Google Suffers Another Nexus One Setback

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 5/17/2010

OVERLAND PARK, KAN. — Carriers supporting online sales of the Nexus One smartphone through Google’s online store will be limited for now to AT&T and T-Mobile now that Sprint changed its mind about letting Google sell a version of the phone for use on the Sprint network.

Earlier this year, Google also promised to sell a version activated on the Verizon Wireless network, but Google later dropped that plan, and a Verizon spokesperson later told TWICE that the carrier never publicly stated that it would allow Google to act as an authorized agent to sell the device with activation and carrier subsidy.

Sprint, on the other hand, had publicly stated it would permit Google to sell a Sprint-network version with activation, but now, a spokesperson said, “We changed our mind given the overwhelming response to (the planned 3G/4G HTC-made) Evo and its impressive list of features.” Like the Nexus One, the Evo runs on Google’s Android 2.1 smartphone OS.

The HTC Evo 4G is expected to be available exclusively from Sprint this summer.

Earlier this year, Google launched its Nexus One versions for the T-Mobile and AT&T networks, offering them activated on the networks or as unlocked models without carrier subsidy.