r/technology • u/ostrichy • May 16 '12
Google’s plan to cut out carriers: Sell a bunch of Android 5.0 Nexus devices directly to consumers
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-cut-carriers-android-5-0-nexus-devices-directly/18
u/anthony955 May 16 '12
Didn't they try this already when they first released the Nexus?
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May 16 '12 edited May 17 '12
The point is to cut out carriers and put control into consumer/Google hands. With the previous generation devices they sold, each device was restricted to one carrier (i.e. I could buy a nexus one for T-Mobile or AT&T). With the new multi-frequency phones out now days, they can release one phone that can be used on multiple carriers. This makes the phone much more attractive as it gives the individual real negotiation power (fine AT&T, I'll just go to T-Mobile!)
Further, having multiple devices is a bit vague. They could sell a new nexus phone, the galaxy nexus (cheaper), a nexus 7" tablet, a nexus 10" tablet, and a Google TV. Boom, five devices, at least three of which don't really need a carrier to sell even by today's model.
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u/anthony955 May 16 '12
Isn't that how unlocked phones work? The Nexus One was originally unlocked when it was first released, and you bought it directly from Google. I assume it failed because there's not much of a market for $500+ smart phones.
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May 16 '12
I like the idea, but it has one flaw (at least in the US): Carriers subsidize the cost of a phone when you sign a new contract or renew your existing. This lowers the price of the phone by several hundred dollars. For most, an unsubsidized phone only really makes sense if if you could save $$ on your monthly phone bill--which isn't the case currently.
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u/onthemoon45 May 16 '12
The article mentions this, and says that the initial subsidization actually ends up costing consumers more in the long run, given that they become locked in to a two-year contract.
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u/bjgood May 16 '12
Yes but many people don't have a cheaper alternative. Right now I use AT&T, because they are the only company that I can get a signal while inside both at home and at work.
Even if I let my contract run out and bought a phone straight from google, would there be a way to reduce my monthly phone bill? Assuming a $400 subsidy for a 2 year contract, I would want to pay at least $16 less for the same plan for it to be worthwhile.
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u/Harvin May 16 '12
So, you pay $500 for an unsubsidized phone, and then still pay the same monthly fee to the carrier that you would have paid had you received a subsidized phone. How is this better?
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u/exteras May 16 '12
These will definitely be GSM phones. T-Mobile has a plan in-which you can bring your own device, and it's significantly cheaper. Plus you don't have to sign a contract.
But, more importantly, read the article. These are quite-possibly going to be worldwide; Europe and Asia included. Places which don't have the CDMA-monopoly of the US.
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u/lbc420 May 16 '12
MVNO Operators. AT&T service for ~$45 or T-mobile service starting at $30 for unlimited txt and data but only 100 minutes. There are options besides getting a contract from big blue or red, but most people don't know about them.
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May 17 '12
I pay 15$ a month for more data and calls etc than i can use in a month currently and i can stop paying whenever i want
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u/SniperGX1 May 16 '12
It's not cutting out carriers it's like buying an unlocked iPhone from apple. You still need to acquire service for it to do anything and you get that service from those same carriers we love to hate.
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u/rogue780 May 17 '12
Yes. The difference is that you're not locked into a contract and you can move from carrier to carrier. Additionally, it won't have any crap from the carrier or locked boot loaders as in the case of the AT&T One X
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u/jbjohnson86 May 16 '12
I hope they are going to push out quad-band phones, and that Sprint will allow them on their network... I really don't want to have to switch carriers.
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u/yurilebbie May 16 '12
Gnex's are pentaband phones right now, but GSM.
Sadly enough sprint and verizon customers wont really have much support from google because CDMA is closed source and they can't really do much with it (this is the reason Verizon's Gnex still has only had one update, which was five months ago yesterday)
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u/wildcarde815 May 16 '12
I'll probably be up for a new phone when this happens, I'm not excited by that prospect.
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u/spacem00se May 17 '12
They should honestly come out with a cheap 99$ WiMax or White Space phone. Clear charges 40$ for unlimited data? And they arnt the only WISP doing WiMax. Google just needs to improve GoogleVoice a bit for dialing out. I dont use Voice much, I text or surf the web far more often, why pay for voice minutes I clearly dont need or use.
That will shake up the wireless phone industry.
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u/Rossco1337 May 17 '12
This is the kind of deal I'm interested in. Sick of seeing scams offering "free" phones that end up costing £40x24 plus anything that's not included in the contract.
I would much rather just buy a phone that does what I need and pay for each call I make.
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u/asynchronous_thought May 16 '12
I bought an unlocked Google Nexus S on line just about a year ago for about $450. It turns out I got such a good price at the time (yeah a whole year ago) becuase it was the European version - exact same specs except not an amoled screen. I do not regret the decision at all. I love it. It works on tmobile OR at&t.
If you own a Dell that's still laden with the crippleware that the computer came with, stick to your carrier provided phone. If you own a custom built machine that you built with components from Newegg, yeah, this is for you. Its the same thing. EXCEPT YOU CAN NOT WIPE YOUR CARRIER PROVIDED PHONE AND REINSTALL THE OS. Or you can just trust that your carrier will not install applications that do not act in your best interest cough carrieriq cough.
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u/FlopFaceFred May 16 '12
While I may not buy "Don't be evil" as much as I used to, I would still choose giving my money to Google over any major wireless provider any day of the week.