From the moment the first tentative specifications began to leak regarding the new ‘Google Phone’ people were already using terms like ‘iPhone killer’.

We’ve all heard this incredibly overused term bandied about about practically every high end touch screen phone since the iPhone’s inception, but so far nothing has been able to topple Apple’s seminal handset from it’s deserved position as top dog. Could this unholy alliance between internet giants Google and hardware guru’s HTC finally deliver?

The Hardware

• Android 2.1
• 1GHz Qualcomm ‘Snapdragon’ CPU
• 512Mb RAM (Expandable to 32Gb with microSD)
• 3.7″ 800 x 480 AMOLED Screen
• 5 megapixel autofocus camera + LED flash
• A-GPS & Digital Compass
• Accelerometer
• Wi-Fi (802.11A/B/G)
• Bluetooth 2.1

The most obvious part of hardware is conspicuous by it’s absence – a hardware keyboard. A soft on screen keyboard serves as a replacement, but reports suggest that this is sluggish and can lag behind when typing quickly. However, the fantastic Android Marketplace comes to the rescue, offering replacement software keyboards to solve this problem should you encounter it.

Another notable absence is multi-touch, a real let down for a device that is aiming to take a swipe at Apple’s handset.

The Software

As you would imagine, the Nexus One is deeply integrated with Google’s web based apps such as GMail, Google Voice, Google Calendar and Google Docs. The handset is very much a ‘cloud device’ – working with your info both on the phone, and on the internet. For people like me who use GMail and Google Bookmarks every day, this is a very appealing feature.

There’s not a lot you can say regarding the software that ships on the device, since the majority of users will be dipping into the depths of the Android Marketplace to personalise the phone’s functionality, a feature that helps it to be a contender against the iPhone.

As hardened Android aficionados can attest, HTC have a track record of not getting it quite 100% on the initial firmware release and the general consensus is that this handset will benefit from future firmware updates. However, HTC do listen to their customers, and I for one would not mind being an early adopter.

So is it an iPhone killer? Well, that depends – if you, like me use Google Apps extensively, the Nexus One is a really attractive device, and the Android Marketplace is arguably more ‘flexible’ for both users and developers than Apple’s App Store.

But the device still has an aire about it that it will appeal to open source lovers who really want to push the device. If you want to play it safe, get an iPhone, if you want to try out new things the Nexus One is an attractive proposition.

Frankly, there is room in the market for both handsets and the Nexus One is a welcome addition to the Android phone stable.