Marketing efforts faltering for Google's Nexus One
Published March 18, 2010
While the smartphone sector in the U.S. has continued to heat up, one of the most widely discussed devices has posted lackluster sales numbers compared to its competitors at the top level.
Google's Nexus One, though a powerful and feature-laden device, has suffered from some early public relations reverses. These were caused primarily by Google's inexperience with customer service and spotty 3G connectivity with T-Mobile's network, the only one offering the Nexus One at a subsidized price.
The other two top smartphones, Motorola's Droid and Apple's iPhone 3GS, have both sold over a million devices, with the 3GS in particular dominating the competition. Still, Mobile Magazine points out the Droid has sold more units than the original iPhone over a similar amount of time since release.
The difference is instructive. While both the Droid and the iPhone had substantial digital marketing advantages at launch - the Droid was at the center of a large-scale integrated marketing blitz, and the iPhone enjoys a stellar reputation as a brand - Nexus One has had a more difficult time, despite Google's brand recognition.