Report: Google Nexus One set to cost £333

Google Nexus One - hottest New Year gadget?
Google Nexus One - hottest New Year gadget?

There's not much about the Google Nexus One handset that hasn't already been leaked, but now even the price appears to have hit the public domain – and it is not the news that many people were hoping for.

According to Gizmodo, the phone is not going to be made available at cost by Google – one of the suggestions about the Nexus One – with the leaked information putting the price at $530 for an unlocked handset.

That equates to £333; cheaper than an unlocked iPhone, but still a hefty price to pay should you want the freedom to choose your own service provider.

In the US, a two-year $40-a-month contract with T-Mobile will bring the price down to $180 (c£130).

Five per account

More detail suggests that five phones per Google account can be bought – although this seems a little irrelevant considering a new account is available for free.

The news, should it be accurate, will come as a blow to those who hoped that Google would offer the phone for cost and make money from people using its software and the Android mobile OS.

Google's online services – such as Gmail and Google Calendar – are free to use, with the company favouring an ad-funded model.

But, it seems, to get the Google (and HTC) hardware consumers will have to fork out a fairly hefty chunk of their hard-earned wages.

We'll no doubt find out more details when Google spills all at its January 5 press briefing to discuss Android – and almost certainly the Nexus One.

Via Gizmodo

Patrick Goss

Patrick Goss is the ex-Editor in Chief of TechRadar. Patrick was a passionate and experienced journalist, and he has been lucky enough to work on some of the finest online properties on the planet, building audiences everywhere and establishing himself at the forefront of digital content.  After a long stint as the boss at TechRadar, Patrick has now moved on to a role with Apple, where he is the Managing Editor for the App Store in the UK.