Google previews the Nexus One

Google announced they are releasing their first smartphone dubbed the Nexus One. The handset, built by Taiwanese phone maker HTC, will run Google's Android 2.1 operating system and sport the Google brand. Last weekend, Google announced they "shared this device with Google employees across the globe" on their mobile blog.

A few specs on the new Google phone have leaked out thanks to the folks at Engadget and These Are The Droids. It appears the Nexus One handset is a GSM phone with specs similar to the HTC Passion or Dragon. Engadget also has some pretty cool photos of the Google Nexus One.

Here are the purported (but as yet unconfirmed) specs for the Nexus One:

• 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 
• OpenGL ES 2.0-capable graphics
• noise-cancellation chipset
• AM-OLED touchscreen (3.5, 3.7, 4.3 inch?)
• trackball and no physical keyboard
• 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
• microSD card
• GPS (?)
  
• proximity and ambient light sensor
• accelerometer and magnetic compass
• FM stereo tuner

Google's Nexus One is reportedly thinner than Apple's iPhone. It also has two mics, a standard mic up front and one on the back for eliminating background noise. Although rumored to have 802.11n Wi-Fi capability, this feature was not mentioned in the FCC test report.

The handset supports both quad-band GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and tri-band HSPA (900/1700/2100 MHz). The last bit means it works with T-Mobile's 3G network in the US.

T-Mobile will most likely sell this handset because of the 3G support and their prior relationship with Google's first two Android phones (G1 and myTouch 3G). However, it's rumored that Google will sell the handset directly to consumers.

Pricing for the Nexus One is vague. Google could sell the Nexus One through a carrier (T-Mobile) with a contract at a subsidized price. Google could also sell an unlocked Nexus One directly for either a full unsubsidized price, or at a discount subsidized by Google’s advertising.

As January approaches, more details on the Nexus One should become available. Until then it's anyone's guess what Google has in mind.

(Android 2.1 screenshot slideshow — Examiner.com)

By Harry Hiles, HBH Technology LLC — 17 Dec 2009