Topic: Nexus S

Verizon Blocks Google Wallet, AT&T Likely To Do The Same

It’s being reported today (originally by VentureBeat) that Verizon has blocked implementation of Google Wallet on the new Galaxy Nexus handset. Verizon is the exclusive US carrier of the heavily anticipated device. According to a statement issued to Bloomberg, Verizon is citing security as the rationale: Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. wireless carrier, blocked Google Inc.’s […]

First Impressions: Galaxy Nexus Android 4.0 Smartphone

It is potentially the smartphone I’ve been waiting for since last year: the latest Android version, a “pure” Google experience and the ability to use what I consider the only real “4G” out there — Verizon. The Galaxy Nexus has arrived, at least with reviewers. There’s still no sale date announced for the US. I’m a […]

SearchCap: The Day In Search, October 3, 2011

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Hot At Sphinn: Digg’s Irrelevance, Facebook’s Timeline, Marketing Diversity & More One thing’s for certain in the online marketing industry: change. That was the frame for our “Discussion of the Week” […]

Google Wallet Surprisingly Easy To Use

When Google Wallet launched last month I wrote that it was important but mostly symbolic because of its limited availability. Wallet is only available on the Nexus S (from Sprint) and relies on the availability of NFC-enabled credit card terminals. The NFC technology on which Google Wallet is based requires a physical chip in the phone, effectively […]

Google Wallet Now Live, But In Very Limited Availability

As expected, Google has formally announced the first rollout of Google Wallet — the company’s first official entry into the growing mobile payments space. But Wallet is only taking a baby step today. Google says the app is only being made available to Sprint Nexus S 4G phones, and users will be able to pay […]

Google Wallet Launch Largely Symbolic But Important

According to documents seen by TechCrunch, Google Wallet is launching later today a bit behind schedule. As we discussed when the announcement was initially made in May, only a small number of people will initially have access to Google Wallet. There are only a handful of merchant and retail partners and only one handset currently […]

Google & Motorola Mobility: The What’s It All Mean Edition

What a way to start the week. The company that once said it would never build its own mobile phones, Google, wants to buy mobile phone maker Motorola Mobility. The technosphere has gone into 5G coverage over the news. Here’s what I’ve been finding interesting and some thoughts. Patent Protection A big part of this […]

SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 3, 2011

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Direct Google’s Crawl To Your New and Updated Pages Today, Google launched a new way for site owners to request that specific web pages be crawled. How is this different from […]

Google Promoting “Free” Nexus S On Homepage

Hurry, supplies are limited. If you’ve been to Google.com today (from a US IP address) then you’ve already seen the Nexus S “free today only” offer. Users can obtain the phone from US retailer Best Buy and must sign up for a two-year contract. Three out of the four major US carriers offer the phone: […]

SearchCap: The Day In Search, July 21, 2011

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: StumbleUpon Testing New ‘Explore Box’ Search Tool Some StumbleUpon users have been opted in to a new feature that seems to be aimed at helping them search and find interesting web […]

Live From D: It’s Google No-Longer-The-CEO Eric Schmidt

I’m at the D Conference in here beautiful Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt is to be interviewed by our fearless host Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. Let’s see what he has to say. Postscript: See The Top 10 Things Eric Schmidt Revealed At D9 if you want the less stream-of-consciousness view […]

With Google Wallet Mobile Payments Era Is Finally Here

For more than a decade people have prophesied the end of cash and credit cards. And for the past two years the drumbeat around mobile payments has grown steadily louder with the adoption of smartphones. Now numerous companies are jockeying to participate in what expected to be a huge market that will eventually generate billions […]

Live Blogging The Google Wallet Launch Press Conference

Google’s Commerce VP Stephanie Tilenius took the stage this morning in New York to announce what everyone was expecting: Google Wallet. She said that Google wants to create “tomorrow’s best shopping experience” and “bring online and offline together” through an open payments platform. Google aspires to bring offers, payments and loyalty together at the point […]

Don’t Expect A Big Social Announcement At Google I/O 2011

The Google I/O developers conference has turned into an event where people anticipate big announcements about forthcoming Google products. But at Google I/O 2011 next week, don’t expect Google to rollout a shiny new social network. Expect little to do with social at all. That’s the word from a source close to Google. There will […]

Search Engine Land’s Gadget Release Calendar

Wondering when that next tablet or smartphone will be coming out? We do, too! To keep track, here’s a rundown of what we know about particular devices. Devices below are listed roughly in order of release date. I’ll add more items over time. This isn’t a complete list of all coming gadgets out there. Far […]

