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Ali Khan and Chuck Nicketta think about new phones a little differently than most people \u2014 because their jobs focus on what\u2019s going in, on, around, under, or in some other way accessorizing phones. \u201cLet\u2019s say you bend a charging cable like this,\u201d Chuck says, holding up a cord to show me. “If you have a poorly designed plug connected to the phone, and you pull on the cable at an angle, the connector on the cable could break.” But they aren\u2019t just thinking about how accessories could damage phones: There are also screen protectors that could impact phone usage, or cases that degrade connectivity, or, well, lots of other things. \u201cOur jobs are to help partners make accessories that complement consumers\u2019 Google devices and are widely available,\u201d Ali says. \u201cAnd we work with partners around the world to make that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ali and Chuck work together heading up Made for Google, a program that helps partners develop accessories for Google devices like Pixel phones, Pixel Buds, Pixel Watch, Nest devices and Fitbit wearables. By focusing on certifying a range of accessories, Made for Google partner accessories give Pixel users tons of options \u2014 and buyers can be confident that these cases, cables, mounts and whatever else will be high quality, totally compatible and perform well.<\/p>\n
Made for Google provides partners with the device information and technical support they need in order to make sure everything they develop works seamlessly with Google devices. Once a product is thoroughly vetted, it receives the Made for Google badge \u2014 so buyers know what they\u2019re getting passed the test. (Er, tests \u2014 there are many!)<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the biggest benefits of the Made for Google program is the testing,\u201d Ali says. \u201cIn addition to lab testing, we test new products with Googlers, too, and we get incredibly detailed and insightful feedback. It can be things like, \u2018Hey, I used this phone case and found that the color wore off after I kept it in my jeans pocket,\u2019 or that it\u2019s too difficult to press down on the power button.\u201d<\/p>\n
The point of testing is twofold, Chuck says: To make sure the accessory functions as expected, and to ensure it doesn\u2019t damage or degrade the performance of the Google device it\u2019s supporting. That means testers check on any range of things \u2014 for instance, making sure a Pixel phone case doesn\u2019t make it hard to click the volume button, or that a stand for your Pixel Tablet isn\u2019t blocking the speaker. Or, in the aforementioned example, that a cable won\u2019t put unnecessary stress on a charging port. Chuck and Ali\u2019s team also look at how a product is built to ensure it complies with Google\u2019s safety and environmental specifications.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n