Google has two major announcements for the Android platform today, their newest flagship phone the Nexus S and the latest version of their mobile OS, Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread introduces a slew of new user features that improve usability as well as a slew of interesting new features.

NFC (near field communication) hardware that lets you read information from NFC tags. NFC is a fast, versatile short-range wireless technology that can be embedded in all kinds of everyday objects like movie posters, stickers and t-shirts.

Gingerbread is the fastest version of Android yet, and it delivers a number of improvements, such as user interface refinements, NFC support, a new keyboard and text selection tool, Internet (VoIP/SIP) calling, improved copy/paste functionality and gyroscope sensor support.

You can read all about the changes via the Android 2.3 API.

Here’s Google’s introductory video for Gingerbread:

As for the platform’s new flagship phone?

Specifications for the Nexus S are as follows:

• 1GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor
• 16GB iNAND flash memory
• 4.0″ WVGA (480×800) Super AMOLED Contour Display
• HSPA type: HSDPA (7.2Mbps) HSUPA (5.76Mbps)
• Wi-Fi 802.11 n/b/g
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
• Near Field Communication (NFC)
• Assisted GPS (A-GPS)
• microUSB 2.0
• Haptic feedback vibration
• Three-axis gyroscope
• Accelerometer
• Digital compass
• Proximity sensor
• Light sensor
• Back-facing: 5 megapixels (2560×1920)
• 720 x 480 video resolution
• H.264, H.263 MPEG4 video recording
• Flash
• Front-facing: VGA (640×480)
• 3.5mm, 4-conductor headset jack
  (stereo audio plus microphone)
• Earpiece and microphone
• Software noise-cancellation

Feature packed huh?

You can find more Nexus S videos and information at google.com/nexus.

The Nexus S will be available unlocked and with contract on T-mobile and in-store from all Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores in the U.S. starting December 16.  Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy retailers in the U.K. will be able to get their hands on the Nexus S starting December 20.