Early termination of Nexus One contract will cost some double

Early adopters of Google’s new Android handset, the Nexus One, may be in for a shock if they want to pull out of their contract and settle up at any point. If they signed up through a network, they may well have to pay double the remaining value of the phone.

We’re all familiar with kind of small print to expect when you sign up to a phone contract, particularly the type that hits us in the pocket when we want out. Early Termination Fees are fair enough, though, as the only way network operators can offer you their £500 smartphones for ‘free’ is to spread the cost across the length of the contract.

You leave, you pay the rest in one lump sum. Simple.

Except with the Nexus One, Google says you have to pay your network provider and Google itself. Check out the small print:

“Please note that the Equipment Recovery Fee is imposed by Google and not your chosen carrier and is in addition to any early termination fees that may be charged by your chosen carrier in connection with termination of your wireless plan prior to fulfillment of your chosen carrier’s service agreement term.”

We don’t have any network deals in place for the Nexus One in this country as yet (although you can buy one directly from Google). Can we expect the same kind of ‘deal’ when we finally do?