My wife WANTS a Nexus One. If you aren't familiar, that is the new Android phone from Google. It is seriously cool. It might be the smartest of the smartphones. (watch the Apple iPhone fans go nuts over that little comment)
That is where the problems start...
We have been T-Mobile customers for a long time. She is 10+ years... I came on about 6 years ago. And Google/T-Mobile seem to be putting up as many roadblocks as they can find to halt existing customers from getting the Nexus One. In fact, the way they are even handling new customers should qualify as a #fail.
We have a family plan... but Google/T-Mobile doesn't allow the Family Plans to work with the Nexus One. And even if we change to the Unlimited Plan that we have access to (as long time customers), they consider this a "downgrade" and would hit us with an additional equipment charge.
Did I mention that the ONLY plan available for the phone only has 500 minutes? Either of us can kick 500 minutes in a week. The unlimited nights and T-Mobile to T-Mobile calls would help, but we usually use about 1500 minutes a month.
My wife thinks that most of the plan related difficulties revolve around Google's policies. And they are the 8,000 pound gorilla. They will likely get away with whatever they want.
But T-Mobile has some blame here, too. the lovely Mrs. GarageGuy has talked with several customer service people at T-Mobile (Google doesn't seem to talk to anyone). Each time, she gets a different story. T-Mobile hasn't managed to train everyone on the ins and outs of the most anticipated phone available to them.
All around, it is a fail.
Wouldn't is make sense...
to make the customer seem valued? Wouldn't it be smarter to make buying something easy? Isn't it obvious that the people that would be prime candidates for this phone would use more than 500 minutes a month?
It is just a big fat Cluster Fail...
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I'd love to hear from you...
The cell service providers are getting to be as self-centered as old Ma Bell ever was. I'd like a Nexus. But I'm waiting until other providers are on board.
Nexus One is coming to Verizon sometime this spring. There are also internet rumors that ATT will have it maybe by the summer time.
The restriction on the phone from Tmobile almost certainly come from Google. I think they had to take some "awkward" position when they released the phone under their own brand name to keep from ticking off other manufacturers. That's my guess anyway.
Tell her to be patient, they will have to come around.
Patience seems to be key as Terri notes.
One place Google has not had a lot of practice is customer service. After all, they are one of the most powerful web services ever. Ever. Web - automation - email. Ever seen a toll free number posted on anything from Google?
Did you just say "Cluster Fail"?
Seriously - couldn't agree more. Long time Deutsche Telekom'ers here too! As more and more of my stuff is cloud based (ie Google Docs) I'd like easy access via my phone. The Blackberry just doesn't swing that very well at all.
Have you looked at Verizons Droid or Sprints HTC Hero? They are both Andriod phones.
The Droid is in my future in the near future.
Mike - Did you like that? I have a bunch of them. Every once in a while I have to clean something up around the kids...