14 DAY TRIAL // Nexus One by HTC, aka the Google Phone, is expected to become officially available and to go on sale starting with January 5, 2010. This is the launch date that rumors brought forth before, and it seems that the final confirmation is almost here. Google already sent out invites to a press conference regarding the Android platform, and a wide range of unofficial details already emerged into the wild, not only suggesting that January 5 is the lucky day for enthusiasts, but also unveiling details on the price tag of the device.
It seems that Google themselves will be selling the phone in the end, but the handset will also see support from T-Mobile. In other words, one will be able to either snag this beauty with a $529.99 unsubsidized price tag next to it, or to choose the $179.99 option, which also includes signing a two-year contract agreement with T-Mobile. According to Gizmodo, the contract will bring you 500 minutes of talk time, unlimited text, data, and mobile to mobile for $79.99, about the same as a T-Mobile Even More 500 plan with unlimited smartphone data and unlimited messaging does.
There are a few strange details that the marketing of this device includes, such as the fact that Family plans, Flexpay, SmartAccess and KidConnect subscribers will have to pay in full for the handset, that existing customers will have to change their plan if they want the Nexus One at a subsidized price tag, or that one Google account will only be able to purchase five Nexus One devices. The most intriguing one of all is that, if one wants to terminate the agreement before 120 days have passed, one will have to pay $350 to do so, or will need to return the phone.
The Nexus One, for it seems that this will be the market name of the device in the end, is said to become available from Google via google.com/phone, a page that was spotted before, if you remember. January 5 is roughly a week ahead, and we'll learn then what Google plans for the handset. However, with T-Mobile already stating that it will support the device's selling, and with the aforementioned details surfacing into the wild, along with a PDF of the terms of sale (via Engadget), one can expect for the rumors to pan out.
