Google, in order to give initial push for android 2.1 application development, is giving free Nexus one and Droid phones. Developers with apps having 3.5 star or higher rating and more than 5,000 unique downloads qualify for free android phone.

You will receive either a Verizon Droid by Motorola 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.

It’s a shame that lot of great android developers are left out and will not receive free phone because their countries are not listed in Google’s official email. Also developers from “not listed countries” are not able to sell their applications on android market and they are offering them for free, making android market a great place with 46% of free apps. This is how they get rewarded