Well then, chalk another massive unreserved fcuk-up on the ‘Google Screw-up Blackboard’. TechCrunch reports that Google is shelving plans to disintermediate the planet’s mobile phone industry.
If you recall, google.com/phone was intended to be your one-stop-shop for Android handsets where you could, if you wished, pick up a handset unlocked or select your dumb pipe/bank of choice to get the device on contract and subsidised.
That was the idea. And it was a very real threat to the industry. Until about 20 minutes into the launch when it became clear that Google couldn’t cope with actual real people asking questions. The one thing you can’t do with customers paying 500 quid for a device is plug them into an API. No. Someone has to answer the phone at the end of the day. Or at least the email.
I know many of the operators I’ve spoken to are privately filled with glee at the unmitigated screw-up. One thing operators can do in their sleep is manage 18 million customers reasonably competently.
It seems as though Google simply couldn’t hack it, with some operators refusing to play along with the google.com/phone concept. I’d have liked to have seen a lot better. An awful lot better.
Meanwhile I’m beginning to side with many who refer to Google in a reasonably accurate manner as a one-trick-multi-billion-dollar-pony. Oh, and Gmail/Google apps is good too.
Gahhhh.
Posted via email from MIR Live
I pay Google circa £15,000 a year for Premier Apps accounts for staff email etc, and even then I do not get to speak to a Google support person. I have to pay a Google-approved integrator to find/make any fixes I can't get answers for in the Google knowledgebase.
And even they don't have any clue if/when new features or big issues will be sorted. All in Google's time.
Now it is a pretty good thing, Google Apps. Just don't expect service in the traditional sense.
Its interesting that they couldnt pull it off because quite frankly, it isnt “THAT” tough.
Google, being just Google, with all its online experience and resources should have been able to at least gather one person that knew the 'do and donts'. The idea itself was good, the performance was not..
Regarding the distribution itself:
A friend of mine in South Africa got his handset shipped to Serbia, another one in Singapore had his handset being dumped off in some EU country. I wonder what kind of business system they used..
//Patrick
Dear me that's a ridiculous experience for your friends!
Well, one has to take the bad with the good. Eventually they got their products and with it a good story (my words, not theirs hehe)
//Patrick