Google Nexus One in Korea?
OK, many of us are getting pretty fed up with the B.S. surrounding the iPhone application process for foreigners in Korea.
Heard of the Google’s new phone, Nexus One? If you haven’t let me tell you about it……
It’s a groundbreaking phone in the U.S. because not only is it a fantastic phone, there is an option to buy the phone DIRECTLY from Google without a mobile carrier contract. Yes, the iPhone in America works with a SIM card from a different carrier – same with every other country in the world EXCEPT Korea. However, there’s certain key features that won’t work without being used on AT&T’s network – the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in the states.
The Google Nexus One is a game-changer in the states because it truly is an unlocked phone that can be used with full functionality with any carrier that uses a SIM card.
If this phone were to arrive in Korea, it would be a great day for many of us. Cheaper and possibly a better phone without getting locked down on a rip-off 2 year contract (or 1 year if you pay the full 800,000 won up front) with KT – an already notoriously horrible mobile carrier. LG seems to have the best deals, but still expensive, and SK seems middle of the road and most popular in Korea.
Some key features about the Nexus One to be excited about:
-Large 3.7 inch 460 x 800 pixel AMOLED screen (bright, vivid, and slightly larger than the iPhone’s)
-Beautiful design (much more impressive actually holding the phone from what I understand), but still not as beautiful as the iPhone
-1 GHz Snapdragon processor (much faster than the iPhone, able to run multiple applications concurrently unlike iPhone)
-Full touch-screen functionality (same as iPhone, not the lame button-less screens they call touch screen on most “touch screen” phones in Korea)
-Android 2.1 (Google mobile operating system with better integration of Google products like Gmail and Google Maps)
-Google Voice (woo-hoo!)
-5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and video
-WIFI
-AGPS (allows for turn-by-turn directions), compass, long life replaceable (another iPhone pitfall) battery
Pricing:
No contract; $529.99 fully unlocked and can be purchased directly from Google
With contract: $179.99 with 2 year plan with T-Mobile (U.S.)
My Humble Thoughts
The Nexus One is finally a legitimate iPhone competitor with just as good core applications. Most every-day applications are on par if not better than the iPhone’s, but with far less availability of games. Perfect integration of hardware and software like the iPhone which most other phones lack. It’ll be interesting to see if it can take away market-share from the iPhone and it’s far superior App Store and iTunes.
Update:
If it comes to Korea (updated), definitely buying this phone if I can get it to work in the states also. I might have to carry around an iPod separately, but I know I can handle it since I’ve been hauling around both my Korean phone and my iPhone for the past year.
Any word on the street about a Google phone landing on Korea’s shores?
Video ad below is very reminiscent of Apple’s marketing.
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January 11th, 2010 at 7:37 am
While I am a much bigger Google fan than I am of Apple, I would have to say that the Nexus phone coming to Korea would have to jump some hurdles that Apple has already accomplished and paved the way for. Personally I feel the biggest hurdle would be the music player that was the flagship basis of Apple building a phone around. Having one gadget in your pocket rather than a cluster of electronics slowly EMF-ing your sperm to oblivion is niiiiiice, as it simplified it down to one slender device not protruding and hoarding your pocket space. (Anyone who has a belt phone case should really take a look in the mirror. Do you look like your uncle that is staying “hip” and riding the wave of technology”ㅋ)
I am all for the Nexus reminding Apple that they are not great but yet just a (unfortunately few) company who is doing things with common sense and the way it should be done. (Microsoft has no excuse why we don’t have a sleek and a simple UI by this time in this software/electronics age with all the money they have that could go into R&D)
I do enjoy how Google’s motto is, “don’t be evil” and I think that they are doing a fair enough of a job to maintain that creed. The new app store for them sounds interesting and the approval process seems not to be a dictatorship like how apple’s app store is to be read about. Though I think the google store will get a bit messier and unnecessarily sophisticated in how it will be maintained and organized. Adding a feature to buy an unlocked phone more easily is added on the pro’s of Google’s list of “why they are better than Apple” though it’s still crazy expensive compared to manufacturing cost. But I don’t know enough about how formulate the costs in the end to make too strong of an opinion. Though it does feel like my ass is a bit sore after buying an Apple product. You’d think the less bulk of money in my wallet would make it feel better eh?
When will the Nexus come to Korea. It’s mention that it is “truly unlocked” but what does that mean? Why wouldn’t it hit the same problems as an iPhone that is unlocked (regardless of legally or not) in Korea? The Korean mobile business is based on a lockout by whitelisting unique IMEI rather than the US who locks out a phone by making it carrier specific? I think you would have to go through the process that you outlined before of going through the Radio Research Agency in Korea to register any foreign phones. No?
While I think it would be pretty sweet to get the Nexus in the states, we in Korea who want one will have to wait for many things for this phone to be fully functional if not even available here in Korea. Google voice would be sweet, but currently only mainly functions in the US. Just curious, but didn’t you sign a two year contract like I did to get the iPhone here? ㅋI don’t see myself with a new phone for a while now, even when they announce the new iPhone in June.
The 5megapixels on the Nexus would be sweet but I am pretty content with the speed and support (tons of support in the sense of software and peripherals offered to iPod/iPhones due to their established popularity.) of the iPhone. As well not to forget to reiterate that it is my main music device that is a solid player.
But who knows what the future holds, I have bought two Macbooks, two ipod touches and two iphones in the last 12 months. Somebody stop me, I’ve got student loans to pay! Maybe google is eventually coming to the rescue.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Even if you buy the phone from google for $529.99 you still need to get certified for $500,000 so it’s still 1K for the phone.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Good point Oscar…. I think the cert fee is a little less though…. would be great if this phone worked in both the states and Korea.
January 13th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Hey admin
I am going to korea at the end of month and I want to certified my U.S iphone. do I have to go to the radio research agency to get certified or will KT do it? Also I think there is another agency that does the certification, which one should I go to.
February 21st, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Dear All,
I was living in Korea for more than 5 years. The above expectations unfortunately will not be fulfilled for the simple reason that not Apple is “guilty” of the situation with the Iphone but the Korean authorities. Even if USA and EC act as being blind and deft here is acting a very efficient system of internal market protection. Until several years ago no outside company was able to sell mobile phones in Korea for the simple fact that they used a modified standard applicable only in Korea. After 3g became world wide standard developing a different one was probably not efficient so they start to use it (about 2 years ago). Even so they put in place some regulations that is making very hard to sell mobile phones here. Do you know that the only foreign mobile models are : 1 from Nokia, 1 from Sony Ericsson, 1 from HTC and noe the Iphone. This is all! More than that the operators are locking the phones that you can not use the phone even in the same network with other sim card! Also no matter how long is your contract they will not unlock the phone after the contract is finished! I had already 2 3g phones with contract finished and I tried to ask them to unlock to use them when I’m holiday but they said is not possible but I could use them on roaming! Smart !
If you think that will be an unlocked phone on the Korean market you can just forget it. It will not happens. Even the korean customers they don’t know that it is possible because they are told so by the operators.
In case of Iphone this procedure with testing has no mean since once the product is authorized to be used in one country (and Iphone it is since you can buy it) there is no reason to test it again.
April 4th, 2010 at 2:40 am
I just got my Nexus phone and it is awesome. The battery life sucks and I am looking for ways to preserve it.
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