Google has called time on US sales of its flagship Nexus One device, two months after pulling the plug on direct sales through its website.
Photo by mackarus on Flickr. Some rights reserved
Sales of the Android-powered device had been disappointing since its US launch at the beginning of the year, the unconventional initial point of sale - online-only - putting many customers off. The web store "remained a niche channel for early adopters," admitted Google vice president of engineering in a blog post, adding: "It's clear that many customers like a hands-on experience before buying a phone".
Although the Nexus One will be a disappointing setback for Google, the device widely-heralded as a market challenge to the Apple iPhone, work on the Nexus Two will only be hastened.
Google's end-of-the-line news was announced in a blogpost on Friday, when all eyes were locked firmly on Cupertino with Apple's iPhone 4 showdown.
The Nexus One will continue to be sold through Vodafone in Europe, despite stumbling belatedly into a competitive market. Developers will still be able to get their hands on the phone, though the web store will discontinue shipping to Europe.
