by bintangkecil on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 | Business, News, Tech/Gadget

Google has announced their Nexus One phone at the press conference at Googleplex (Mountain View, CA). According to Google’s Mario Queiroz, the Nexus One is a “super phone” where the Web meets the cell phone. “It’s an exemplar of what mobile phones can do with Android,” he said.

The sales page for their new smartphone Nexus One is up and running. Customers in the United States can now buy an unlocked Nexus One for $529, or you can get one on contract with T-Mobile for $179. You’ll be able to use the quad-band world phone with any GSM carrier, but it will only support 3G networks used by T-Mobile in the United States. AT&T uses different 3G bands so anyone using the handset on the carrier will be stuck on EDGE. You also can buy the Nexus One with T-Mobile service for $179. That handset will be unlocked as well, but you’ll have to sign a T-Mobile contract. Outside the United States, customers in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong can purchase a phone.

Of course, the Google store-only purchase model marks a change in how cell phones are sold in this country. More devices will be added to the Google Store, the store will expand to more countries and more carriers, including Verizon, will join the program. What’s more, Verizon will sell a CDMA version of the Nexus One in the future.

More details on the Google Android Nexus One phone:
* Device is thin, at 11.5mm. Weighs in at 130g.
* 3.7 inch AMOLED 480 x 800 screen. Powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm SnapDragon CPU.
* Screen is touch-sensitive, but not multitouch like the iPhone.
* Voice support, and speech to text.
* GPS built-in.
* Powered by Android 2.1 “Eclair” OS.
* Built-in trackball acts as notification light.
* Built-in accelerometer.
* 5.0 megapixel camera and an LED flash. Capable on MPEG-4 capture. One-click upload to YouTube.
* Active noise-cancelation mic.
* Built-in Google Maps and Facebook support.
* Google Earth for Android.

FAQs

Q: Why only 512 MB app storage?
A: Future update will allow encryption for storage in SD card.

Q: Will it work on T-Mobile only?
A: AT&T SIM can be used as well. However, since there are different 3G frequencies AT&T 3G won’t
work very well. 3G in Europe will work better. EDGE only in US.

Q: What about the new Android OS?
A: It’s expected to be available for other phones in the near future.

Q: What about tethering and Wi-Fi?
A: Wi-Fi is currently supported. Tethering is being considered and it might be coming in the future.

Q: No physical keyboard?
A: Many Android-powered phone with physical keyboard are available. The voice command are meant to replace physical keyboard.

Q: How about multi-touch support?
A: “We’ll consider.”

Q: What about existing T-Mobile customers?
A: When you go to the Google Web Store, you’ll be asked if you’re a T-Mobile subscriber. If you are eligible for an upgrade, you’ll get a discount.

Q: Will the Nexus One be available in physical retail stores so customers can touch and get a sense of what it is like?
A: At this point is online only. They’ll iterate over time. They want to keep the process pure and simple.

Q: Will the Verizon version be just CDMA?
A: Phones that they’re working on will be “world mode.”

Q: Droid is a great phone, will the Nexus One cannibalize it?
A: Nexus One is a great phone, so is the Droid. They’ll upgrade Droid to Android 2.1.

Q: Google denied rumors of a “Google Phone,” What happened?
A: [laughs] Google didn’t build hardware, therefore, no 100% Google Phone.

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