Why I can't wait for the Google Phone

Up until 9 years ago I loved mobile phones. As a corporate type, a guy from logistics used to give me a new one every few months, and I never even saw the bills!

Image and more information in the post from Mashable: Nexus one

Then I descended into mobile hell, when I started my own business. Which provider? Which tariff? I hate the way service providers here in Europe have made the tariffs so complicated. My current one has no less than 14 different business packages, and even then, they don’t seem to have the right one for me, although I can’t be sure without spending several hours analyzing the options against my recent bills. I even once made the mistake of calling into one of their shops to see the 13 year old “Corporate Expert” who it turned out could list every feature of every handset, but looked blank when I asked him about tariffs and which would be best for my needs.

The problem is that handsets are ridiculously expensive unless you tie yourself into a long term contract, and then if you keep taking advantage of the cheap or free replacement phones, your contract keeps being extended.

It’s why I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of the much rumored Google Phone. If the stories are to be believed, Google will turn the mobile phone industry on it’s head, by offering a well priced (they’re saying $100) handset, unlocked for use with any Sim Card.

That will finally put consumers like us into the driving seat. I can then go to each of the airtime providers and tell them my needs, and let them fight for my business. In case anyone from Vodafone, Movistar or Orange are reading this, here’s what I want:

Free calls between our own phones
One rate to all mobiles at any time of day
One rate to all landlines at any time of day
A reasonable international rate
A reasonable roaming rate
Unlimited data
…….and a contract I can cancel with a month’s notice

Sound fair? I don’t need it to be cheap – you can make a decent profit. But I want to be able to make calls without thinking “Where am I?” or “What time of day is it?” and to know I’m not going to be ripped off.

And another thing. When I’m abroad in UK for example, my phone “roams,” seamlessly selecting the strongest signal from any provider according to where I am. Why can’t it do that when I’m in my home country? Why do I have to suffer with poor signal because Vodafone doesn’t have a mast in Charco del Palo? It can’t be that hard, can it?

Bring it on Google!

Are you outside of Europe? Do mobile phone tariffs work the same way there?