Comments on: The Hell With Nexus Phones on Carriers, It’s Time to Leave Subsidies and Contracts Behind [Opinion]

By: Justtyn Hutcheson

Justtyn Hutcheson — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:52:00 +0000

Although you are correct that the VoLTE service is entirely software based (as an evolution of IP voice capabilities), Verizon must activate their end of the VoLTE system at each switch and their servers for it to work properly. Until that occurs, each device on their network must have at least a 1x CDMA radio for voice and sms/mms transmission. I have the odd feeling that they are working on some sort of proprietary authentication protocol that will continue to allow them to restrict device access as a “security measure”, which is allowed for under the Block C provisions.

By: Justtyn Hutcheson

Justtyn Hutcheson — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:46:00 +0000

They have used the 700MHz Block C frequencies for all of their LTE networking thus far. The issue is their “backup” CDMA 1x voice/3G data network, which is required for the device to actually make regular phone calls and send/receive SMS/MMS. Even if you want to use Google Voice to handle those over IP, no device manufacturer in their right mind would introduce a device that can’t make phone calls natively.

By: delesh

delesh — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:37:00 +0000

Uhhhh, If you notice I wasn’t adding in the cost of the phone in either calculation. I was just comparing plans. If you want me to do it that way, it comes out like this: $200+$1920=$2120 for subsidized. $700+$720=$1420 for prepaid. Difference of $700. With a Nexus 4 the savings are another $350-$400. It’s fine if you feel the service is warranted. I get the same service in my area as before and I’m saving thousands over what I used to pay.

By: Fernando Landaverde

Fernando Landaverde — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:21:00 +0000

Uhhhhh, $700 + ($30×24) = $1420. For coverage that generally sucks. Worth the extra $500 at that point.

By: Roy Harrigan

Roy Harrigan — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 06:18:00 +0000

By buying a phone in the U.S. market you are locking yourself into a carrier whether you sign a contract or not. These phones are not compatible across all networks, therefore can only be used on one carriers network anyway. You may not be signing a contract, but the effect is the same. You’re just paying much more up front.

By: DroidBricker

DroidBricker — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:02:00 +0000

Yup, I remember de-binging my fassy!

By: Johnny Allison

Johnny Allison — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:37:00 +0000

“…Every day in our comments, when bringing up the Nexus 4, we see the complaints about the device having a lack of LTE or the fact that it’s not on Verizon”

Yes yes yes… In support of Kellex; For those who are doing the whining, cool your jets, T-Mo is rolling out their LTE network (ever so slowly) and their DC-HSPA network is nothing to sneeze at so relax.

While vacationing over xmas in Houston/San Anton.. I was pleasantly surprised at how good T-Mo’s coverage/speed was. I appreciate that this was in a metro areas (read not rural) I wasn’t left wanting in any way.

All I can say is weigh it.

Do you want to be locked and beholden to big red/att for years at a time or does your freedom mean more to you.

By: John L

John L — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:49:00 +0000

The sad truth about this opinion piece: low- and working-class individuals who want a smartphone will be relegated to subsidized phones and contracts for mid-level or higher-spec’d devices. Otherwise, they will only be able to afford entry-level devices with antiquated OS’s with the un-subsidized model as suggested.

By: Conan Kudo (ニール・ゴンパ)

Conan Kudo (ニール・ゴンパ) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:02:00 +0000

Integration issues. Since duplexers/filters and power amplifiers connected to the antenna have to be chained directly into the transceiver port, it’s pretty much impossible to do that. Swappable antennas are only possible on devices that let you swap the cellular modem entirely. As far as I know, only Archos has made devices with swappable cellular modems, and that’s only on their Android tablets. It’s impossible to implement such a thing on phones because there isn’t enough room to make a solid swappable antenna chain, whereas there is plenty of room on a tablet to do just that.

By: dsass600

dsass600 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 04:09:00 +0000

No actually.
——————
Individual plan on Verizon = $110
Subsidized Smartphone = $230 ($30 Verizon tax)
Total after 24 months = $2870

Smart Talk = $45
Unlocked Smartphone = $600
Total after 24 months and buying one unlocked smartphone = $1680
——————-
About $1190 in savings. You could buy about 2 more unlocked smartphones. So if you went to Straight Talk and planned on spending equal amounts as you were on Verizon, you could buy 3 unlocked smartphones every 24 months and pay the same.

By: jdrch

jdrch — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:17:00 +0000

Sorry for the misunderstanding, all good man

By: DC_Guy

DC_Guy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:38:00 +0000

I ordered my Nexus 4 and my T-Mo SIM Activation Kit yesterday! I, too am going with the $30 plan (down from $101/mo on VZW), can’t wait!

By: MKader17

MKader17 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:59:00 +0000

Bigger also means much easier to fit components, which lowers costs.

By: MKader17

MKader17 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:57:00 +0000

Well in my family’s case we could go from 2 unlimted plan to a 4gb shared and save $4/month. With the times that I’ve had to use my phone as the only source of internet I would have huge overages. I don’t think the $4/month savings gives me a good buffer for overages savings.

By: James

James — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:37:00 +0000

I really want to go prepaid. I’m on Verizon, does anyone know what the policy is for prepaid smartphones on Verizon? As in, which smartphones can do it? On their website they make it sound like it has to be a special phone and not necessarily any regular smartphone. I have a Galaxy Nexus which I love and it makes me never want to have a non-Nexus phone again because my experiences with my Droid 2 left me scarred forever.

Links to official Verizon policy regarding the phone would be awesome too if anyone has that with an answer. Thanks.