Just this last July, Google quietly killed their most hyped line of Android phones, the Nexus One, due to poor sales. As a result, Google commented that while they would stop producing the phone—and would push consumers to phones of other manufacture—they would still allow the remaining stock to sell itself out. The phone itself, in spite of poor consumer sales still remains one of the best Android phones ever made. So Google decided to make a batch available to developers, but they then underestimated the developer market for the phone.

As seen in a recent press statement, published over at Android Developers, Google had this to say about the shortage,

A couple of weeks ago, we arranged that registered developers could buy an unlocked Nexus One via their publisher page in Android Market. We think it’s a good development platform and a nice phone. Apparently, you agree. Somewhat too many of you, in fact; we blew through the (substantial) initial inventory in almost no time, and they’re back-ordered from HTC, who are doing a pretty good job of managing runaway success amid a worldwide AMOLED shortage. Everyone appreciates that it’s important to the platform to get phones in the hands of developers, so we’re working hard on re-stocking the shelves; stand by.

If you happen to be one of the lucky few who already have one, bravo; but as the statement makes clear, if you are a registered developer you will still have your chance to get your hands on one. I wouldn’t dally when the new stock becomes available, however, because it looks like there’s a lot of competition for the dead line even now.

Even though the Nexus One is indeed no longer sold, it will certainly live on in Android developer history.