Google Nexus 4 lacking LTE is a tactical issue
Despite Google Playground being cancelled because of hurricane Sandy, the Google guys went ahead and officially announced the Google Nexus 4 and dished the details on the new Android smartphone. As 4G LTE is the future in the mobile space, most new smartphones that are brought to the mobile space there days include LTE functionality, but for some reason the Nexus 4 has forgone LTE.
The Google Nexus 4 will thus come unlocked sporting HSPA+ only, and according to a report by The Verge, Nexus is Google’s flagship brand that they want direct control over the software on Nexus devices without carrier intervention, which means Google can’t offer an LTE smartphone without working with a carrier.
According to the article the Big Red and Sprint LTE networks have compatibility with 3G CDMA , and there isn’t any unlocked CDMA devices, whilst AT&T’s LTE network uses different frequencies than other global LTE networks, which basically means Google would have to deliver a custom handset for 77 US markets.
The lack of LTE on the Google Nexus 4 is a tactical issue according to Android chief Andy Rubin, with the major concerns being battery life and cost of handsets that support multiple radios, and says that a lot of networks that have deployed LTE are still hybrid networks, with devices requiring both radios. Rubin went on to say that when they did the Galaxy Nexus with LTE they had to do that and it was not a great user experience.
Since 2008 Verizon has offered their open development initiative that enables other companies to have devices on Verizon’s networks including LTE, but they are required to follow Verizon’s specs and certification process to do so, but the Verizon program would stop Google from delivering updates in a timely manner, as firmware is required to be tested and certified by Verizon beforehand.
As for GSM HSPA carriers the problem isn’t access but rather economic, with T-Mobile, AT&T and international carriers all allowing unlocked handsets on their networks, with AT&T stating they will allow unlocked devices to access their LTE network, but wont give any guarantee that everything will work or that the carrier would give technical support.
So basically the quantity of customers Google could reach with an unlocked Google Nexus 4 is somewhat on the small side, which would reduce an already small market to almost nothing, and although Google is getting serious on selling hardware, they don’t really want to compromise with carriers, which is basically the only way to deliver a device with LTE.
Rubin says that tactically they wish to ensure their handsets are available for every network on the globe, which means for now anyway the Google Nexus 4 will be an unlocked device for HSAP+ networks.
So there you have it, if you do purchase the Nexus 4 you obviously wont be able to play nice on an LTE network, could the lack of LTE connectivity be a deal breaker for you?
Comments
7 thoughts on “Google Nexus 4 lacking LTE is a tactical issue”
Not even close to a deal-breaker, especially having seen the prices EE are charging in the UK.
Not even remotely a deal breaker, the hardware looks great especially the inclusion of Gorilla glass 2 aswell as a quad core and vitally on android 2GB of RAM. And with the UK price live I will pre order one asap. The price asked for iphone 5 and S3 does beg the question how can they sell it so cheap for such great specs. 4G is atleast 3 years away from becoming mainstream….. eg: how long did 3G take to take off in UK. I am aware it was a different era but cost is always an issue and 4G needs to ratio down prices, most people content with 3G speeds. Sent using motorola milestone, unfortunately gotta be replaced, shame letting go of qwerty.
It will be at least two or three years before 4G is a realistic proposition for most UK phone users and probably even longer than that before pricing is at a point where it is mass-market. I think the tactical move not to have it on this device will not be an issue.
Not having LTE isn’t even a drop in the ocean. It’s rate to get a H around here. Besides, the only place I expect good bandwidth is when I’m at home and connected to wifi, or drinking coffee somewhere with a hotspot. Frankly it’s way more important to have a phone that hasn’t been butt-raped by Vodafone or O2 or whatever other carrier – i *hate* it when they do that.
Is it a real bother that the Nexus 4 does not come with LTE, some have said that prices EE are
charging here in the UK are very high, 3G is fast enough for most tasks… If you are
in say the USA then the Nexus 4 lacking LTE would be a problem because
4G is more established there.
Is it a real bother that the Nexus 4 does not come with LTE, some have said that prices EE are charging here in the UK are very high, 3G is fast enough for most tasks… If you are in say the USA then the Nexus 4 lacking LTE would be a problem because
4G is more established there.
I’ve been fine without LTE thus far. What I haven’t been fine with is having to do weird stuff left and right just to get a pure Android experience on my phone. I don’t care about this. I’m buying this device.