Google Joins Forces With MasterCard On NFC To Test The Future Of Digital Marketing, Analytics

Google’s Gingerbread (Android 2.3) offers near field communication (NFC) support, which can be used for both “contactless payments” and marketing purposes. People tend to think about and discuss NFC in the context of “mobile wallets” and payments exclusively but there’s a great deal more it can do. For example, Google has been testing NFC-based marketing […]

Facebook Asking App Developers To Stop Using Google AdSense

The Inside Facebook Blog reports that some Facebook developers are receiving emails from Facebook to remove the Google AdSense ads they have on their apps. They posted a screen shot of one developer stating this in the developer group on Facebook. Here is a screen shot: Facebook issued a deadline of last month to remove […]

Google To Test Mobile Payments In NY And SF

While Apple has reportedly decided to forgo NFC-related hardware/software in iPhone 5 because of a lack of standards, Google is to begin testing NFC-based mobile payments at selected stores in New York and San Francisco according to an article in Bloomberg: The company will pay for installation of thousands of special cash-register systems from VeriFone […]

SearchCap: The Day In Search, February 23, 2011

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Forrester Research Publishes 1st Report On Enterprise SEO Automation Tools Today, Forrester Research unveiled a 6- page report on the utility of SEO automation tools for use in larger enterprises. Six […]

Live Blogging Google’s ThinkMobile Event

Google has been planning its ThinkMobile event for three months. Google’s Jason Spero (former AdMob VP) is on stage first and says he’s been anticipating an “event like this” for “about four years.” He says it reflects the fact that mobile is ready. Google’s Dennis Woodside reports that Google has seen a “400 percent increase […]

My Life With Google Voice Number Porting, Six Months In

Finally, anyone can port their mobile phone number to Google Voice. I’ve been doing so for the past six months. Thinking about making the jump? Here’s my experience, which is largely good. Plus, some thoughts on how this gives Android an added boost ahead of Verizon’s iPhone launch.

Google’s Eric Schmidt: “2011 All About Mobile”

Google CEO Eric Schmidt, writing in the Harvard Business Review (via RWW), says that Google’s 2011 initiatives are “all about mobile.” In his short piece he explains that geolocation on smartphones enables contexual personalization and a range of new possibilities and user experiences. But to realize that vision there are three infrastructure elements that must […]

How Will Google Be Impacted By Verizon’s iPhone?

In the event you were “off planet” yesterday you still might not know that Verizon is getting its own version of the iPhone on February 10. There are some differences between the Verizon and AT&T versions of the iPhone beyond their underlying technology (CDMA vs. GSM). Among them Verizon is offering an unlimited data plan […]

The 2010 Santa Tracker Review, From NORAD To Google Earth

It’s Christmas Eve, and you know what that means. Santa Claus is busy delivering toys to boys and girls around the world. Where is Santa Claus right now? Below, our annual round up of ways to find Father Christmas, from tracking Santa on Google Earth to monitoring him from your iPhone. NOTE: If you’re looking […]

SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 6, 2010

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: DecorMyEyes Merchant Vitaly Borker Arrested After NYT Piece On Google Rankings Just over a week ago, the New York Times introduced the world to Vitaly Borker, who boasted of being abusive […]

New Android Flagship Nexus S Comes Out Of Hiding

The Google Nexus S is out today. It was previewed incognito by Google CEO Eric Schmidt at Web 2.0 a few weeks ago. A Samsung Galaxy S-based handset running Android 2.3, it’s the new Android Flagship phone and reputedly best Android device out there — according to early reviews. We’ll get our proverbial mitts on […]

Live Blogging Google CEO Eric Schmidt At Web 2.0 Summit

Google CEO Eric Schmidt will be speaking today at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. I’m here and will be live blogging his remarks, when the session begins. Schmidt is set to speak at 2:35pm Pacific, and he’ll be interviewed on stage by John Battelle and Tim O’Reilly. Live blogging to start shortly. There’s […]

Google’s Take Two On Mobile Handset Retailing With Nexus 2

Google is rumored to be rolling out a “Nexus 2” — or if it were a movie sequel “N2” — on November 8 with Samsung. Google’s Nexus One (built by HTC) was a failed experiment in direct selling to the public rather than through carriers. Despite public statements to the contrary, the move angered carriers […]