Looks like the VZW N1 is "officially" dead.. Look on their site

[nickacs]

Google finally had a news update and it's telling people for VZW to go buy the Droid Incredible instead:

Nexus One | News and Updates

Also when you click on the Phones page, it moved the VZW logo up under the Phone + Plans section under TMobile, but says to go buy the Droid Incredible for VZW...

Looks like people who thought the Droid Incredible was Google's version of the N1 were correct!

I was hoping to hold out and think Google would release the VZW version this week or at least buy the time their Google Conference is in a couple weeks...

 

[Tomoko]

Wow! I had been thinking that maybe this might happen and see this over my morning cup of coffee. Not too surprised, but didn't expect the matter to be "settled" so soon.

 

[EgoDogg]

Google finally had a news update and it's telling people for VZW to go buy the Droid Incredible instead:

Nexus One | News and Updates

Also when you click on the Phones page, it moved the VZW logo up under the Phone + Plans section under TMobile, but says to go buy the Droid Incredible for VZW...

Looks like people who thought the Droid Incredible was Google's version of the N1 were correct!

I was hoping to hold out and think Google would release the VZW version this week or at least buy the time their Google Conference is in a couple weeks...

Haha, I posted this at the SAME EXACT time as you did in the Droid Incredible thread!

http://androidforums.com/621962-post45935.html

EDIT: And it looks like you saw and replied to that already. Haha

 

[loganss]

This confirms nothing. There is also no Sprint N1 section either. Most likely a move to generate more press.

 

[nickacs]

This confirms nothing. There is also no Sprint N1 section either. Most likely a move to generate more press.

Um, yes it confirms everything
IF Google was still going to have the N1 for VZW, then they would have left the VZW stuff at the bottom under 'Coming Spring 2010' and changed the link where they said 'Can't wait, go get the Motorola Droid' to 'Can't wait, go get the Droid Incredible.'

Easy as that. That way they are saying they are still making the VZW N1, but if you can't wait, go get the DI.
Now, since they took the 'Coming Spring 2010' away and moved it to the top, it's ova hova.. Dream on!

 

[loganss]

I could care less if the N1 comes out on verizon but people are jumping to some major conclusions by a few word changes on the Google phone page. It'd be one thing if there were several sources confirming this.

So are we to now assume that since they took off the coming soon section there will be no Sprint version?? Or maybe if there is no mention of a N1 successor on that page there will never be one?

Google clearly wants their Android OS to increase in smartphone market share so why not promote the HTC Droid Incredible now instead of the Motorola Droid? Help increase it's sales and HTC/Google both profit from it. Seems like a good idea to me.

 

[1080p]

This confirms nothing. There is also no Sprint N1 section either. Most likely a move to generate more press.

Are you seriously saying this right now? Man! Denial to the bitter end!

 

[Flaring Afro]

Looks like people who thought the Droid Incredible was Google's version of the N1 were correct!

I don't think they planned this. I think the Incredible came out faster due to the bugs they were dealing with on the N1. They are such similar phones, not many people at this point would get the N1 that wouldn't get the Incredible.

 

[1080p]

I actually saw this coming. Google might have initially thought it be a good idea to have the N1 available on every carrier, but it is not very cost effective or easy to do it. It's 1 thing to sell unlocked GSM on your website, but the CDMA carriers have customized data settings, PRL's and ESN/MEID data bases to keep up with... and it's a technology that is only used in the USA.

Nexus One is manufactured by HTC, but it is still a Google thing. Incredible is a HTC/Verizon thing. They are dealing with the CDMA stuff.

 

[SLVR]

None of this really matters till google can create a N1/N2 that can be both CDMA and GSM. It makes you wonder if Sprint is going to do the same thing and just tell people to get a EVO

 

[nickacs]

Are you seriously saying this right now? Man! Denial to the bitter end!

LOL.. yup, some people just can't let things go...

Let it go maaaan! Let it go

 

[SnotF]

Not overly surprising. The 4+ month wait would've been a lot for the same phone. Better to simply push the Droid, as its now the current android flagship phone.

