Unlocked Android Phone Is Costly

Developers outside of the U.S. need not feel left out of the Android buzz. Sure, the G1 is locked to T-Mobile and all that, but that doesn't mean there isn't another Google-powered phone available. The Android Dev Phone 1 is the answer to that, but before things get exciting, let me issue a warning: it's going to cost devs plenty.

The phone itself is priced at $399 USD. It's already a little expensive, but even with only a minor hit or two developers should be able to make up for the cost of the unit. What's really bothersome are the custom fees that vary per country.

Developers on an Android forum are complaining about large customs fees that they are being charged when purchasing the phone. One Canadian developer, who says he lives 5 kilometers from the U.S. border, said customs fees would add $264 to the cost of the phone; to ship to France costs an additional $183, according to another developer.

So that's $399 plus $264 if you're a developer in Canada. Ouch. Google is marketing Android in Japan, India, Taiwan, Spain, Australia and Singapore, among others. Will foreign devs bite? Only time will tell. We'll keep you posted when the numbers are released.

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Unlocked Android Phone Is Costly

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