Details about the upcoming “Google Phone” are coming down the pipe at a torrid pace now, with pictures leaking left and right and specs being confirmed on the fly. If you’ve been waiting for confirmation of a smartphone from your favorite web giant, here it is!

The Google phone, dubbed the Nexus One, will be built on hardware manufactured by HTC but with a user experience “totally designed by Google.” Google will sell the phone exclusively online, unlocked – at least for the initial release. Whether or not any given provider(s) will get a crack at service deals remains to be seen.

The confirmed details at this point:

• Nexus One will be powered by Google Android 2.1
• Hardware is equivalent to the already rumored HTC Passion/Bravo
• Touchscreen with on-screen keyboard only; scroll bar; animated desktop wallpaper
• Google is currently “dogfooding” the phone, allowing hundreds of prototypes to be actively tested by its employees
• The Nexus One could be released as early as next month!

Anything related to Google gets automatic online hype but, without further specs and lacking quality pictures or video of the phone in action, I’ll reserve judgement. Sold online, unlocked, and straight from Google, I think this phone has what it takes, at least in theory, to be a true iPhone killer.