Google has launched it’s iPhone competitor and it’s called the Nexus One. This Smartphone runs with Google’s own Android operating system and has a touch screen display – of course.

However, it differs to the iPhone in that it has an open platform which will allow developers create applications and bring them to the consumer far, far quicker than new apps can make it onto Apple’s iPhone (Apple has a something of a ‘jumping through hoops’ process for developers to go through).

It also differs to the iPhone, and this is good news for consumers, in that Google are also opening an online store where the shiny new object can be purchased with, or without, mobile operator contract. Although this is in the US only so far, but a deal is to be struck with Vodafone for European consumers.

For those doing business on the web, or who are still to join their online brethren, this launch further illustrates the growth of the mobile web. The Telephone is long since a talking matter. They are now a multi-functional device connecting in a multitude of ways, and growing all the time. The young folk no longer wear watches. People tweet from their phone, they email, facebook, shop, find themselves (geographically anyway) and so forth and so on.

According to Google, the number of mobile internet searches grew by 30% in the third qtr of 2009, over the previous 3 mths (Sunday Times, 3/1/2010). The challenge for web marketeers is to ensure that their marketing strategies are viewable on the small screen size.

Obviously, the main drawback is the small screen, but also developers should bear in mind download times, as these can be expensive for the consumer. Also, the design needs to avoid the requirement for a mouse, as a stylus is more likely to be used. One column layouts work best and the amount of text reduced.

Nexus comes from the Latin and means ‘connected group’  or ‘centre of something’. And that is just where Google is.

No related posts.