Google released a new smartphone Tuesday it’s calling “the first phone made by Google inside and out.”
The internet service conglomerate announced the latest product is called Pixel.
Google Pixel (bottom) and Pixel XL (top) for Verizon Wireless, in blue and silver pic.twitter.com/o1phG9esbP
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 4, 2016
“That name may sound familiar to you because we’ve used the Pixel name in the past for consumer hardware products that represented an overall premium Google experience,” said Vice President of Product Management Brian Rakowski. But the former device ultimately failed to pick up steam, along with the Nexus line of smartphones launched in 2011.
Google’s software is included in devices manufactured by tech companies like Samsung, LG Electronics and Lenovo. Google is still trying hard to be hardware company, and it is hoping this latest effort will be taken more seriously.
Becoming both a software and a hardware company is a lofty goal, but Apple’s fairly weak sales so far may leave an opening for success.
“If you really want to make a step-change difference, you really have to design the software and hardware together,” Rick Osterloh, senior vice president of hardware, said, according to The New York Times.
Meet #Pixel — the first phone designed inside and out by Google. #madebygoogle pic.twitter.com/xGAWjAbFXK
— Google (@google) October 4, 2016
The Pixel is currently available for pre-order with a hefty price tag of $649. Google partnered with Verizon to offer the phone at the telecommunications retail stores, as well as Best Buy.
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