Google stops selling Nexus One

"This week we received our last shipment of Nexus One phones," the company said in a blog posted on Friday. "Once we sell these devices, the Nexus One will no longer be available online from Google."

Google launched the smartphone in January this year with high hopes to rival Apple's iPhone. This marked Google's first venture into the mobile phone market since it acquired mobile operating system company Android in 2005. Earlier this year in May, Google announced its decision to close the Nexus One webstore.

The news follows Microsoft's announcement earlier this month to kill off its new mobile device Kin, a mere six weeks after its launch. Sales were said to have numbered less than 10,000 compared to iPhone 4 that shifted over 1.7 million units in its first three days on the market.

Both Nexus One and Microsoft Kin were poised to rival Apple's iPhone but it seems the world's love affair with Apple is not quite over yet. Despite antenna and signal problems, the iPhone 4 has emerged as Apple's fastest selling device to date.

The Nexus One will continue to be available to registered developers through the Android Market Publishers site. Carriers including Vodafone in Europe and KT in Korea will also continue selling the device.