Programmers can use any SIM card in the device, so that users can use it on any network that will support it. Network providers lock the SIM cards to restrict the use of these phones to specific countries and network providers, one of the many ways telecommunications giants control their destiny in the industry.

The unit costs $399 and is available in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, India, Canada, France, Taiwan, Spain, Australia, Singapore, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Poland and Hungary.

Those registered as an Android developer (there is a $25 registration fee, putting the phone cost at $424) on the Android Market site can buy the smart phone by logging into their developer account on Android Market. Google is allotting a limit of one device per developer account for now to make sure people don't hog all the hardware.

Read the rest of this article on eWEEK.com.