Summary: Now that Google is back in the phone retail business, could selling Motorola phones be far behind?
Colleague Matt Miller shares the news that Google is entering the phone selling business once again. The top-of-the-line Galaxy Nexus is now available direct from Google for the good price of $399. This is contract-free and unlocked, so buyers can take the Galaxy Nexus to the carrier of choice without a long-term commitment.
It?s not clear if this price requires Google to pay a subsidy to Samsung, the maker of the Galaxy Nexus. Either Google has a deal to get them at wholesale price and eat any margin or it will pay Samsung some subsidy and take the loss.
It?s clear Google is trying to get back on top of the retail game, probably to help promote both Android and the Google Play venture. Play is the rebranded Android Market that Google is pushing as the unified retail outlet for Android content, and now phones.
This raises an interesting thought ? will Google continue this phone selling venture with Motorola handsets once the merger between the two is complete? Imagine being able to buy any unlocked Motorola smartphone direct from Google at a price similar to that of the Galaxy Nexus.
Google maintains it will keep Motorola?s operations separate from its own, and this would be one way to do that while still participating in product sales. Samsung is separate from Google?s operation, yet it?s now selling the Galaxy Nexus directly. It could certainly do that with Motorola phones and claim separation to appease other Android partners.
This is pure speculation, nothing either Motorola Mobility nor Google has said would indicate this might happen. It sure would be an interesting thing to watch unfold if it did.
James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long.
Biography
James Kendrick
James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long. Prior to joining ZDNet, James was the Founding Editor of jkOnTheRun, a CNET Top 100 Tech Blog that was acquired by GigaOM in 2008 and is now part of that prestigious tech network. James' writing has appeared in many print publications: Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine, Information Week and Laptop Magazine to name a few. James' coverage of the mobile technology sector has regularly appeared in the New York Times, Salon.com and CNN/ Fortune online. Not just a writer, James has filmed numerous video reviews and how-tos that have garnered well over a million viewers. He has appeared on local news segments and been interviewed by the Associated Press on mobile technology topics. Additionally, James has been podcasting about mobile technology for years.
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