Gingerbread

Sprint has two big announcements today. Not only did they unveil the new Nexus S 4G smartphone, but Sprint customers will soon be able to set their existing Sprint wireless phone number as their Google Voice number. Sprint is the first (and currently only) carrier to offer this capability.

The Nexus S 4G will ship with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and will come with 16GB of internal memory and 512MB RAM. It is powered by a 1GHz Samsung application processor and also includes a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen contour display, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and camcorder and a front-facing VGA camera. Available this spring, the Nexus S 4G will also be able to take advantage of Google Voice integration.

What's cool about Google Voice integration is Sprint customers won't have to activate a second phone number or port their current number, the way Google Voice users currently do. Sprint customers will be able to manage up to six different phones through one number, allowing them to use their Sprint number across their office, home and wireless phones, and personalize settings so calls from friends ring their wireless device and home phone, while calls from the boss only ring at the office. Google Voice users can also receive transcribed voicemails and read or listen to them online. Read more

Best Buy announced this week that beginning Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 8am ET, the Nexus S Android smartphone will be available at all Best Buy retail stores, Best Buy Mobile and online at BestBuy.com. The Nexus S, from Google and Samsung, is the world's first smart phone with Android 2.3, Gingerbread.

Here are the launch details:

• Timing: Online sales of Nexus S begin at 8 a.m. Eastern time to coincide with the opening of Best Buy stores on the East Coast. As a reminder, all Best Buy stores have adjusted their holiday hours to open at 8 a.m.
• Availability: Nexus S is available in all Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores. Exact inventory will vary by store. Nexus S will be sold out on a first-come, first-serve basis with a limit of 2 per phones customer.
• Demo phones: All Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores will have a Nexus S demo phone on-hand so customers can see and experience the phone.
• Pricing: The Nexus S is an unlocked phone and can be purchased without contract for $529. The Nexus S can also be purchased for $199 with a TMobile two-year service agreement and qualifying voice and data plan. Nexus S can also be purchased for $249.99 for add-a-line activations.

For more information on Best Buy Mobile and Nexus S, please see www.BestBuy.com/Mobile, www.BestBuyMobile.com, or call our dedicated Nexus S Help Line at 1-866-813-2021.

Best Buy has partnered with Google on the exclusive North American launch of the Nexus S smartphone. Developed by Google and Samsung, Nexus S is the first smartphone with Android 2.3, known as "Gingerbread."

Available after Dec. 16, 2010 in Best Buy stores, Best Buy Mobile stores and on BestBuy.com, Nexus S will be priced at $529 as an unlocked phone with no contract. You will be able to pick it using T-Mobile's network for $199 with a two-year service agreement and qualifying voice and data plan.

Nexus S features a 4-inch Contour Display, and is the first mobile phone to have this curved design. The design is said to give the phone a more ergonomic feel when you hold it to your face. It includes a 1GHz application processor, Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" and supports both Flash and HTML5. Nexus S also features Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which allows you to read information off of stickers and posters that are embedded with NFC chips.Read more