Google’s (News - Alert) Nexus One, reportedly drawing criticism for its lack of multitouch support – as Apple reportedly owns the rights to the technology that lets you “pinch and zoom” – is getting even more attention since news broke that a hacker was able to give multitouch capabilities to the smartphone.

 

We’re hearing reports that “Cyanogen,” a notorious hacker in the Google Android (News - Alert) community, released a modified version of the Android 2.1 OS that gives multitouch features to the Nexus One smartphone. Though the multitouch features are only in the native Google Web browser, Cyanogen reportedly said he would be adding this functionality to other apps soon as well.

 

If you’re interested in downloading multitouch capabilities on your Nexus One, here’s the link that will let you do so.

 

Weighing just 130 grams, the 11.5-millimeter-wide Nexus One was unveiled Jan. 5 during a press conference at Google’s Mountain View, Calif., headquarters, TMCnet reported. Equipped with the most up-to-date Version 2.1 Android software, Nexus One features include a Qualcomm (News - Alert) Snapdragon 3G QSD8250 chipset, delivering speeds up to 1GHz; a 3.7-inch AMOLED 480 x 800 WVGA display; and a trackball with tri-color notification LED (for alerts when new e-mails, chats and text messages arrive).

 

Nexus One, manufactured by HTC (News - Alert), will be initially available from the Google web store in the United States without service for $529 or starting at $179 with a two-year contract from T-Mobile USA. In the near future, Verizon Wireless in the United States and Vodafone (News - Alert) in Europe plan to offer services to customers in their respective geographies, according to Google.

 

Google will initially take orders from consumers in the United States, the U.K., Singapore and Hong Kong.

 

In the coming months Google said it plans on partnering with additional operators, offering consumers access to a broad set of service plans.

 

Through the web store found at www.google.com/phone, consumers can buy the Nexus One without service (meaning any GSM network SIM card can be inserted into the device), or purchase the phone with service from one of Google's operator partners, Google said in a press release.