Customer support and Google are not exactly synonymous these days as we enter another week of customer complaints about the Nexus One.  The Nexus One is different than other Android devices because it is a trifecta of confusion – sold by Google, manufacturer by HTC and operating on T-mobile.  So who do you turn to when you have problems with your Nexus One?  Today we have an answer, Google has announced a new support hotline for customer inquiries. To reach the hotline, which will be open daily between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time, customers can call 888-48-NEXUS (63987).

Consider this the first of many steps Google needs to take if it plans on overtaking the smartphone world.  Some other great news we’ve just confirmed is that Google has dropped the ridiculous termination fee for customers who want to return the handset after the 14-day period (30 in California).  Rather than forking out $550 in fees between T-mobile and Google, unsatisfied customers are now only required to pay $350 in EFTs.  So better support and a lower ETF, sounds like we might have the second coming of the Nexus One or at the very least a little extra comfort for the next US Carrier to launch the device – Verizon Wireless.

[via NYTimes]

This evening a foreign website is reporting that Google might be gearing up to release their own brand of mobile phones.  Rather than using Motorola, Samsung or Dell, Google will focus on their own brand much like Apple and the iPhone, but even take things a step further by bypassing the national carriers and selling the phone without contract.  The website claims that this is all part of Google’s focus on the new generation of open standards designed to bring mobile Internet devices to consumers.  With the current limitations mobile carriers enforce with exclusive devices it makes more sense for Google to embody the the open standards by selling the device direct to the consumer instead of forcing them to be at the mercy of their current wireless carrier.

So what do we know about this alleged Google brand of Android phones?  Well the focus of the project will be centered around the Qualcomm Snapdragon platform with an overall goal of delivering open, low-cost network-friendly touch-screen devices.  Maybe those classic renderings of the original Google Phone have a bit more credibility now that Android has established itself as a player in the smartphone market.

[via]

Rumors are spreading amongst Navigation Service Provider like Tele Atlas who fear that Google is gearing up to release a free ad-support Navigation App that will deliver stand-alone quality GPS guidance.  Yes this means lane assist, voice-guided directions and all the bells and whistles you’ve grown to expect from your TomTom or Garmin navigation units.  With their own US maps and an updated version of Google Maps, Google could essentially eliminate all third parties and become a navigation powerhouse.  It looks like Android has just gained some leverage in the smartphone world if these rumors prove true.

[via]

You didn’t really think Google would let Verizon Wireless steal the thunder of Android 2.0 (Eclair) now did you, or course not.  Google has officially announced the launch of Android 2.0 today with two big announcements: SDK support  so that developers can go ahead and start building their wonderful apps and a comprehensive list of the changes found in 2.0.

• Support for multiple Google and Exchange accounts
• Third-party “sync adapters” allow apps to tie in to the phone’s sync services
• Quick contact menus for fast access to specific key pieces of contact information
• Unified email inbox (yes!)
• SMS and MMS search
• Text message auto-delete after a user-defined thread size is reached
• Significantly improved camera controls with white balance, macro, effects, and more
• Improved keyboard layout, dictionary, and algorithm based on multi-touch support
• Double-tap zoom in browser, support for HTML5
• Bluetooth 2.1 support with addition of OPP and PBAP profiles
• “Better” graphics hardware acceleration

Unfortunately Google did not make any announcements regarding the roll out of Android 2.0 to other carriers so we’re still waiting for new on that.

[Via]

We’ve seen Cupcake, now Donut and next in the rather ridiculous Android naming scheme is Eclair, or more popularly Android 2.0.  At the moment Motorola is confirmed to be launching the Motorola Droid with Android 2.0, but as Sprint users sit and wonder when their HTC Hero will even make it to 1.6, HTC has come to save the day.  The manufacturer has confirmed to GearLog that they have an Android 2.0 device in house and they are using it to build future phones.  Although this does not answer the question of when Android 2.0 roll outs will come to other carriers, it at least confirms that HTC is digesting the new build and they certainly plan to support it.  An official announcement for Android 2.0 is expected to come sometime this week and with any luck we’ll be announcing release dates for all of the existing devices.

[via]