Samsung Nexus S Coming to U.K. with Delay, Price Cut

The Android 2.3-based Samsung Nexus S was slated to go on sale in the U.K. Dec. 20. Instead, Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy will sell it in that country Dec. 22 at a discount.

Samsung's Nexus S smartphone, slated to go on sale at Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy U.K. in the U.K. Dec. 20, is being pushed to Dec. 22.

That delay, which still makes the device available to shoppers before Christmas, was tempered by a price cut. The unlocked phone (no SIM card) will cost U.K. consumers ???429.99 instead of the original ???549.95 price tag. The handset will also be available from free with a ???30 per month contract.

"Due to strong customer interest, limited stock will be available to buy direct at key Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy stores in the U.K.," Best Buy U.K. and Carphone Warehouse explained in a statement.

"All other branches of The Carphone Warehouse will be taking orders via instant ship delivery which will allow customers to pick up the phone from any store at their convenience.

Customers can also order the device online at www.carphonewarehouse.com and www.bestbuy.co.uk. Slashgear spotted the news earlier this morning.

Co-developed and co-branded by Google and Samsung, the Nexus S is the first smartphone to run Google's Android 2.3 operating system.

Samsung has done the hardware. Google has hand-picked the software, including all of the Google mobile apps consumers have become accustomed to using on Verizon's Droid line.

To support one of the new capabilities of Android 2.3, the Nexus S is also equipped with a near field communications (NFC) software stack and chip. These tools are geared to enable mobile payments and other contact actions enabled by the short-range wireless technology.

eWEEK tested the Nexus S on T-Mobile's network here in the United States and found it to be as fast an Android handset as exists on the market today.

The device has been available in the United States since Dec. 16 for $199.99 with a two-year deal from T-Mobile or $529.99 unlocked.