What Does Nexus S Mean? It Means Samsung Doesn't Come In Second

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Samsung is a giant company, one of the largest in the world and they have a hand in almost market in the consumer electronics business. But, they also supply a lot of components used in other consumer electronics too. Samsung has been tightly and ruthlessly controlled by the Lee family since it was founded. Needless to say, Samsung doesn’t like to lose at anything. So, when Google recommended the new Samsung-Google Android phone be called the “Nexus Two” following the “Nexus One” from HTC that came out earlier this year, Samsung allegedly said no way.

That’s the word from blogging kingmaker Michael Arrington on his blog, TechCrunch. Arrington writes that when Google reps suggested to Samsung that the Samsung-manufactured Googlephone be dubbed the “Nexus Two”, Samsung said “We don’t like being number two.” Hence, the ‘Nexus S’ was born.

The Nexus S name serves a few purposes though. As far as branding goes, it bridges a gap between the Galaxy S and Nexus S. S also stands for Samsung – as well as standing for (these are other possible meaning thrown about by Arrington) speed, smart life or smart phone.

We’re seeing more and more of these custom UIs come up on Android devices. The manufacturers see them as a way to different themselves from other manufacturers – but Google isn’t happy about it. Hence, Google commissioned the Nexus One, the first Googlephone. And now, the Nexus S, the second Googlephone. It isn’t clear if HTC declined to make  the second phone, or Google picked Samsung, passing on HTC doing the phone. It would be sort of cool if every year Google went to a different manufacturer. Maybe not economically practically or realistic, but cool. Remember that Sony Ericsson originally boasted that they had been asked (and passed) on the option of manufacturing the original Nexus One.