 

[Roze]

None of this really matters till google can create a N1/N2 that can be both CDMA and GSM. It makes you wonder if Sprint is going to do the same thing and just tell people to get a EVO

I agree with you on that, Google should have just made a CDMA/GSM phone with all the frequencies on it!!! I think that saves them the trouble of making all of the various versions.

Not overly surprising. The 4+ month wait would've been a lot for the same phone. Better to simply push the Droid, as its now the current android flagship phone.

Well considering what we've seen with Android phones, the life of the phone is around 6 months before they are classified as 'outdated' by most of us. I mean look at how people perceived the Dream/Magic (G1/Eris) when the Droid/Nexus came out around 6 months later. Also, with the Droid Incredible, Desire and Evo 4G, Samsung Galaxy S out or coming soon, they all have a feature that surpasses the Nexus One.

 

[Flaring Afro]

Well considering what we've seen with Android phones, the life of the phone is around 6 months before they are classified as 'outdated' by most of us. I mean look at how people perceived the Dream/Magic (G1/Eris) when the Droid/Nexus came out around 6 months later. Also, with the Droid Incredible, Desire and Evo 4G, Samsung Galaxy S out or coming soon, they all have a feature that surpasses the Nexus One.

Don't forget the Motorola Shadow and Droid 2. I predict the shadow will be a nicer phone than the evo or incredible.

You can't expect to have the best phone out there without spending $1500 a year on phones.

 

[Nathan Hale]

Wow! I've been waiting for 5-6 months for this phone. But in some ways, I'm happy b/c the Incredible is available and I had been obsessing over which to get. Although I decided on the N1, this at least removes the decision from me. I'll now get the Incredible with no second guessing! bonus.

 

[tonygeno]

I could care less if the N1 comes out on verizon but people are jumping to some major conclusions by a few word changes on the Google phone page. It'd be one thing if there were several sources confirming this.

So are we to now assume that since they took off the coming soon section there will be no Sprint version?? Or maybe if there is no mention of a N1 successor on that page there will never be one?

Here's another source:

Verizon Doesn't Plan to Distribute Google's Nexus Phone - Bloomberg

 

[BiGMERF]

ouch, what does this mean for the future of the n1 period. im concerned

 

[tonygeno]

ouch, what does this mean for the future of the n1 period. im concerned

I think the idea was brilliant and would have been more brilliant if it had been a universal phone, i.e. CDMA and GSM. Pick your carrier on an unlocked phone and away you go. I personally think it would have sold a lot better this way. I owned one for a couple of days, but the 3G issues were a non-starter for me: dropped calls were worse than an iPhone on ATT if you can believe it, and the iPhone on T-Mobile held calls better than the Nexus. What I wonder is whether Google will stay in the phone business or just become a software provider.

 

[Air Force One]

ouch, what does this mean for the future of the n1 period. im concerned

When you combine this Verizon news with Google's lack of N1 advertising in general, and the fact that they released this thing on TMobile, it really makes you wonder what Google is thinking.

I'm sure Google would say they do not care how may N1's they sell. But that begs the question: why did Google even bother then?

I love the N1 and would never trade it for the Incredible, or any other device out right now, but I cannot help but wonder what the hell Google is doing.

Currently, the biggest selling point for the N1 is fast updates from Google. I sure hope Google makes good on this. If they do, then I will never regret the N1 as this is the main reason why I bought it. I just hope they don't forget about it.

 

[sooper_droid12]

None of this really matters till google can create a N1/N2 that can be both CDMA and GSM. It makes you wonder if Sprint is going to do the same thing and just tell people to get a EVO

Exactly. What I think carriers are going to realize is the the N1 hurts the bottom line of these carriers. Why? Because the question is: If I can get a device from Google that updates quickly and immediately, and would indefinitely be supported by Google, why would ever need to buy another device? Obviously, this doesn't bode well for carriers that lean on customers that buy and renew contracts with new devices every 2-3 years?

