Google Nexus One is now available for current T-Mobile customers with an existing data plan as a handset upgrade of $279 instead of $379. Luckily the $100 will show up in the form of a credit via Google Checkout for those that paid the $379.
Complete eligibility rules were made available in the Google support forums and unfortunately does not include FlexPay, SmartAccess, FamilyTime, business or government account holders. You should still contact T-Mobile directly for plan & eligibility details. My T-Mobile account still doesn’t know what the Nexus One is, as seen below, leaving most details in the hands of T-Mo to figure out.
Google’s intentions were unclear regarding the price drop being related to a few customer complaints or if this is expected to create positive buzz for the device and it’s soft sales figures. This is reminiscent of Apple’s ‘do-over’ when the new iPhone was released asking current iPhone customers as much as $699 for upgrading.
Currently the phone plan being offered with the Google Nexus One is an Even More Plan with unlimited data+text+web for $79.99. I’m hoping that we still see another price drop in the cost of the actual plans (including unlimited data service) just as Verizon & AT&T are planning to lower prices for its service. After all, consumers typically first look at the overall cost as a plan but the industry is focused on making it all about the phones.
We all expect to see lower plan rates and unlimited data service for customers as we move towards more phones with heavy data requirements. Unlike the price increase for data plans, seen last year which went into affect a few months after T-Mobile lifted it’s bandwidth cap on it’s unlimited data service (I’m confused, i though unlimited meant without restrictions).
Yes the Even More Plans are a step in the right direction but costly data plans should be lowered. Why should anyone have to pay for texting or mobile-to-mobile calls? The cellular network probably uses more data to tracking your location and your phone status than it does processing text messages.
With more an more means of data conveyance out there, which ultimately lead long distance providers to change international rates to major countries at 3¢ a minute, why don’t we see major networks effectively compete to save us money. After all what is truly the cost with the growing age of faster, cheaper technology in a one-size fits all model. I dream of $50 a month unlimited everything on a 4G backbone, wake me up when we get there…
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Google Nexus One available for existing T-Mobile customers …
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