Google Nexus One I Phone

The Nexus One. In the modern climate of hyped (and over-hyped) smartphone launches, Google's official entry into the phone-sales game has excelled in a department where many find difficulty: generating legitimate excitement. Of course, long before the name Nexus One or the recent bounty of pictures and details existed, the very concept of a "Google Phone" had been ingrained in the public conscience, predating even the Open Handset Alliance and Android itself; the company dabbled in the concept of direct sales through its offering of the Android Dev Phones 1 and 2 (alias Ion), but this time, it's a public retail ordeal, not a couple of one-off developer specials. The genuine-article Google Phone is finally here -- for better or worse.

Highlights

• Fast, smooth typing with the on-screen virtual keyboard
• Easy access to favorite apps, contacts, bookmarks, and more via home screen widgets and live folders
• Video recording, playback, and sharing
• Full web experience with enhanced browser
• Hands-free calls and listening with stereo bluetooth
• Lots of UI refinements and performance improvements to the overall phone experience
• New APIs and elements to enable even more innovative apps from developers

The Nexus One was released on January 5, 2010. The phone is sold via Google's website, at a price of $529 unlocked, or a subsidized $179 when purchased with a T-Mobile two year contract. Only one plan is available - $79.99 per month rate, which includes 500 talk minutes with unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited texting/MMS, and web data. The $179 T-Mobile price is only for individuals who are not currently under contract with T-Mobile. If one currently has a T-Mobile contract without a data package, the price of the phone rises to $279.99. If the contract has both the voice and data package, the price of the phone again jumps to a higher price bracket, which is $379.99. [17][18] By spring 2010, a Verizon version will be available in the US and a Vodafone model in Europe, with plans to expand the phone to other carriers and international markets in due course.


Google is making the phone available for delivery to the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong, although native carrier tie-ups have not been finalized for these countries, and the phone will be shipped from the US. Customers ordering from the UK are charged $20 international shipping and an optional $19.99 for an AC adaptor, with an additional 17.5% VAT and 6.5% import duty being added. Singapore applies 7% GST, while Hong Kong does not add any additional taxes.