Google unveils Nexus One phone
 

Google has unveiled an own-brand smartphone called the Nexus One.

The wraps were taken off the handset at an invitation-only event held at Google's Mountain View HQ.

The Nexus One is a slim, touchscreen phone built in partnership with Taiwanese manufacturer HTC and runs Google's Android operating system.

It will be sold via Google's website and initially be available on T-mobile in America followed by Vodafone in Europe and Verizon in the US.

Direct from Google it will cost $529 (£331) and on contract with T-Mobile $179 (£112). Google said the phone would ship from launch day.

Mario Queiroz, Google vice president for product management, described the unveiling as "the next stage in the evolution of Android".

Mr Queiroz said there were now more than 20 Android phones available from 59 carriers in 48 nations.

The release of the Nexus One is seen as a move to ensure Google remains relevant as people search the web using mobile phones rather than typing queries into a PC.

Google makes the lion's share of its revenue by selling adverts linked to those queries.

At the briefing, Google said the Nexus was "a point of convergence where the web meets phone and is an example of what is possible on mobile through Android."

"You will see it pushes the limits of what is possible on a mobile phone today," said Peter Chou, HTC chief executive.

Google has set up its own phone portal through which people can get a handset tied to one of several mobile operators or untethered direct from the search firm.

Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi said this could be its main selling point as it would mean owners could decide which network to sign up with.

"You buy the phone and then choose what sim card you want to put in," she said.

Those buying an unlocked phone would be able to use it as a GSM phone on almost any network.

A spokesperson for Vodafone told BBC News that it was the first operator to "bring the Google phone to the UK" but stressed that it was a "non-exclusive agreement", meaning other networks could also offer the phone soon.

He said it would be available "in the coming weeks" but only from Google's website.

Figures from Gartner suggest that Android has about a 3.5% share of the global smartphone market. By comparison Nokia has a 39% share and Apple 17%.

It emerged on 5 January that Google sent out Nexus One phones to some industry figures in mid-December so they can try them out. Recipients were asked to keep quiet about their experiences until 5 January.

"The Google phone isn't much different than the iPhone," wrote VC Fred Wilson from Union Square Ventures on his blog. "It's basically an Android clone of the iPhone."

Google also announced on 5 January a plan to launch "pay to call" adverts that would appear on mobile phones. These would work in a similar way to the "pay to click" adverts that populate many websites and which form a significant chunk of Google's revenue.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8442205.stm


3.7 inch touchscreen
1GHz snapdragon processor
5 Megapixel camera with LED flash
GPS and compass
Accelerometer
Noise cancellation technology
Voice recognition can be used with all applications
Light sensor changes screen brightness to conserve power
512MB Flash memory with SD card slot (expandable to 32GB)

Though my most recent phone is not an HTC phone, in my opinion they make the best phones.

i am going to buy one

i'll buy version 2... i'm not going to be a sucker like all the fools that bought the G1. a week later everyone was complaining about that crappy/buggy phone.

the iphone will come down in price.

new iphone, itouch and islate coming out this year. the problem with the Google Nexus One phone is advertising. the iphone was in your face for 6mons prior to the release. everyother commercial was an iphone commercial the entire net was talking about it... Nexus One has no hype other than the google followers.

- not a fan of the trackball as a Blackberry owner i'm happy that RIM has switched to the trackpad

LOL? wtf, I have had G1 since creation and that is the best phone I have ever had and I like it much better than the iPhone. I know three people who had iphones and switched to G1's. I did contemplate getting a iphone 3gs when my G1 broke the other day, but went right back to a G1, it's too sexy...

I am going to get a Nexus I suppose ^_^

I have the G1 and can tell you I have probably used the trackball .01% of the time. Theres no need with touch scrolling, etc.

the G1 feels like its going to break everytime you flip the screen up. honestly not trying to bash the G1 but you're the first person that has admitted to loving the G1. I really do hope the Nexus One does well, I won't be purchases the first version, plus it'll be hard parting with my blackberry

I had my g1 since it came out... dropped that thing more times than I can count, including into a pool where I dried it out and waited a day before turning it back on and it worked. Then last week I finally dropped it climbing on a client's roof (Property Adjuster) and only the chip inside didn't allow the screen to function, called up T-mobile, got a new one, then yesterday after leaving the doctors, I get in the car, put it on my lap and watched it slide right into a nice big cup of cold coke, that destroyed it ;)

I have a loaner from T-mobile now and going to wait for this sucker to come out. If its on the android platform, I doubt there will be any issues like the iphone had when it first came out. They were just starting out.

Looks like a very cool phone. I want one.

Phone looks awesome! Has some very cool features. That and the open app market for google phones should finally present a real challenge to the iphone.

Google / T-Mobile fails.

Basically, if you have been a completely loyal customer with both Google and T-Mobile for years, you have always paid your bills on time, etc. You do not qualify for the discounted price of $179.99, you have to pay the full price of $539.99, even if you extend your contract for another two years. You have no option other than to pay $540, there is no debating this.

If they don't change this soon, I am just going to pay the $200 and cancel my contract and go to AT&T and get the iphone 3gs, I would still save $140.

Just ordered this bitch through some severe harassment and annoyance for $210.74 with tax, eat it!