Nexus One may get T-Mo discount, ship Jan 5

Another leak today suggests the Nexus One may not be limited to an unsubsidized, unlocked model after all. Claiming an unidentified source, Reuters says T-Mobile will still discount the high-end Android phone for those who sign up for a contract. However, it would also sell directly through the Google website and could be available as early as January 5th, just ahead of CES.

If the phone still ships officially branded as Google's own device rather than a regular HTC launch, the move could risk upsetting HTC's competitors, which would likely see Google as favoring one partner over another and risk splintering the Android community. However, it would also give Android as a competitive edge as it would represent the first truly integrated phone where Google has designed the hardware as well as the software.

A common complaint of Android has been of the radically varying experiences, where a poor hardware design or excessive modification of the interface can hurt the experience. Apple and RIM are both believed to have their significant shares of the smartphone market due to this approach where veterans that don't develop their own hardware, like Microsoft and Symbian, have been on the decline.

By Electronista Staff