Google's Nexus 4 is a Top-Secret Sellout

Google

has sold out of its brand-new LG-made smartphone, the Nexus 4. But don't expect to hear the company brag about it. Instead of

, Google is allowing unsuspecting shoppers to find out on their own.

Those who attempt to

will be greeted by the following message: "We are out of inventory. Please check back soon." The same message appears for both the 8GB and 16GB models. This strategy is significantly different from the one employed by its chief hardware competitor, Apple

. When the Mac maker experiences a product shortage due to high customer demand, the company makes a

with a

. Google's low-key strategy has caused the Nexus 4 sellout to go unnoticed by the mainstream media.

and

picked up the story, along with other specialty publications. However, the mainstream media has largely ignored the information. The closet thing to a mainstream report is one published by

, which outlines the issues some customers have encountered while ordering the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10. Even without a press release, Apple products -- particularly iPhones and iPads -- still receive a greater degree of publicity. Before the iPhone 5 was unveiled, the Web was overflowing with stories about the product's

. Numerous supply chain sources warned reporters that Apple

to sell

. These stories were circulated several times over. The Nexus 4 is unique in that it can be purchased for $299 (8GB model) or $349 (16GB) without a contract. But that price comes at a price: the device is not technically a 4G phone. It has a

, but it does not appear to be functional.