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Screenshots leaked to tech site Gizmodo by an anonymous "tipster" suggest that Google's Nexus One smartphone will retail for $530 — more than twice what many observers were expecting. While the Gizmodo scoop also has the phone available through T-mobile for $180 with a two-year contract, it was the "unlocked" version of the phone (that is, sold free and clear from any provider contracts), which will be available through the Nexus One website, that had gadget afficianados buzzing. In theory, an affordable, no-strings smartphone could revolutionize the wireless industry, which today tends to require long-term locked-in contracts. But will the Nexus One's lofty price tag jeopardize its status as "game-changer" for the wireless industry?

The Google phone: Is $530 too pricey?

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