Google halts web sales for Nexus One smartphone

Online sales for the Nexus One will cease

Google is to halt online sales of its Nexus One smartphone and rely entirely on renewed efforts to sell device through retail outlets.

The online store will be redesigned as a gallery for various handsets built on Google's Android platform.

"While the global adoption of the Android platform has exceeded our expectations, the web store has not," wrote Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering at Google, in a blog post.

"It has remained a niche channel for early adopters, but it's clear that many customers like a hands-on experience before buying a phone, and they want a wide range of service plans to choose from."

Google unveiled the Nexus One in January, but initial sales fell short of expectations. However, Google has insisted that the phone is profitable.

Other Android handsets have fared much better in the market, and the platform now outsells Apple's iPhone in the US.