What demmo86rt said is true. If you noticed, the Nexus 4 did not come out on any CDMA carrier. Google designs the Nexus devices to be carrier agnostic devices. This doesn't work well with any US CDMA carriers, and it appears that Google encountered too many issues to continue offering Nexus devices on Sprint, as well. The Nexus philosophy quite simply clashes with US CDMA carrier philosophies.
There are also technical considerations with CDMA radios and Nexus devices so, for once, I don't think that VZW was the bad guy here. Here is an article that has links to two other articles that explain this better.
While it is, technically, a limitation of CDMA networks that devices cannot function without proprietary binaries containing a "platform key", the facts seem to indicate that Verizon insists on standing between Google and Customers by being the "gateway" to add that key file.
This is Verizon's decision, not Google's. If Verizon saw fit to make it easier for Nexus devices to exist on CDMA networks, they could license or provide the necessary information to Google / the OEMs.
You're more correct about the "philosophies" clashing. The Nexus project is focused on open-ness and speedy updates. Verizon is focused on a "walled-garden" approach (very much like Apple, really) under the auspice of providing better "user experience".
The fact is that CDMA is a dying technology. Eventually this problem will be a distant memory, but for now Consumers are forced to make the choice between Verizon's arguably stellar coverage (at least in the US) and their control-freak mentality toward devices/users.
I know plenty about the Nexus program. I also know that, regardless of Verizon's update procedures, it was still Google's choice. Another thing I know, the Nexus devices are not popular enough for Verizon to care.
I am with you BGGaynor82...I have been a Verizon customer for over 10 years and I have had it with their closed mentality towards offering some of the best phones and taken soooo long to release hardware on their network, never mind the update issues and bloatware. By the way, is not the SUPERIOR network any longer. Both T-Mobile and AT&T LTE is faster and more reliable. Granted if you are in rural locations where you need that 700mhz frequency they have on their network to reach you, then you have little choice, though that is not going to get you LTE. If you live in metropolitan areas you will be able to have very good LTE coverage with AT&T and T-Mobile now or very soon. I will be leaving Verizon when the Nexus 5 is out. If they want to tie themselves to apple, then go ahead, since the iphone is another inferior technology, and that is why apple is struggling to keep up...the 5s will finally have quad core, give me a break. Another closed technology which suffers the ultimate fate of floundering to the competition. in over 10 years I have not seen an increase in my signal strength where I live from Verizon. I know, by looking at opensignal.com that T-Mobile has added 3 towers close by recently and verizon has not added any in 10 years, so it is a much easier decision for me now....You should find out from opensignal if you do have coverage for the other Wireless providers.
Well said Matt actually the new iphone is still a dual-core. Did you notice they tried to win on specs this year haha. Thanks for that website I'm going to check to see if I can get rid of verizon.
I think that we will be able to get a Nexus on Verizon next year. The reason Nexus doesn't work well if because of the CDMA radio they have to put in there to handle voice and sms. But, when Verizon launches their VoLTE you will only have to put an LTE chip with the correct bands. Just like with the new Nexus 7 tablet (1 tablet, 3 different carrier options). Because of the deal they signed with the US government about the C block of spectrum they bought for their LTE network they have no choice in the matte,r it has to by law be completely open. So that means that when you get a phone and it has support for their LTE bands (bands 13 right now and later this year with the AWS bands band 4) you will be able to put in a SIM and it will work and they can not stop you from doing that. But, they have to flip the switch on the VoLTE. So when the flip the switch we will be able to do what AT&T and T-moble customers have been doing for a while buy an unlocked Nexus and plug in your SIM and you are good to go.
not true. everything that ever happens in the cell industry is verizon's fault
qualcomm, how does it work?
It's my opinion that VZW (and Sprint) won't get another Nexus with a CDMA radio after the Galaxy Nexus disaster. From what I understand, VZW has to sign the radio binaries first and then demands they do their own internal testing. They won't allow updates to be pushed as soon as they're available from Google. That's why the VZW Galaxy Nexus was always months behind the GSM model.
I don't think it's VZW that refuses to carry it, but rather Google giving VZW the middle finger after how they orphaned the Galaxy Nexus.
What is believed to be the next Nexus has already passed through the FCC with Sprint radios.
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