droidStory

I’m not really surprised about this, other than that it took that long.

Nathan Nabors, a Florida resident, has filed a class action lawsuit alleging that Google was in breach of contract by not resolving the Nexus One 3G connectivity problems that some users were experiencing, in addition to the inadequate support Google was providing during the time the company was selling the phone.

I’ve experienced first-hand the 3G problems and posted numerous blog posts and YouTube videos that illustrate the issue. I’ve also felt strongly that the problem was caused by the phone’s hardware, specifically a flaw in the antenna design, combined with T-Mobile’s sub-optimal 3G coverage and signal strength.

Still, Google sold the phone directly to consumers and was not prepared to deal with the support burden. Perhaps that is the reason why Google is the only defendant named in the lawsuit.

I’m now happily using a DroidX on Verizon and the Nexus One / T-Mobile 3G frustration is only distant memory.

As previously posted, Google is discontinuing the Nexus One. Well, it only took a couple of days before the remaining stock was depleted. Incidentally, I just sold my N1 on eBay, since I have now moved on to the Motorola DroidX. The Nexus One was/is a great phone and surely helped pave the way for the rapid growth of Android.

Google quietly announced that it will discontinue the direct sale of its Nexus One phone.

This week we received our last shipment of Nexus One phones. Once we sell these devices, the Nexus One will no longer be available online from Google. Customer support will still be available for current Nexus One customers. And Nexus One will continue to be sold by partners including Vodafone in Europe, KT in Korea, and possibly others based on local market conditions.

To ensure our developers have access to a phone with the latest Android OS, Google will be offering the Nexus One through a partner for sale to registered developers. Visit the Android Market Publisher site and log into your developer account to purchase a Nexus One.

This officially marks the end of the N1 experiment.  There are many opinions why this experiment failed. Google has certainly learned a lot about the complexity of the US wireless market and retail operations in general. The N1 offered a glimpse at carrier independence, with unrestricted software access and real-time Android updates. The 3G reception problems and the resulting finger-pointing between HTC, T-Mobile and Google highlighted the inherent problems with this direct sales model.

I believe, that the US wireless market with its carrier specific 3G data frequencies and incompatible wireless network technologies is a key reason for the failure of the N1, and Google’s direct sales model. Why buy an expensive phone without contract subsidy, if you can’t switch wireless providers because the phone wont work on another carriers network?

As it turns out FRF83 still wasn’t the final release build of Android 2.2 (Froyo).  Google has now announced the official availability of Android 2.2 on the NexusOne blog.

Starting today, Nexus One users will begin to receive the Android 2.2 (codenamed Froyo) over-the-air software update on their phones. This update provides some great new features including support for making your handset a portable hotspot and support for Adobe Flash within the browser.

If you can’t wait for the OTA update, you can get the latest FRF85B build directly from Google FRF91 build directly from Google and use the upgrade instructions found in some of the previous posts.

This blog and many others have covered the prevailing 3G problems with the Nexus One. Just to recap, the Nexus One is having trouble holding onto a 3G signal reliably, unless the signal is really strong (>-70dBm). The problem is exacerbated by holding the phone, well – like a regular cell phone, with the back resting in the palm of your hand while surfing the web or making a call.

There have been endless threads on the Google support forums, numerous YouTube videos, and even the big gadget blogs picked up on the issue. Personally, I always attributed the problem to poor hardware design that is un-fixable without a redesign and recall of the existing handsets. Others put much hope into a software update. The first OTA update however didn’t do much good other than moving the signal threshold to delay the 3G – Edge flip-flopping.

In recent days the rumor mill on the web spun-up again with news about another imminent update. After months of deafening silence from Google on this issue, finally “Ry Guy” from Google chimes in to crush any speculation. According to Google this is a non-issue:

Google announced earlier that the first Over-the-Air Update for the Nexus One will begin later today, with most phones expected to receive the update before the end of this week.

Can’t wait for the OTA-Update? Feeling adventurous? Click here for instructions to install the update in minutes via USB.

Many people have been anxiously waiting for this update, hoping that it will fix the 3G connectivity problems widely reported on Google’s support forum and shown here in a previous post.

Here is Google’s statement regarding 3G connectivity:

3G connectivity: we will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones

Google also added these additional features to the update, with pinch-to-zoom multi-touch probably being the most exciting addition:

Google Goggles: this mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web

Google Maps: the Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:

• Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com – access your favorite places from your phone or computer
• Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history – makes it easy to search for places you’ve searched for before
• Night mode in Google Maps Navigation – automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving

Pinch-to-zoom functionality: devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone’s Browser, Gallery and Maps applications