Google announced this morning that it will sell the new, $399 Galaxy Nexus directly to consumers through Google Play, which is the rebranded Android Market. The move marks something of a second act in retail for Google, which initially sold the Nexus One through its Web site before a lack of customer support (among other things) forced the company to distribute the handset through more traditional carrier channels. Google claims it has addressed those problems and is ready to adequately support its new flagship handset, which my colleague Kevin C. Tofel has been impressed with. Which means the Galaxy Nexus may be the first handset to gain traction outside carrier-driven retail channels — and that’s something Google has been working toward for years.