Sony Ericsson snubbed Google over Nexus One
Contract killer
Sony Ericsson turned down the chance to make the Googlephone, because it didn't want to become a contract manufacturer - not even for the Chocolate Factory.
Sony Ericsson CEO Bert Nordberg told Swedish newspaper Sydsvenssan (Swedish only) about the discussions. In the interview Nordberg says relations remain good with Google, which turned to HTC to manufacture the Nexus One, instead.
Nordberg was formerly head of Ericsson's Silicon Valley operation.
Google upset its ODM (original device manufacturer) customers and network operators when it decided to tear up its approach to market, and compete directly with licensees of its own Android OS. The result was the Nexus One, which is currently sold online in the US only.
This is an unfair perception, since there's precious little difference between the Nexus One and other HTC Android phones apart from the Nexus' high quality, expensive casing. They're all pretty generic and ironically, Motorola has made far more investment in its own UI enhancements to Android than Google did with the Nexus One. But in the market, perception is everything. "Is your Android a genuine Googlephone?"
Like Moto, Sony Ericsson has invested heavily in its own UI on top of vanilla Android, called TimeScape. It unveiled more Android phones last week.
Read a long term test of Motorola Android flagship here, and a bunch more Android devices here. ®
COMMENTS
ODMs are upset?
"Google upset its ODM (original device manufacturer) customers.. when it decided to.. compete directly with licensees of its own Android OS"
Erm, isn't Android open source, i.e. free for these ODM licensees to use? They're getting something for nothing, probably saving a substantial amount of money by avoiding having to develop their own proprietry OS, or licensing Windows Mobile.
What right do they have to be upset that Google are making their own branded phone? Surely that's what a free market is all about?
Sony
Thank god SONY doesn't have a good reputation for software of hardware quality when it comes to phones, least not down here in OZ.
The OS is open source...
...but the Google apps that ship with most Android devices are closed source. I also imagine that most of these ODMs have support contracts with Google to help develop their own interfaces and drivers.
Bravo
The release date is March 26th with T-Mobile. The rest of the networks won't be far behind. Android version? It's an Android phone, I'd be very curious to see what the non-Android version looks like.
Are you sure?
I am guessing you have never used an HTC phone. I have the G1 and the hardware is awful. It was a real step back from my N95. However, I like the Android platform that much that I stuck with it.
