This week we received our last shipment of Nexus One phones. Once we sell these devices, the Nexus One will no longer be available online from Google. Customer support will still be available for current Nexus One customers. And Nexus One will continue to be sold by partners including Vodafone in Europe, KT in Korea, and possibly others based on local market conditions.

To ensure our developers have access to a phone with the latest Android OS, Google will be offering the Nexus One through a partner for sale to registered developers. Visit the Android Market Publisher site and log into your developer account to purchase a Nexus One.

This officially marks the end of the N1 experiment.  There are many opinions why this experiment failed. Google has certainly learned a lot about the complexity of the US wireless market and retail operations in general. The N1 offered a glimpse at carrier independence, with unrestricted software access and real-time Android updates. The 3G reception problems and the resulting finger-pointing between HTC, T-Mobile and Google highlighted the inherent problems with this direct sales model.

I believe, that the US wireless market with its carrier specific 3G data frequencies and incompatible wireless network technologies is a key reason for the failure of the N1, and Google’s direct sales model. Why buy an expensive phone without contract subsidy, if you can’t switch wireless providers because the phone wont work on another carriers network?

Starting today, Nexus One users will begin to receive the Android 2.2 (codenamed Froyo) over-the-air software update on their phones. This update provides some great new features including support for making your handset a portable hotspot and support for Adobe Flash within the browser.

If you can’t wait for the OTA update, you can get the latest FRF85B build directly from Google FRF91 build directly from Google and use the upgrade instructions found in some of the previous posts.

The phone will go on sale on July 15th for $199, after $100 rebate with a 2 year contract. Anybody with a contract ending in 2010 can upgrade!

• $29.99/month smartphone unlimited data plan
• $20/month for tethering (WiFi & USB) for up-to 2GB of data, 5cents/MByte overage fee

Specs:

• 1GHz TI OMAP CPU
• 512MB RAM, 8GB internal flash memory
• 16GB SD card included, expandable to 32GB
• 8MP Camera, dual LED flash
• 4.3″ Display, 854 x 480, 400,000+ pixels
• 1570mAh battery
• HDMI out port
• 3 microphones (one noise-canceling)
• Ships with Android 2.1 including new version of MotoBlur
• Android 2.2 (Froyo) will be released this summer

Update: Here’s the first Droidx commercial from the VerizonWireless YouTube channel.

The Verizon web-staging site revealed for a short time (now password protected) what should make it to the live website very soon.

Update: Pre-ordering starts online on Monday April 19th.

The 3/18 OTA software update will not happen as planned. A new date will be announced as soon as possible.

via engadget

To clarify: Even though T-Mobile and AT&T are both using the GSM standard for their mobile networks the radio frequencies for their 3G data networks are different.  For the consumer, that means you’ll need to buy a carrier specific phone in order to get 3G access .

A Verizon CDMA version should become available within days. I think this is the first time that the same phone (name, packaging) will be available on three different every major US mobile network. This should make things really interesting on eBay as people buying used Nexus One’s will have to make extra certain they are getting the one that works with their chosen mobile provider.

Update: Sprint just announced that they will also be getting the Nexus One.

• 8 megapixel camera with autofocus
• Memory: 512 MB ROM, 512 MB RAM (320 free to the user)
• Android 2.1 with HTC’s Sense UI
• Optical Trackpad
• 3.7″ WVGA (800×480) AMOLED Screen
• 1300mAH battery
• FM Tuner
• 802.11b/g WiFi
• 117.5 mm (L) x 58.5 mm (w) x 11.9 mm (T)
• 1Ghz Snapdragon processor, underclocked to 768Mhz.

via mobilecrunch