• By offering a lineup of phones that is essentially carrier-independent, Google has separated the two previously interlocked parts of the phone/plan-buying experience—phone selection and carrier selection—and has done so in a way that threatens one of the most important enablers of carrier lock-in.
• Ars Technica writer Jon Stokes • Making a pretty good point about why the Google Nexus One isn’t that big a deal, but the site where it’s being sold totally is. Google’s lack of carrier dependence is a big deal – it’s an active attempt to break the carrier/phone lock-in which has hurt consumers for years. It’s just a modest step – the Nexus One really only fully works with T-Mobile – but it’s still one that could make consumers happier and phone service non-crappy. Are you listening, AT&T and Apple? source

Posted by Ernie Smith • Permalink