It appears that Google’s experimental online Nexus One store is going out of business. According to a blog written by Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering, that was posted on the company’s website, Google will stop selling the Nexus One online.
Rubin writes that Google delivered on its two goals with the Nexus One: “to introduce a beacon of innovation among Android handsets, and to make it quick and easy for people to buy an Android phone.” He notes that the innovation delivered through Nexus One has found its way into other Android handsets like the HTC Evo 4G and Droid Incredible.
And while the Nexus One may have marked an evolutionary step for Android handsets, the online-only retail model was less than successful.
“While the global adoption of the Android platform has exceeded our expectations, the web store has not. It’s remained a niche channel for early adopters, but it’s clear that many customers like a hands-on experience before buying a phone, and they also want a wide range of service plans to chose from,” Rubin writes.
Disappointing sales of the Nexus One are forcing the online retail outlet to shut its doors and move distribution of the phone to U.S. carrier and retail stores. Rubin says that Google also will expand shipment of the phone to more countries.
The change will be gradual. Rubin says that as Nexus One devices become available in stores, Google will stop selling handsets via the web store, and will instead use the Nexus One page as an online store window to showcase a variety of Android phones available globally.
Google suffered a lot of criticism in the wake of the Nexus One launch, which from the start suffered from a lack of proper customer support and poor 3G connectivity on T-Mobile’s network. In recent weeks, Nexus One partnerships with Verizon Wireless and Sprint went by the wayside.
