Google botched it from the start by offering what was effectively a carrier locked phone. Few people want to pay $500 for a phone that is only fully functional

Google botched it from the start by offering what was effectively a carrier locked phone. Few people want to pay $500 for a phone that is only fully functional on one carrier. If Google had at least offered one GSM model compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile 3G they could have offered some choice. Alternatively maybe they could have offered a trade-in/swap program so GSM N1 owners could switch to a CDMA N1 inexpensively. Better yet Google could have subsidized the price of the handset enough to entice people. They basically just adopted the same business model of expensive "unlocked" carrier locked phones that have failed many times in the US before. Not sure if they really expected a different result here or just wanted to jump start the Android market. If it's the later I'd say they got some successful results.