Google offers free Nexus Ones for iPhone app ports

Google is actively enticing iPhone developers to write for Android, at least one report noted today. A representative from the Android Advocacy Group contacted Texts From Last Night's creator to both establish a business relationship and to ship a free Nexus One regardless of whether or not he began the project. The programmer wasn't given any direct incentives to agree to a port.

It's unknown by the NYT or other sources how widespread the campaign may be.

The efforts contrast sharply with Apple's, where Texts From Last Night was routinely rejected for three months due to content. The App Store operator hasn't ever established a specific relationship with the developer.

Google has routinely trailed behind Apple in the size and scope of its mobile app community but has been growing rapidly ever since the launch of Android 2.0 and the Motorola Droid in November, swelling from 16,000 apps in the fall to 38,000 apps as of this month. Some of these have already been ports of iPhone titles with little to no help from Google, although the company has regularly made it a point to offer reference developer phones and to encourage community feedback.

By Electronista Staff