Google Phone Not A Game Changer

On January 5th, Google held a press event to launch the much heralded Google Phone. After going through the details, there’s not much to get excited about (yet) from a personal finance perspective. While not yet available in Canada, the device is being sold directly by Google: $529USD unlocked (meaning you don’t have to lock into a contract and can choose which network to use it on with certain limitations) or $179USD with a two year contract with T-Mobile locking you in to pay $79.99USD per month. If you are an existing T-Mobile customer then the price of the phone increases to $279USD.

I know some people were hoping for the ability to only use the phone in wi-fi mode (to remove the requirement for a voice plan and only pay for a data plan) or to have Google offer a free plan in exchange for serving up ads on the screen – which I would be fine with. Free rocks!

Oh well – guess we’ll have to wait some more. :)

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