Penny Mobiles – Mobile phone news, reviews & information

Google has officially taken down the online store that sells the Nexus One Android smart phone.

Over a week ago, Google quelled initial rumors about a possible Nexus Two handset. According to the software developer, the Nexus One has already been a successful handset in such a way that it achieved the goal that Google has set for it. Many may argue that the device was not a financial success –after all, the device did not sell much at all.

However, Google stated that the Nexus One was meant to be a smart phone that would push the current boundaries and standards for the Android operating system. This meant that users would be able to experience the open source mobile platform in the way that Google meant it to be. In that regard, Google states that the device was a success.

The shutting down of the online store does not mean that the Nexus One is no longer available. The smart phone can still be obtained through contracts and deals on Vodafone UK. Developers can also get a handset directly through Google –only the standard online store has been taken down. The special site exclusive for developers is still available. This means that Google intends to use the Nexus One as a continuous developer resource.

When the Nexus One was first launched last January, the only way to obtain the handset was through Google’s online store. Many who were present at the launch at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California thought that it was a bad idea, and that the device would not be accessible to a majority of the Android’s target market.

They were right, in the very first week of sales; the online store only sold 20,000 units of the Nexus One. In that same month, Vodafone UK managed to sell 100,000 iPhone 3G smart phones.

Many people were concerned last weekend that the Twitter account for Vodafone may have been hacked. This was after an offensive post from the account appeared online.

“Vodafone UK is fed up of dirty homos and is going after beaver”

The post was visible only momentarily as Vodafone’s employees were quick to respond by deleting the post and immediately addressing the concern. Amid the apologies, they also assured people that this is not a hacking incident.

Instead, the post was done by an employee of the company who has decided to break the rules. The employee is assigned to the customer service center in Stoke and is currently suspended indefinitely. As to why the individual was not immediately terminated, Vodafone has given no explanations other than stating that the matter is being handled and investigated internally.

Vodafone currently has over 8,000 subscribers on Twitter and the number is still growing. The account is used to handle customer inquiries and complaints and has served as a very important online hotline.

This misuse of social network tools is not an isolated case. This has already happened to other companies such as the Telegraph and Virgin Atlantic. While Twitter and Facebook does allow companies to connect directly with their clients, this also opens up a new channel that should be safeguarded carefully lest another errant employee decides to have some fun.

Several Virgin Atlantic cabin crew members have been fired for posting racist remarks and unfounded claims on Facebook -they were lucky that they were not slapped with libel. The Telegraph newspaper on the other hand was a victim to the lack of foresight in using tags without moderating the entries during April of last year.

For more details on the misuse of Twitter on the Vodafone account and other related news, head straight to the Guardian UK.