Vodafone finally confirms Nexus One arrival

MOBILE OPERATOR Vodafone has finally confirmed that it will be carrying Google's Nexus One smartphone, with pre-orders available now for delivery from 30 April.

The device is being offered by the firm for free if punters opt for a two year, £30 a month tariff. Other options are available, but expect to pay at least £25 per month with contract lengths of 18 or 24 months.

Vodafone is the only network to pick up Google's handset in the UK and with various delays and a seeming unwillingness to commit to a launch date, it had seemed that one of the best Android smartphones would be usurped by HTC's Desire due to delays.

The Nexus One goes head to head with the Desire on Vodafone's network with similar pricing. A problem, aside from monthly rental costs, might be the measly 500MB quota on "mobile internet and webmail [sic]", given both models' ability to consume streamed content.

Vodafone will be flogging the Nexus One through both its physical and online stores. µ