Internet company Google said that its Nexus One smartphone would be discontinued in the U.S. due to weak sales. The announcement is a blow to the company's attempt to change the way wireless phones are distributed.

Google will not release sales figures for the Nexus phones. The smartphones are touchscreen devices that are based on Google's Android operating system. The smartphone, released in January, was Google's attempt to sell phones online directly to consumers. The device can be bought even without a cellphone contract. However, demand weakened was consumers complained about customer service.

The slow sales of the Nexus One is in contrast with other phones models running on Android software. Motorola 's Droid X, which went on sale last week, has sold out in Verizon Wireless stores. The phone is backordered to July 27.

Despite the demise of the Nexus One, Google's Android software has continued to gain ground. New figures show that the Android accounted for 13% of U.S. smartphone users, a significant rise from its 9% in February.

A spokesperson for Google refused to comment on the phone's weak demand. However, the company says that its aim was to drive the adoption of Android.