similarly feature-packed” cousin of the Nexus One, the Incredible.  One important fact that is left out of the update on their sales site is the “coming soon” tag which suggests that the Nexus One has been discontinued for Verizon Wireless customers.

In a separate blog post updating us on carrier partnerships, Google once again reiterates its mini-advertisement for the new HTC phone on Verizon while not mentioning anything about the Nexus One’s future.  While a true CDMA variant should still be coming on the Sprint network Google is still making it quite difficult to understand whether or not the Nexus One for Verizon has been canceled.

Update: In a recent update Google has just informed the tech website engadget that the Nexus One for the Verizon Wireless network is officially dead.  Below is Google’s official statement:
We won't be selling a Nexus One with Verizon, and this is a reflection of the amazing innovation happening across the open Android ecosystem. Verizon Wireless customers who want an Android phone with the power of the Nexus One can get the Droid Incredible by HTC.

This is all certainly understandable and nice to see Google finally come out and say what many have been speculating for a while.  Now that we know the Nexus One is officially dead for the Verizon network customers of this cell phone network can focus their attention on the Incredible by HTC for all of their Android needs or purchase an ulocked HTC Hero to use.

During the CTIA convention it was rumored that Google is going to be taking some serious steps in limiting the amount of platform fragmentation that is commonly associated with the Android. This OS fragmentation has been pretty annoying to most consumers as many people have had to run four distinct versions of the browser based on an arbitrary formula of hardware, carrier, region, software customization, and manufacturers' ability to push updates in a timely fashion.

The first steps in dealing with this troublesome fragmentation issues are expected to be addressed with the next few updates starting with Froyo and continuing through Gingerbread. Unlocked Google phone is expected to combat this problem by removing many of the standard applications and components from the platform’s core and making them downloadable in the market much as the same as what they have already done with Maps.
The best part of Google handling updates this way through the market place is that when Google rolls out a new browser does not mean that you will have to wait for HTC, Samsung or whoever made your phone to roll it into a firmware update and for your carrier to approve it. Almost all of the user facing stuff will happen through the market place and be much easier to get a hold of and loaded onto your phone.
Another aspect of this proposed plan by Google Unlocked Phone to stop these fragmentation issues is that Google is expected to slow their breakneck speed of developing Android’s core and focus more on application development. By not constantly updating the core of the OS Google will make it much easier for one universal version of Android to be deployed and used worldwide. Also, by focusing more on apps and features Google will be ensuring that they provide their consumers with the best possible mobile device.

Everyone with an ounce of app development experience has come up with something for either the iPhone or the Android, and even the FCC is getting in on the fun.  The purpose of the app, according to their website, is to “provide Americans with additional information about their mobile data connection and create awareness about the mobile broadband connection quality.  While some people might understandably be concerned with an app designed by the Feds installed on their phone, all the app really does is monitor data upload and download speeds.  The FCC is set to release a new national broadband plan on 3/16, which will stress the need for improved cell phone data networks.

The data collected through this app will analyze geographical coverage and quality throughout the United States, essentially providing them an auditing tool for cell phone carrier claims and commercial coverage maps.  It will also, quite simply, allow the user to see what kind of data speed they are getting from their cell phone carrier in specific locations.  You can also find out the speed of your broadband connection by either turning on your cell phone WiFi, or checking out Broadband.gov.  This information generally isn’t as valuable for you as the end user, as you can’t move a fixed connection for better coverage as you can with a cell phone.

Tests were recently conducted by the FCC in Seattle and Los Angeles, using a number of phones and carriers, and the results were a little surprising.  Verizon’s Droid in Seattle blew away all other results, registering 3G speeds of 1.71 MBPS downloads and .82 MBPS uploads.  The iPhone in Los Angeles came in with speeds of 1.35 MBPS downloads and .21 uploads, while Google’s Nexus One on T-Mobile in Seattle came in significantly slower at .29 MBPS downloads and .35 MBPS uploads.

When Google announced their new social network, Buzz, they did not fully take into account how important people think their privacy is.  Two days after it was first launched, Google had to make several revisions to the platform.