Now that Google has renewed interest in addressing the fragmentation of the Android platform, any phone is going to be as good as any other right? So, why not buy a device that spec-for-spec is better than the N1? Bigger screen (Evo), no touchscreen issues (Incredible), faster/smoother (Evo/Incredible), no glitchy touchball (both), etc., why not forget about the N1?

ouch, what does this mean for the future of the n1 period. im concerned

I don't think Google was bent on the N1 being quintessential Android phone for any considerable time, certainly not indefinitely. I think we all should have raised a red-flag when they introduced the phone as being the device that would usher in and accelerate Android device innovation. In that way, the N1 was meant to be the impetus, but not the torch bearer. When it didn't include or come with some of the features we thought would elevate it to the quintessential Google phone, we should have been concerned.

With low sales numbers, glitches, postponements and delays in release to other carriers, and now no VZW contract, this might signal the end of this phone. It may go the way of the G1 at this point. The next Google phone might be the U1... same number of letters between G and N is U. But yeah, right now, the only reason to pick up the N1 is because it'll surely receive uninterrupted updates, compared to Sense enabled "N1-like" phones.

 

[sooper_droid12]

What I wonder is whether Google will stay in the phone business or just become a software provider.

It's hard to say because, like when the N1 came out, I re-iterated how few missteps Google has made in its short history. Inevitably, Google would and will make a misstep. One could say that Buzz was their misstep. But contemporary to the error, Google released the N1. Perhaps, this will be another one of their missteps. It is interesting because this VZW news falls on the heels of Google ceasing investigation of the 3G issue on the N1. Seems like Google is realizing something about the phone, perhaps the cost and effort of supporting such a venture. I mean, losing the China market could be a big part of it. I think Google needs to realize what HTC has realized. Do what you do best. Leave the rest to others.

 

[icyfire]

When you combine this Verizon news with Google's lack of N1 advertising in general, and the fact that they released this thing on TMobile, it really makes you wonder what Google is thinking.

I'm sure Google would say they do not care how may N1's they sell. But that begs the question: why did Google even bother then?

I love the N1 and would never trade it for the Incredible, or any other device out right now, but I cannot help but wonder what the hell Google is doing.

Currently, the biggest selling point for the N1 is fast updates from Google. I sure hope Google makes good on this. If they do, then I will never regret the N1 as this is the main reason why I bought it. I just hope they don't forget about it.

I think this is a side effect of having a unregulated free for all type of system that comprises Android. I like Android and will be getting the Incredible this week, but it makes you wonder how Android will ever pick up enough momentum to compete with the iPhone which has consistent and unified marketing and deployment. As of right now, Android is very much a niche product and will remain so until Google decides to get their head out of their ass and write down some ground rules about which direction they're going to take. We all love a free and open OS but without some basic organization, it will go the way of Linux with its infinite distros and niche placement in the market. This is going to turn away a lot of the non-geek smartphone crowd.

 

[Air Force One]

It may go the way of the G1 at this point. The next Google phone might be the U1... same number of letters between G and N is U. But yeah, right now, the only reason to pick up the N1 is because it'll surely receive uninterrupted updates, compared to Sense enabled "N1-like" phones.

I think this is a valid concern. If Google continues to support this device then all is well, OTOH.....

The uninterrupted updates is why I bought this phone so they better continue.

 

[sooper_droid12]

Currently, the biggest selling point for the N1 is fast updates from Google. I sure hope Google makes good on this. If they do, then I will never regret the N1 as this is the main reason why I bought it. I just hope they don't forget about it.

But if Froyo is everything that everyone rumors it to be, then this will be Google's attempt to mitigate platform fragmentation. Updates would no longer be limited by the carrier's whim. With the evolution of the platform, how fast, quick or immediate a device receives an update will be negligible and a non-factor. At the moment, the N1 holds this advantage; the DROID is a distant second, but still less encumbered than Sense devices. But if 2.2 is what people are saying it is, this advantage will disappear.

 

[ArrowSmith]

Well this just clinches it, I'm not getting a 3G Nexus One. After much study and research I've decided that I'm going to wait another year until a great Android phone comes out on 4G network. I'd assume that would be Verizon.