14 DAY TRIAL // Mountain View-based Internet giant Google announced a few weeks ago the availability of Nexus One by HTC as a developer phone
straight from its Android Developers portal, and it seems that the device is already highly popular among application builders.
The initial stock of Nexus One devices reportedly sold out, and Google is currently waiting for HTC to send more units.
“[W]e blew through the (substantial) initial inventory in almost no time, and they’re back-ordered from HTC, who are doing a pretty good job of managing runaway success amid a worldwide AMOLED shortage,” a recent post on the portal reads.
It seems that Nexus One is a nice development platform, and that many application builders see it that way too, thus the said shortage.
The Nexus One was the first mobile phone in the world to land on the market with Google's Android 2.1 operating system on board.
Moreover, it was the first Android-based mobile phone to be sold via Google's web store, and also the last such device, since the Internet giant announced a while ago the closing down of that store.
While being available for purchase exclusively via Google's web store, the Nexus One did not prove a very popular device.
Only a small number of units were shipped to end users, even if Google offered the device both unlocked and on contract, while enabling users to choose connectivity with more than one carrier.
These circumstances determined Google to close down the store in the end, and to make the Nexus One available for purchase via wireless carriers around the world.
However, the device is still available from the company as a developers' device, and can be purchased unlocked from the Android Developers portal.
As for the current shortage, Google says that HTC should deliver a new batch of Nexus One units pretty soon, so it shouldn't be too long before developers can place orders for a new unit again.