Nexus One moves to AT&T amid reports of slow sales

During its first 74 days of availability Apple's iPhone drastically outsold the Nexus One

Google is expanding the compatibility for its Nexus One handset, though analysts believe that the device is failing to keep up with the big names in the market.

Analyst firm Flurry estimated that for the first 74 days of availability, the Nexus one moved just one-eighth the number of units sold by the first iPhone model and the Motorola Droid.

The company estimated that the Droid moved 1.05 million units in its first 74 days of availability, while the iPhone sold roughly 1 million when it debuted in 2007. Total sales for the Nexus One were pegged at 135,000.

"Despite the fact that the Google Nexus One is the most advanced Android handset to date, and enjoyed substantial buzz leading up to its release, the launch has been overshadowed by lower than expected sales," the analyst noted.

"As Google and Apple continue to battle for the mobile marketplace, Google Nexus One may go down as a grand, failed experiment or one that ultimately helped Google learn something that will prove important in years to come."

The Flurry report comes as Google is making an effort to expand its reach in North America. The company said that it would be offering new versions of the handset designed to work with 3G networks on AT&T and Rogers Wireless that had previously been incompatible.

The new handsets will not come with a service plan and users will need to pay the full $530 US price for the unlocked handset.