I'm heavily considering moving to the Nexus 7 as my full time exclusive device, and utilizing a VOIP such as Google Voice for calls (I'll still have a phone around for lengthy calls if need be). Going this route I'm looking at the LTE supported model. I noticed on Google's site, they list an AT&T, T-Mobile, and non carrier specific option. Are there actually any differences in these as they are all listed as unlocked?
I couldn't find any differences. There is a non-4G Nexus, a US-4G Nexus and an international 4G Nexus. Those 3 models.
I think that there are really just two versions of the Nexus 7 with cellular radios; one for North America and Japan, and one for "the rest of the world." https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/3248332?hl=en
I believe that the options for T-Mobile and AT&T listed in the Google Play store are so that you can buy the Nexus with a SIM card pre-installed from either T-Mobile or AT&T, but both have the same radios. The only difference between the two LTE models seems to be that the North American model connects to bands 13 and 17 (Verizon and AT&T, respectively) whereas the other model (I'm assuming that's the "unlocked" model) connects to 7 and 20.
The rest of the bands that each support can be matched up with their respective carriers by looking at these tables:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
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If we buy the Verizon version, unlocked, will it work on AT&T? Is this going to be an option, or just importing it from uk etc?
Could of swore i read somewhere that att's lte will work on a slightly different mhz that it won't be compatible with verizon's lte, someone correct me if im wrong.
ekerbuddyeker said:
If we buy the Verizon version, unlocked, will it work on AT&T? Is this going to be an option, or just importing it from uk etc?
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peachpuff said:
Could of swore i read somewhere that att's lte will work on a slightly different mhz that it won't be compatible with verizon's lte, someone correct me if im wrong.
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The "AT&T" one, which at the moment is the same as the "world" version will NOT work on VZW.
As of now there are 2 models of the Galaxy Nexus: 1) CDMA/LTE (for Verizon in the USA) and 2) GSM/HSPA+ (for the rest of the world, yes including AT&T and T-mo in the USA).
As of now, there are no GSM/LTE versions (I'm assuming this is what you're looking for on AT&T). If you use the GN on AT&T, it will have HSPA+, but not LTE. And no, the VZW version will not be able to be unlocked and used with an AT&T LTE SIM card, because AT&T is only operating data on LTE, and you'd get no voice/text (assuming you somehow got the device unlocked to accept the SIM in the first place).
Unless Samsung/Google have some kinda curveball lined up to announce a 3rd model with GSM/LTE for AT&T, that will come in the future. As of now we're not aware of this model.
martonikaj said:
And no, the VZW version will not be able to be unlocked and used with an AT&T LTE SIM card, because AT&T is only operating data on LTE, and you'd get no voice/text (assuming you somehow got the device unlocked to accept the SIM in the first place).
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You are correct in saying the Verizon Galaxy Nexus will not work with an AT&T SIM. However, the reason you provided is incorrect. Currently, both AT&T and Verizon operate data only LTE networks. Neither provide LTE voice (Voice Over LTE aka VoLTE) but both plan to (Verizon in 2012 and AT&T in 2013). Whether or not the Galaxy Nexus can take advantage of VoLTE is another open question but it will be able to use CDMA voice either way.
The real reason your Galaxy Nexus will not work on the AT&T network is the LTE frequency bands are different as well as the obvious 2G and 3G CDMA/GSM incompatibilities. A Verizon Galaxy Nexus with the an AT&T SIM (assuming you can unlock the device) will never be able to find the AT&T network. Hopefully, future devices will offer software programmable radios that can be unlocked to interoperate on multiple bands. There are plans for some 43 LTE bands worldwide!!!
So I'm guessing that by the same token in Canada, if your with bell, getting the LTE version is pointless?
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ianwood said:
You are correct in saying the Verizon Galaxy Nexus will not work with an AT&T SIM. However, the reason you provided is incorrect. Currently, both AT&T and Verizon operate data only LTE networks. Neither provide LTE voice (Voice Over LTE aka VoLTE) but both plan to (Verizon in 2012 and AT&T in 2013). Whether or not the Galaxy Nexus can take advantage of VoLTE is another open question but it will be able to use CDMA voice either way.
The real reason your Galaxy Nexus will not work on the AT&T network is the LTE frequency bands are different as well as the obvious 2G and 3G CDMA/GSM incompatibilities. A Verizon Galaxy Nexus with the an AT&T SIM (assuming you can unlock the device) will never be able to find the AT&T network.
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Thanks for a little more information, but I said just as much. Even if you somehow got it unlocked to accept a different LTE SIM card (don't think it'd ever happen), there are several reasons why the phone wouldn't work. Even if they did have the same LTE frequencies exactly (or you hacked it on), he wouldn't get any GSM functionality out of the VZW device.
