Nexus One Success Hampered by Google Web Store

From PC World: As the dust and confetti settle in the wake of the Nexus One launch, early reports suggest that Google sold a meager 20,000 of the next-generation "superphone" during its first week. Google's other big launch--the Web-based store for purchasing the Nexus One--may play a significant part in the weak initial sales.

The weak sales can be attributed to a variety of factors. First, Google did nothing to market or promote the Nexus One prior to launch--at least not directly. I am skeptical of product "leaks" and consider the alleged leaks a stealth marketing campaign designed to generate hype and speculation without investing any real marketing dollars.

In the end, marketing-by-product-leak is a sort of win-win for Google. If it works, the media and blogosphere do the marketing on Google's behalf and so much buzz is built up around the device that it becomes a grand slam right out of the gate without Google lifting a finger. If it doesn't work, Google can simply pretend it never "tried" to market the Nexus One, and no money is lost in the process.

The weak sales of the Nexus One can also be attributed to the success of previous Android handsets. While Google may not have put any effort into marketing the Nexus One, Verizon launched an all-out marketing offensive to promote the Motorola Droid prior to its launch. That was only a couple months ago.

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