Although Google promised the Nexus One smartphone for Verizon when it launched the device, the search giant has changed its stance today, instead telling Verizon subscribers to instead purchase the HTC Incredible, if they want a high-end Android device.
As posted earlier today in the official Google phones portal, instead of saying to buy the Nexus One for Verizon in the spring, it now reads: “For Verizon’s network, you can buy the Droid Incredible by HTC.”
When asked for an elaboration on the word change, Google added the following: “We won’t be selling a Nexus One with Verizon, and this is a reflection of the amazing innovation happening across the open Android ecosystem. Verizon Wireless customers who want an Android phone with the power of the Nexus One can get the Droid Incredible by HTC.”
Vodafone just announced that it will begin selling the Nexus One in the UK starting this week.
The ’superphone’ has a 3.7″ AMOLED 480×800 WVGA display, a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 5MP camera with autofocus and flash, 512MB RAM and ROM, a microSD slot and noise suppression.
Result for: wireless customers
Verizon Wireless and Skype today have announced Skype Mobile will be available to Verizon subscribers beginning tomorrow, the 25th of March.
The service, reads the press release will “use the Verizon Wireless voice network for the wireless connection of the Skype-to-Skype calls, providing Verizon Wireless customers with a superior experience and top-notch call quality.”
Skype Mobile will be available for devices running Android as well as BlackBerrys either at www.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile or at www.skype.com/go/mobile. Visit the latter link through a PC and enter your mobile number to receive a text with a link. Both Android and BlackBerry users will also be able to download the app via their respective app stores.
The main advantages of using Skype Mobile are the following:
* make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype contact around the globe;
* send and receive unlimited instant messages with other Skype users;
* manage the Skype contact list directly from the mobile application; and
* call international phone numbers at competitive Skype calling rates.
Says Russ Shaw, general manager of Mobile for Skype: “Skype mobile will deliver an unparalleled experience for Verizon Wireless customers. It will be the best way to enjoy unlimited conversations with Skype contacts all over the world at no extra cost. In addition, Skype mobile will allow people to easily and inexpensively make calls to landlines and mobiles abroad at Skype rates.”
Result for: wireless customers
Christopher Poole, founder of the infamous meme site 4chan came out this week claiming that Verizon was “explicitly blocking” access to the site, and it appears Poole may have been right.
Jeff Nelson, a public relations employee for the ISP said via Twitter this morning: “2 of 4Chan affiliates were staging for attacks.” However, “They’re green-lighted for tonight’s network update.”
Poole’s full post earlier had read: “Over the past 72 hours, we’ve been receiving reports from Verizon Wireless customers having difficulty accessing the image boards,” Poole wrote. “After investigating, we found that Verizon is dropping traffic… only on port 80 (HTTP). No other subdomain/IP/port is affected, which leads us to believe this block is intentional. After an hour and a half on the phone, we’ve received confirmation from Verizon’s Network Repair Bureau (NRB) that we are “explicitly blocked.”
Verizon had refused comment until today except to say that they were being bombarded with calls about the issue, adds PCWorld.
