By most accounts, Google's foray into smartphone hardware was a big disappointment marked by a lot of talk and not enough action. The Nexus One was probably the most advanced phone around when it was introduced in January, thanks to its 1GHz processor, OLED display, and Android OS. But not enough devices were actually sold to be considered a success, and now, half a year later, the company has already stopped offering the phone on its website.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt seems content with the outcome, however. Talking to UK's Telegraph, the executive explained that their goal was to move forward development of smartphone hardware to match the needs and capabilities of the Android operating system. They are a software company at their core. And while a relatively small number of Nexus One phones were sold, today there are at least half a dozen phones with similar specs running Google's mobile platform. According to Schmidt, the Nexus One was so successful in accomplishing this that they won't have to do a second one.

The Nexus One will eventually become outdated as partners continue to churn out newer and more powerful devices. That said, one of the great things we'll miss about Google's handset is the fact that you could buy an unlocked version and have access to the newest iterations of Android faster than the rest.

Schmidt sang a similar tune when asked about the possibility of developing a Google branded netbook for Chrome OS. In his view, there's no need to because the PC industry is different from the phone industry -- the hardware is already available and PC vendors already know how to build systems that will meet the needs of their software partners.