jac

UPDATE: Rumor dispelled: #

Calls are routed the normal way, not using data (VoIP), and sound fine #

Original Post: #

Now, we’re getting somewhere, if this information from Nicolas Charbonnier is true: #

Here’s the price: $199 unlocked in stores. $100 rebate online if you have an active and old Google account. That $100 rebate is either to buy it $99 online from Google’s online phone store, for using on Android Marketplace or for using on any Google Checkout stores. Can also be used for T-Mobile or AT&T pre-paid Data SIM card service at $29 per month, no contracts required. #

Google will push full VOIP usage on these, meaning no voice/sms plans needed at any carrier. Voice calls will go through Google Voice on Data SIM cards and will provide unlimited free voice calling. And SMS is replaced by unlimited free Gtalk. #

Finally, Google will provide easy roaming data services in other countries. For example, if you go to Europe, you can roam on HSDPA data networks for the same price of 20€ per month, and if you only stay in Europe for a few days you won’t need to pay for the whole month. You may not even need to change the SIM card. #

Let’s hope this is for real – it’s a rumor that actually makes sense of why Google would jump into the hardware-distribution world. T-Mobile is boosting its data network, which may well change the relative economics between its data network and its circuit-switched MTSO network. But there will be a temptation to continue to milk the sunk-cost circuit-switched architecture, just as there was a financial justification to keep mechanical (step-by-step and crossbar) switches long after Stored Program Control and Digital telephone switches were available. #

The paragraph about roaming in Europe makes me skeptical, though – if that paragraph is true, this will truly be a game-changing development for data service in Europe. #

Earlier . . . #

(Photo via BRR.) #

#