Pixel ‘phone by Google’ announced

Starts at $649. Ugh. The era of a phone as a status symbol is fading, and even if Google succeeds in winning Android's high-end market, that's not what a majority of consumers are after. We want cheap phones. Given the end of subsidises (in the US market) and consumer fatigue for laying out crazy money for a disposable device, $200 is the sweet spot which Google should have been aiming for. Don't compete with iPhone, define a new standard and make them compete with you.

It honestly looks like a cheap iPhone clone. Why did they choose to go for the same aesthetic?

The most important thing a company like Google or Apple could do is liberate consumers from the tyranny of phone companies in the US. My device ought not be limited to a single provider. Imagine if this was the case with your computer.

By making devices vendor-locked competition is limited and service costs remain high. Smart phones have been a windfall for phone companies. We are all paying way too much for their services. If competition was open due to device independence, service would be better and costs would come down.

> Google's Pixel phones built to challenge Apple iPhone

> Google Pixel phone launched to take on iPhone

> ...Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

Why not "a phone to delight customers" or "phone to make people healthier and more connected with their family" or "a phone to democratize Android (and make it somewhat accessible to non-geeks)"?

iPhone, by Google.