After years of partnering with some of the leading handset manufacturers, Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL)(NASDAQ:GOOG) has finally gotten into the hardware business itself. It officially introduced its first Google branded phone to consumers yesterday, the Pixel.
Pixel has a number of unique features, including a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone, a large battery that can get up to seven hours of usage on a 15-minute charge, a camera Google itself calls "the best smartphone camera ever," and something called Google Assistant built in, which is the company’s answer to Apple’s Siri.
Other features include unlimited storage space online for photos and videos, a video calling feature that will work with both Android and iOS-powered devices, and a brand new version of Android that will offer additional features. Folks who buy an unlocked version of the phone in the United States will also be eligible to use it under Project Fi, Google’s low-cost alternative to traditional wireless carriers.
The phone will be available in the United States, U.K., Canada, Germany, and Australia, and entry level devices will start at $649. Verizon will get the exclusive launch rights in the United States.
What remains to be seen is whether the device will really make a dent in iPhone sales. It’s obvious from the price point and the premium features that Google sees itself as an iPhone competitor, and high-end Android phones certainly have their place in the market. But will Pixel be popular, or just another phone that does a decent niche business?
Most seem to think Pixel will be a minor hit at best, but it’s the precedent that should scare Apple. There’s officially another competitor in the top part of the market, one with very deep pockets.