Originally, the application was Google’s answer to Twitter but with some extras.  Buzz was to let you use Google Maps with Buzz in order for you to focus on your actual location and synching it with your Gmail address book.  The application lets you share your location with others and gives additional information about the place you are visiting.  This app syncs with your Google Nexus One unlocked cell phone and your computer.  This would let your followers know where you are and what you are doing.

Unfortunately when it was released, it allowed everyone to see your public profile.  As a user, you had to block the public from viewing your information.  On February 12, 2010, Google made some changes so you could block anyone following you that you did not want following you.  They based these changes on the amount of user feedback stating that this was an invasion of privacy.  Google enhanced Buzz with features to improve privacy settings and giving the user more control about how information would be shared.

This must not be enough for some users as a lawsuit was filed this week in San Jose (CA).  The class action was filed in federal court and states that Google has invaded privacy issues by how it released Buzz.  Most times, applications state that you must opt in, while Buzz made it so that you had to opt out.  This made over 31 million users of Gmail affected by the way Buzz was introduced.  The suit could actually include every Gmail user.  Google has not made any official statement, as they have not yet taken a look at the lawsuit.  You would have thought that Google would have taken into consideration these kinds of privacy issues prior to the release.  Make sure that your public profile is excluded before you use Buzz on your mobile unlocked cell phone like the Google Nexus One.

There were a few things I noticed last night while watching the Super Bowl. I personally thought that many of the commercials fell flat. I most certainly expected a bit more flash. The Vizio ad was stunning and of course Betty White was hilarious. But one of the most surprising things was the Google Ad. This was certainly an unexpected ad coming from the company that does not spend any money on television advertising. The story it told was really fun and full of nice sentiments. We watched someone’s life unfold through Google searches.

I thought that they should have used a cell phone using Google search and the Google map application on the Nexus One phone. This could have been a great way to highlight their search engine on the cell phone. Most everyone already knows how to Google, but everyone may not know about the Google options for their cell phone. But it was certainly fun to watch and created quite a stir that they even placed an ad during the Super Bowl.

I also thought it was really cool that as the New Orleans Saints were running onto the field at the start of the game that some of the coaches were taking either pictures or videos with their cell phones. This just goes to show you how far we have come in regard to cell phone technology. The clarity and how easy it is to use our cell phones, like the Nexus One, to take great pictures and video is replacing the need for a bulky camera. I am sure that with a 5-megapixel camera, that they got some great shots, and with a touch of a button, they can share those pictures quickly.

The game was exciting to watch and most of the commercials were good. The Google ad and the David Letterman spot were both surprises and made for a great night of football. I cannot wait until next year to see what the Super Bowl will bring.

Google has announced that it is offering an updated version of its mobile map applications. This is available for many users of the 3.4 version on their phones. This newer version is for use with the android platform. It has many new features that will enhance the map using experience. This also comes on the heels as Google announced a software update for the Nexus One. This software update began setting the stage for Nexus One users to be able to get some of the enhanced features with Google maps.

The biggest thing about this update is it becomes much better to synchronize some of the operations between your PC and your mobile phone. Like so many people we sometimes search for something at home, get in the car and because we didn’t write it down, we forgot where we were going. We could send a message to ourselves, but that seems silly, since our phone and our computer should be able to talk each other better. This is why Google has introduced the new software to be able to use personalized suggestions and starring features for Google maps on your Android.

You will be able to pull up your searching history from your cell phone to be able to see some of the places that you wanted to go. With the starring feature, you can actually save this information and be able to access it at any time. This will show you some of the details about the business or restaurant that you want to visit. Not only will you be able see this on your mobile phone, but you will also be able to see it on your desktop computer.

To use the feature, you will have to be signed into your Google account and your web history needs to be turned on. Many people that own Nexus One unlocked phones will be able to download the update at any time. For any other of the android cell phones, you will be able to get it directly from the Android market. This is a really cool feature that can make life a lot more simple. I cannot tell you how many times I have decided to go somewhere, thought I knew the address, got in the car, started driving and did not know where I was going. This should be able to help make life a lot easier and getting places much more simple.

The recent launch of Google's highly anticipated phone offering, the 'Google Nexus One', has seen a fresh approach to the controversial process of payment plan termination. Customers wishing to end their plan prematurely will now be forced to pay the full difference in retail price, in relation to the subsidized price of the phone with Google's partner provider company, T-Mobile.

