Superphone, Meet Kryptonite: Google Kills The Nexus One

July 19, 2010 By Geoff Duncan

Touted as a "superphone" at the beginning of 2010, Google is ceasing sales of its Nexus One Android phone.

Back at the beginning of the year, Google had the mobile industry at the edge of its seat as it unveiled the HTC-made Google Nexus One, touting the device as a “superphone” that raised the bar for the entire smartphone industry and introducing a Web-only retail model for consumers to set their hands on the device, via partnerships with T-Mobile and AT&T. Now, following a difficult launch, Google learning that tech support for phones is neither simple nor easy, and having both Sprint and Verizon Wireless backing out of carrying the device, then shutting down that oh-so-innovative online phone store, Google is finally pulling the plug: one the current batch of Nexus One phones are sold, Google says the device will no longer be for sale in the United States.

“This week we received our last shipment of Nexus One phones,” Google wrote in a blog post. “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.”

Google says the Nexus One will continue to be offered by overseas partners, including KT in South Korea and Vodafone in Europe.

Although the Nexus One generally got positive reviews—leaving aside complaints about carrier service—the phone only managed weak sales (especially compared to the iPhone and the original Droid, which launched just before the Nexus One). The Nexus One was the first Android phone to get Android 2.2 “Froyo;” however, as a handset the device is quickly being eclipsed by devices like the HTC Evo 4G and Droid Incredible, the new Droid X, and the raft of Samsung Galaxy S handsets landing now at U.S. carriers. And, of course, the iPhone 4 continues to cast a long shadow on the mobile marketplace, antenna issues or no.

With the Android operating system now firmly launched into the mobile marketplace, the Nexus One might mark Google’s only branded foray into the smartphone arena. Google seems to have regarded the Nexus One as a way to test Android in the marketplace, as well as see if mobile consumers were ready to by phones via the Web rather than retail stores. Android seems to have been well received; Google online store and support, however, seem to have earned a shunned by phone buyers.

*Editors Note 7/19/2010 – We corrected the launch date of the Motorola Droid to reflect that it came out BEFORE the Nexus One, not after

Showing 3 comments

Young at 2:02am 23rd July 2010 I think the author got it wrong. Google says the phone will not be available through the online store, but will still be sold in telco stores. Research well before saying the wrong thing.
Neil at 10:47am 19th July 2010 "...the original Droid, which launched shortly after the Nexus One" Actually the Droid came out about two and a half months before the Nexus and benefited from a marketing blitz that was in stark contrast to the mostly quiet launch of the Nexus One. Whether this was because Google was trying not to irk hardware manufacturers who are crucial to the success of the Android ecosystem, or because Google just didn't have it's act together for pushing the phone, I'm not sure. I bought one at full price (i.e. no contract) and have been quite happy with it. Sad to see that it didn't make much of a dent in the smartphone sales model.
1. ioman at 11:11am 19th July 2010 Ah, looks like they updated the article and added a note. You are right, the Droid came out before. The big difference I saw in marketing was that Google spent on their money promoting it online via their Google adsense and regular banner ads. I can't remember seeing a commercial for it on TV. Verizon and Motorola promoted the Droid like crazy. Banner ads, TV commercials, billboard, the whole nine yards. It's sad because the Nexus One was not a bad phone. But maybe Google is being smart and leaving the hardware to the other players and just focusing on the OS.