Basically what I was trying to express is that the other things could theoretically be overcome with software/firmware hacks (VZW and ATT will operate in the same spectrum, just slightly different frequencies), whereas you can't ever overcome the fact that the CDMA does you no good on the AT&T network.
Overall I think the point has been made regardless...
dont forget sprint and other cdma carriers in US
I know Verizon is getting the LTE version exclusively in the US, so I won't be able to get a subsidized version from T-Mobile until 2012 from the sounds of it. However my question is the Specs seem to suggest the GSM version will work on the T-Mobile network if I can just get my hands on an unlocked GSM version. There aren't going to be multiple GSM versions like the Nexus One right? Am I correct, or am I missing something. Should I hold out until 2012 or try to find an unlocked GSM version from the UK or Canada?
Entire thread on this here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1316800
it will, also at atnt, its an umts (3g) and 2g
im really lost in the terminology behind all of the different phone standards... umts/hspa/gsm/evdo/1xrtt/lte/wimax/etc etc etc...
Verizon (and Sprint) are CDMA dominant networks. But Verizon LTE requires a SIM-card:
(1) Will a Verizon LTE phone accept a GSM SIM and work at optimal speed? e.g. Vodafone SIM in UK
(2) Conversely, can't the "Global/GSM" Galaxy Nexus take the Verizon LTE SIM and work on Verizon's network?
(3) Is the Verizon LTE's version of Galaxy Nexus a hybrid CDMA-GSM phone (like Sprint's Photon) ... i.e. if I get it unlocked, I could also use it with most international services?
The unlocked global GN is 750$. But if Verizon's contract price is 300+200 [term. fee]... AND it works internationally... clearly its the way to go
1 - No.
2 - No.
3 - No.
You're confusing SIMs for radios. Each phone has a different radio that can connect to EITHER GSM (UK model) or CDMA (USA model). The GNex cannot connect to both.
The GSM version will work in the US with a T-Mobile or AT&T SIM card on a GSM network. You can also take it on international trips (changing SIMs or roaming), as most of the world uses GSM.
The CDMA (Verizon LTE) version will work on Verizon only.
Is the internal radio and SOC identical across all US carriers? (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint)
I am looking to unlock a Sprint GS3 that I can get as an employee and use it on AT&T. (Apple appears to include both CDMA and GSM support in their 4S units) and I am hoping Samsung did the same to get the device out to all the carriers.
Thanks in advance!
Unfortunately, sprint opted to make the sim internal so it can't be swapped. If you see some of the video reviews out right now, it shows the sim slot missing.
Protocols and frequencies
themyst said:
Is the internal radio and SOC identical across all US carriers? (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint)
I am looking to unlock a Sprint GS3 that I can get as an employee and use it on AT&T. (Apple appears to include both CDMA and GSM support in their 4S units) and I am hoping Samsung did the same to get the device out to all the carriers.
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I am not a professional on this but I believe that the SoC(processor, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc) is identical but the radios are different.
All the carriers use unique frequencies to communicate with their towers. Many carriers use separate protocols to communicate as well(HSPA+, CDMA, GSM) Its possible for 2 carriers to use the same protocol but they will always be using different frequencies.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think its possible to re-program your phone to use a different frequency(i.e. change from 1900MHz to 800MHz)
I do not believe you can "unlock" a sprint phone. The radio simply will not work on any other carrier. Now, if said sprint phone were a "Global Phone", then it has an additional GSM radio in it as well. I don't know if this could be used to connect to another US carrier like AT&T though.
Hi Group.
I'm in a geographical predicament and thought your suggestions would be useful in purchasing my new phone... I am going to buy the Pixel XL, but don't know if I should buy it in the USA when I go or buy it in London where I live. I am Canadian and go back and forth quite often, but my homebase and Home is in London. Knowing that there are always two versions, North America and International, I was wondering which one I should buy... When in Canada I use Bell, and when in London (where I am 90% of the time) I am with 3 (Three.co.uk).
Which should I get/where should I buy it, seeing that I heard that sometimes the different versions burn battery life differently.
Thanks!
I'd say the main thing to consider (which I'm concerned about as well) is the Carrier Aggregation for LTE, I placed a preorder for the XL, but I won't be using it in the states. My carrier supports LTE Band 1 and 3, however if you look at the CA combinations in the technical specs, the US model won't support B1+B3 aggregation, only the international model will. You might be in a different boat though, so check your carrier's LTE Band support and see if the US model supports those for CA. US model is cheaper after all.
yeah it all comes down to the bands, as a rule the international always has more available bands, but there are still a handful that are exclusive to the US or International version, so all you can do is research what the networks you use work on and then go from there picking the version that has all the bands you need.