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Although the much anticipated and hyped Google Phone is out and littering Google Ad space all over the web, it’s not selling as fast as competitor devices did previously. Possibly due to complaints that have also been spread across the web pundit spectrum regarding the device’s 3G connectivity issues, poor customer support from Google or contract requirements Google has placed on the sale of the device.

According to reports just released by market research firm Flurry in their sales estimates, the Google Nexus One has sold only 20,000 units. How accurate this information is I couldn’t tell you…

In a note released this morning, Doug Anmuth indicated that Google might sell 5 or 6 million units in 2010, generating incremental revenue of between $2.6 billion and $3.2 billion. (Source: WebProNews.com)

The biggest questions still remains. What does Google plan to do to resolve the growing customer complaints without any form of live customer service? Sure you can email support for a 48 hour window but isn’t that too long to wait for a problem to be resolved when it comes to your primary means of communication? But lets take a look at everything that has happened in the short week of the Google’s first step as a direct seller.

Nexus One for Business:
Google plans to release a business oriented Nexus One phone in the near future which may have the ability to synchronize with Microsoft Exchange server.  Questions over whether the Nexus One could be sold in a business market without much needed support options are still being asked by consumers. We are expecting to see a keyboard integrated into the body for those uncomfortable with the touchscreen keyboard or using speech-to-text.

Contract Fine Print:
Google ultimately decided on the service plans that were available for the phone and the prices for the phone on T-Mobile.  $180 with the T-Mobile Even More individual 500 Plan or $530 for an unlocked phone.  Still waiting to see what options will be available for Verizon customers or the Vodafone European users.  I will admit I thought about ordering the phone as a new line of service and then cancel so I can keep the phone and pay the contract termination fees hoping it would be less then paying full price.  WRONG!  If you open a new T-Mobile account you are committed to two (2) years of service with a $200 cancellation fee and then Google gets you with an additional $350 breach of contract.  $550 instead of just paying $530 and owning it.  Some have said they will wait a few months since the T-Mobile G1 came out with a high price but later dropped in price.

Multitouch:
There is no multitouch capability with the Nexus One and there will not be multitouch in the European version of the phone according to Google support.  The US phone will be the same phone EU customers will receive.  We will have to wait and see how many people rootkit the phone (a process by which you gain more control over the phones operating system), voiding their warranty, in order to restore and add features we know the phone is capable of.

Data Plans and T-Mobile Visual VoiceMail:
Whether you decide to use any number of Visual Voicemail applications out there. To avoid some of the issues others are having with it not working, you must make sure you have Visual Voicemail on your T-Mo account.  You can easily add it online through the services manager but if you don’t see it there you must switch your Data plan to the Android data plan.

It seems that having one type of data plan versus another will change the available services you can add/remove from the account. It’s up to you on which voice mail application or service you want to use on your phone since there are a few to choose from such as Visual VoiceMail by Phone fusion, YouMail Visual VoiceMail, HulloMail Visual VoiceMail, T-Mobile Visual VoiceMail which are all available in the Android Marketplace.  Not sure if any of these services (except T-Mobile’s app) will count against your 500 call forwarding minutes to use.

What Accessories?:
The Google Phone was announced in just in time for the CES 2010 but they didn’t do the announcement there, instead at their headquarters in Mountain View California. Just as the phone appeared overnight we will have to be patient on seeing any Nexus One accessories as there are only cases and screen protectors.  I still don’t know where to buy a replacement/spare battery for my phone. I have even started my own collection of Nexus One accessories via an Amazon Store so i can keep track of it all.

Marketplace Comparison:
Yes the Apple iPhone has the largest collection of applications compared to Androids’ 16,000 but its still in its early stages. Besides I barely know what to do with having more than a few tools, games and then I’m set.  But I keep an eye on the Mobility Site Forums for the buzz on the best.

Spotty 3G & Connection Drops:
I have been fortunate enough to not be affected by the issues of poor connectivity as the phone switched in and out between 3G and EDGE.  Right out-of-the-box the phone has been great, no connection problems at all.  Possibly due to having a new SIM card and living in a heavily 3G service area (Fort Lauderdale, Florida).

I have tested my phone in a few areas but the most I can get is a drop in signal when I am at home facing a window away from the tower. Yet still connected with only 1-2 bars it works.  I have even scene a video where the user speculated that it could be a hardware or design issue with the internal antennas.  I can’t tell you how nervous that made me feel about opening the box and being subjected to a $45 restocking fee.

Right out of the box my phone was set to WCDMA preferred network without issue.  Check your settings by entering *#*#4636#*#* into your phone, Phone information.

Google’s Lack of Live Support:
Unlike those websites that have the ability to chat with a live person, Google has none.  Not a phone number, no detailed online support documentation, no call-back feature, only the ability to respond via email within 48 hours to your inquiry. Bullocks you say. Google will be addressing the support issues soon but I think they are more concerned with closing its China location at the moment.

“We work quickly to solve any customer support issues as they come up, and we are trying to be as open and transparent as possible through our online customer help forums,” the company said in a statement e-mailed to InformationWeek. “We’ll continue to address all issues in as timely of a manner as possible.”

Customers are currently being sent back and forth between T-Mobile and Taiwan based manufacturer HTC regarding the phone.  A few calls to T-Mobile revealed that they were attempting to sell alternate android phones such as the myTouch 3G, Motoral Cliq, or the Samsung Behold II, which they are able to support.  (Omitted MotoDroid since that’s Verizon.)

Everyone has agreed that Google is going to have to step up it’s support as well as work better with the manufacturer and service provider to resolve issues.  Hopefully, they can just send some support documentation to HTC & T-Mobile so they aren’t blind.  I am left wondering if there was an effective analysis done at Google prior to launch.  A simple SWAT Analysis would have identified the issue with support limitations.

If your looking for a which is better Apple or Nexus one you may want to find such an article since I believe we all have our own preference in deciding which is better for us.

Hey you still have 14 days to return it if you’re not completely satisfied but, you will still have that $45 restocking fee if you open the box.
So just go ahead and develop your own experience as I did.
So far I’m a happy customer, but I also haven’t needed support…