Google donated Nexus 5 handsets to help the less fortunate

Apr 16, 2015 12:45 GMT  ·  By

Google’s once much cherished Nexus 5 smartphone is no longer available for purchase from the Google Play Store, but that doesn't mean its quest of making people’s lives better has ended. Far from it.

Apparently, Google donated 150 Nexus 5 devices to the Mobile4All community, a pilot program in San Jose, California, that provides homeless people one such smartphone in order to help them better communicate with the world, find jobs and eventually a home they could call their own.

As part of the Community Technology Alliance (CTA), Google is offering these smartphones with a custom plan, Wi-Fi connectivity, and customer service.

And the program really seems to be making a difference. Holly Leonard, who has been living in her car for over a year, told KTVU that having a working phone and a reliable Internet connection helped her slowly put herself back on track. Leonard now has a home, keeps in touch with her family, and can send out resumes to possible employees.

Everything today is Internet-based, so there are slim chances to find employment or a place to rent if one is not connected to the interwebs.

The mobile services are delivered at a (small) cost

If you think the Nexus 5 program is completely free, you might be surprised to find out that the service does come at a reduced fee. For 30 bucks a month going to BetterWorld Wireless, the device gets unlimited calls, SMS, and 500MB of included data.

The phones come pre-installed with a suite of applications including Skype, Google Voic and a free calls app from MagicJack. Mobile4All will send out alerts notifying the user of any available home, jobs or weather reports.

The Nexus units given away to homeless people come without a contract and offer alternative ways of payment other than using a bank account. Students at the Santa Clara school also pitched in a little bit by designing the interface on the phone.

Other partners of the Community Technology Alliance include CityBank and Vodafone, which have also donated more than 1,000 additional phones. The program will expand in the near future to cities like Detroit and San Francisco, helping homeless people get back on track and live a normal life.

Google's Nexus 5 is helping homeless people (2 Images)

Google wants to help the homeless
A Google Nexus 5 smartphone
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