Rumour: Google toying with phone protection plans with ‘Nexus Protect’

When Google introduce their new Nexus lineup possibly later this month, a new option for protection your new deice could be on the way as well. Called Nexus Protect, the new option could possibly offer a peace-of-mind insurance type offering.

The code mentioning Nexus Protect has shown up in the code for the Google Store, Google’s hardware focused online retail arm. The code which apparently will pop up over the main page as a toast style window doesn’t appear complete, but comes in the form of a reminder to add the ‘Nexus Protect’ option to any phones (or devices) being purchased :

You can’t add this phone unless it has the same Nexus Protect choice as other phones in your cart. You can update your choice or purchase this phone in your next order.

Android Police spotted the code, and it seems to be an option to add to any hardware purchased from the Google Store – including hardware from third party manufacturers supplying Android TV, Android Wear and Chromebooks.

Availability of the option – if it in fact ever comes to fruition – could possibly be limited to the US. Google last year began offering limited one-time screen replacements for Nexus phone owners but only in the US. The data gathered from that limited trial could possibly be fueling this new initiative.

Whether the option will go live, how much it will cost, who it will be available to, what it actually is, is all still up for speculation until Google actually announces it. But as a Nexus 5 owner who is currently looking at a smashed screen I for one would add Nexus Protect protection to any device I purchased – Would you?