Google has announced that its Nexus S Android smartphone will shortly be available on Sprint's WiMAX/4G network. The curvaceous device benefits from a Super AMOLED display that's said to offer an HD-like multimedia experience, Samsung's application processor, a couple of cameras and a decent helping of onboard memory. The Sprint deal comes with the added sweetener of Google Voice support, which holds the promise of using one number for numerous phones.
Sprint says that the Nexus S – which was co-developed by Google and Samsung – will be its twentieth 4G device, and its fourth 4G phone. The smartphone has a 1GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor from Samsung, a 4-inch, 480 x 800 resolution contour display with a curved glass screen and Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen technology, and benefits from high color contrast for crisp text and sharp graphics, even when outdoors. There's 16GB of onboard iNAND Flash storage with an additional 512MB of RAM, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR, and assisted GPS functionality.
Google Voice allows users to manage up to six different phones through one number and includes intelligent call routing, call screening, blocking and recording. Users will also be able to share the Sprint 4G (WiMAX) connection with up to six Wi-Fi enabled devices at once, thanks to 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability. The Nexus S is compatible with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for corporate email, as well as POP and IMAP personal email and instant messaging, and includes near field communication (NFC) technology. This means that the smartphone will be able to read information from objects embedded with NFC chips, like posters and stickers.
In addition to an accelerometer, the Nexus S sports a 3-axis gyroscope sensor, which should help enhance mobile gaming. To the front, there's a VGA (640 x 480 resolution) webcam, and there's a 5 megapixel camera to the rear. The device also gets access to more than 150,000 applications, widgets and games via Android Market, and to Google mobile services such as Gmail, Google Maps with Navigation, Voice Actions and YouTube.
The Nexus S 4G will be exclusive to the Sprint Network from Q2 and is priced at US$199.99, with a two-year contract that will take at least US$79.99 out of your bank every month (includes Sprint's Premium Data add-on charge).