Google Nexus One Coming to Sprint

Sprint announced to day that a version of the Google Nexus One will soon be available that will work with its network. According to Sprint, its mobile broadband network has twice the network coverage of AT&T’s network and ten times the coverage area of T-Mobile’s network. The Nexus One will only be available through Google’s online store, which means Sprint customers won’t be able to check one out at their local Sprint stores.

Pricing for the Sprint version of the Nexus One hasn’t been announced yet and it’s not clear if the phone will be subsidized. Thus far, T-Mobile is the only carrier to offer a subsidy on the Nexus One. The Nexus One costs $179 with a new two-year T-Mobile contract, starting at $59 per month. The AT&T an T-Mobile compatible versions of the Nexus One cost $529 without a contract. A version will be available for Verizon shortly.

Sprint’s Everything Data 450 plan starts at $69.99, which includes unlimited talk to mobile phones, unlimited text and unlimited web. The ‘catch’ in this plan is that you’re limited to 450 minutes of peak talk-time to landlines.

The Google Nexus one features Android 2.1, a mobile phone operating system that is quickly gaining popularity. Android is found on a number of devices, including the oft-advertised Droid. According to analysts, approximately 60,000 Android-powered smartphones are shipping every day.

There are two major why there are various versions of the Google Nexus One: compatibility and lock-in.

AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM radio technology, but their networks use different frequencies. This means a phone built for AT&T will not be able to access T-Mobile’s 3G network and vice versa. Sprint and Verizon use CDMA radio technology, which means their devices use completely different components than AT&T and T-mobile.

If you visit Google.com/voice, you’ll notice that the Google Nexus One for T-Mobile can be had for just $179. Carriers demand a two year commitment from customers in order to pay for the subsidy. In some cases, it makes sense to pay the full price of the product and forgo the subsidy. For example, T-Mobile’s pay as you go pricing is so much cheaper than its contract pricing that you’ll save about $200 in the long haul if you pay $529 for a Nexus One and stick with the network for two years.

Despite which network you go with, the Nexus One has a lot of compelling features, including:

* Google Maps Navigation with turn-by-turn driving directions with voice output.

* Email: multiple Gmail accounts; universal inbox and Exchange support.

* Phone book: aggregate contacts from multiple sources, including Facebook.

* Quick Contacts: easily switch between communication and social applications.

* Android Market: access to more than 30,000 applications.

Nexus One Hardware Features:

* Display: 3.7″ AMOLED 480×800 WVGA display

* Thinness: 11.5mm; Weight: 130g

* Processor/Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon(TM) 3G QSD8250 chipset, delivering speeds up to 1GHz

* Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus with flash and geo tagging

* Onboard memory: 512MB Flash, 512MB RAM

* Expandable memory: 4GB removable SD Card (expandable to 32GB)

* Noise Suppression: Dynamic noise suppression from Audience, Inc.

* Ports: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack with four contacts for inline voice and remote control

* Battery: Removable 1400 mAh

* Personalized laser engraving: Up to 50 characters on the back of the phone

* Trackball: Tri-color notification LED, alerts when new emails, chats, text messages arrive

Nexus One offers new functionality and software enhancements including:

* Enter text without typing.

* Use a voice-enabled keyboard for all text fields: speak a text message, instant message, tweet, Facebook update, or complete an email.

* Tell your phone what you want it to do.

* Search Google, call contacts, or get driving directions by just speaking into your phone.

* Take personalization to the next level.

* Dynamic, interactive, live wallpapers react to the touch of a finger.

* More widgets and five home screen panels allow for further device customization.

* Capture camera-quality pictures and video with your device.

* 5 megapixel camera includes LED flash, auto focus, zoom, white balance and color effects.

* View pictures and Picasa Web Albums(TM) in the new 3D Gallery.

* Record Hi-Res MPEG4 video, and then upload to YouTube(TM) with one click.

* Read your voicemail messages.

* Get transcribed voicemail with Google Voice integration, without changing your number.