Google has announced a new program dubbed the “Device Seeding Program”, which will offer free Nexus Ones or Motorola Droids to proven developers (those in the Android Market with at least 3.5 stars and over 5,000 downloads). The end decision is of course Google’s, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll get a free phone even if you’re a proven developer.
Google has sent out an email to some devs that states the following:
Due to your contribution to the success of Android Market, we would like to present you with a brand new Android device as part of our developer device seeding program. You are receiving this message because you’re one of the top developers in Android Market with one or more of your applications having a 3.5 star or higher rating and more than 5,000 unique downloads.
In order to receive this device, you must click through to this site read the terms and conditions of the offer and fill out the registration form to give us your current mailing address so that we can ship your device.
You will receive either a Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Droid by Motorola (NYSE: MOT) or a Nexus One. Developers with mailing addresses in the US will receive either a Droid or Nexus one, based on random distribution. Developers from Canada, EU, and the EEA states (Norway, Lichtenstein), Switzerland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore will receive a Nexus One. Developers with mailing addresses in countries not listed above will not receive a phone since these phones are not certified to be used in other countries.
We hope that you will enjoy your new device and continue to build more insanely popular apps for Android!
I believe this is the first OS developer to offer something like this, but it could make things interesting!
Source: IntoMobile