Google said the Nexus One is now available from Google's Web store as an unlocked device without a service plan for AT&T's 3G network in the U.S. and on Rogers Wireless in Canada. Nexus One devices can also now be shipped to Canada from Google's Web store and will work with a SIM from Rogers Wireless. If the Nexus One can find purchase on AT&T's network, it may be able to more directly challenge Apple's iPhone, currently carried exclusively by AT&T.
Google March 16 said it is now selling a version of its Nexus One smartphone
that runs on AT&T's 3G network and Rogers Wireless, a move that could
broaden the device's appeal and put it more squarely in competition with
Apple's world-beating iPhone 3GS.
The Nexus One is now available from Google's Web store as an unlocked device
without a service plan for AT&T's 3G network in the United
States and on Rogers Wireless in Canada.
Nexus One devices can also now be shipped to Canada
from Google's Web store and will work with a SIM
from Rogers Wireless, the
company said.
Google's Nexus One is based on the search engine's Android operating system,
an open-source platform around which more than 20 different handsets have been
built. The device, which runs the latest Android 2.1, includes a speedy 1GHz
processor.
When Google
launched the Nexus One from its
Web store Jan. 5, the company made the device available
unlocked for $529 and with a two-year contract from T-Mobile for $179.
Google officials also pledged to make the Nexus One available on Verizon
Wireless and via Vodafone in the spring. Recent reports
indicated Verizon could sell the Nexus One as early as March 23,
with the device rolling out from Vodafone in April.
In February, mobile gadget blogs
discovered that the Federal Communications Commission had blessed
a version of the Nexus One smartphone that runs on AT&T's 3G network.
Google designed the Nexus One to be unlocked, which means users can use it
with a SIM card from most GSM operators
worldwide.
While the device is compatible with 3G networks such as T-Mobile, carriers
such as AT&T and Rogers have different 3G frequencies. Accordingly, users
owning SIM cards from AT&T or Rogers
devices could only access 2G or EDGE networks on their Nexus One.
That all changed today. Users may
choose from two versions of the Nexus One: one with 3G
coverage on networks that use the 850MHz, 1,900MHz, and 2,100MHz frequency
bands. This is recommended for use on AT&T in the United
States and Rogers in Canada.
Google also offers the Nexus One with 3G coverage on networks that use the
900MHz, AWS and 2,100MHz frequency bands. This is recommended for use on
T-Mobile in the United States.
This move is a bit of positive news in the wake of a dismal new report from
analytics researcher Flurry, which found that the Nexus One
sold only 135,000 units through its first 74 days of retail
sale.
By contrast, the Android-based Motorola Droid from Verizon Wireless sold
1.05 million units, while Apple's inaugural iPhone
shipped 1 million copies in 2007.
If the Nexus One can find purchase on AT&T's network, it may be able to
more directly challenge Apple's iPhone, currently carried exclusively by
AT&T.
With features such as pinch-to-zoom multitouch, the Nexus One has been
compared to the iPhone with all of its functionality. This is a big reason why
Apple has
sued Nexus One manufacturer HTC
for infringing on some 20 of its smartphone patents dating back the last
several years.
The idea is to take
Android down a few notches as Apple seeks to defend its turf from
Google-based phones.
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