In this bold move by Google, they intend to combat the increasingly popular practice of customers opting out of their plans simply to sell their device on eBay. The concept involves customers purchasing an Unlocked Google Nexus One only receiving the subsidized rate if they see out a minimum “120 days” of their plan with the carrier T-Mobile on a two year agreement.

Although termination fees are nothing new in the lucrative mobile phone industry, in the past it has only been the carrier that has enforced such penalties. In this case, the phone hardware provider Google is seemingly cashing in as well, billing the termination item as the “Equipment Recovery Fee”. As a result, the subscriber is forced to pay termination fees to both manufacturer and service provider.

For example, if a customer terminates their contract within four months, they will pay T-Mobile $200 and Google $350. This amounts to $550 in total costs for terminating the two year plan.

General concern rests with Google's involvement in this process as it appears over protective of its device, possibly to the detriment of sales.

The increase in the termination fees will certainly aid Google in its fight against black market retail of the device, which is forecasted to be a huge problem.
The strategy certainly has further downsides. Unfortunately, legitimate customers who wish to terminate their plans will be expected to fork out the bill as well. Much discussion in online tech magazines revolves around this issue, as it is condemned to be poor consumer practice.

With the Google Nexus One, everything that a person loves about the World Wide Web becomes conveniently available on a smart phone.

This diminutive device weighs in at only 130 grams and is slim, sleek and sophisticated. It has a 3.7 inch widescreen display however, and with 800 x 480 pixels, it is remarkably clear. A 100,000 to 1 contrast ratio proves that clarity is possible on a cellular phone screen.

The Google Nexus One also contains an on board 5-megapixel camera with 2X digital zoom capabilities. It will auto focus from a mere 6 cm to infinity. Not only that, this phone can pinpoint the location of each photo taken by using the phones own AGPS receiver. Video can be shot on the Nexus One on at least 20 frames per second at 720 x 480 pixels.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are part of the plan, and the phone offers A2DP stereo Bluetooth as well. To ensure that the user does not get lost, the phone also contains an assisted global positioning system receiver as well as cell phone tower and Wi-Fi positioning. It also has an on board accelerometer and digital compass.

With the Qualcomm QSD processor operating at 1 GHz, this phone runs smoothly on its Android operating system. The battery is impressive as well, with a removable 1400 mAH battery with USB charging capabilities that allow the user up to 20 hours of audio playback, up to 7 hours of video playback, and up to 5 hours Internet use on 3G or 6.5 hours on Wi-Fi. Talk time is up to 10 hours worth on 2G, and up to 7 on 3G.

They keyboard offers language support for English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese in the locations where these languages are most frequently used.

There is a lot to love about the new Google Nexus One phone, both as a cell phone, and as an Internet accessible computer.

It is almost time. The discussion that has been running rampant in regard to the arrival of the much anticipated The Google Nexus One by Google will be answered shortly, early 2010 when the product actually becomes available. When this finally happens people will get some answers to a lot of questions and concerns they have expressed over recent months of speculation. Probably as with any event that is so over discussed and speculated about, some will be extremely pleased and thrilled while others will be totally disappointed. Of course as always there will be that group who could care less either way. Some things just never change. However, here are some of the things that people have been discussing and pondering and waiting to see what will happen.

Many people are wondering if the premiere of the Google Nexus One will also be the first step in Google becoming the next phone company. A lot of folks are speculating this might be the overall plan.

Still a lot of others are expressing concern that the Nexus One might be limited to only T-Mobile and/or AT&T and if this becomes fact, it will severely hinder the choices available to the consumer to pick from. People are never thrilled at being placed in this position.

Still others are worrying that Google may be looking for ways to subsidize customers phones or wire services and the fact that this could open a wide variety of issues and problems down the road, perhaps even the possibility of anti-trust action considered by the government. Of course, this is a place no one wants to go.

Some people also feel and are concerned that Google may be ostracized by the rest of the wireless industry and isolated and left on its own. Finally, there are those who are just excited about progressive thinking companies and their new products. Well at least we will not have to wait much longer for the results.