Hey guys, VZW question...

[Stickwall]

Hello,
Do you guys think it is worth it to get a free Droid Eris, my brother is buying a Droid so we get one free, and go with it for now until the N1 comes out for VZW? I know I would have to pay full price for the N1, I am pretty close to buying it on T-Mobile, but I would like it more on Verizon's network. I think it would just be better.
Should I do that, or just man up and buy it right now for T-Mobile?
Opinions?

 

[kyler13]

Hello,
Do you guys think it is worth it to get a free Droid Eris, my brother is buying a Droid so we get one free, and go with it for now until the N1 comes out for VZW? I know I would have to pay full price for the N1, I am pretty close to buying it on T-Mobile, but I would like it more on Verizon's network. I think it would just be better.
Should I do that, or just man up and buy it right now for T-Mobile?
Opinions?

Well, you're locked into a plan with that free Eris, but if you're willing to pay full price for a Nexus One (if that's an option) then I don't see why not. You could probably flip that Eris on ebay for a couple hundred.

As for the Nexus One:

#1 Verizon works well for me EVERYWHERE i go, including visiting family which ranges from the sticks to the suburbs. I wouldn't chance T-Mobile. Your situation might be different.
#2 The current Nexus One is a bit buggy. The CDMA version will be built separately and will likely have the opportunity to have hardware fixes (if they decide to implement) when it goes into production.
#3 Google will probably better have their act together with regards to support by the time the Verizon Nexus One is out.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[raremage]

Well, you're locked into a plan with that free Eris, but if you're willing to pay full price for a Nexus One (if that's an option) then I don't see why not. You could probably flip that Eris on ebay for a couple hundred.

As for the Nexus One:

#1 Verizon works well for me EVERYWHERE i go, including visiting family which ranges from the sticks to the suburbs. I wouldn't chance T-Mobile. Your situation might be different.
#2 The current Nexus One is a bit buggy. The CDMA version will be built separately and will likely have the opportunity to have hardware fixes (if they decide to implement) when it goes into production.
#3 Google will probably better have their act together with regards to support by the time the Verizon Nexus One is out.

Just my 2 cents.

I tried the leap from my Droid on VZW to an N1 on TMo. Loved the phone, coverage was much, much worse. I popped back tot he Droid and returned the N1, pending release on vzw. I'll say this: in my opinion, the Nexus is such a nice device, I still consider swapping back again. Once it hits Verizon, it will truly rock.

 

[Stickwall]

I am glad you agree, cause I went with the Eris and VZW.
I thought about it since I first posted and finally decided to just pick one.
Thanks guys...

 

[Phydeaux]

Something tells me you'll be pleasantly surprised with the Eris.

 

[AndroidsOfTara]

I tried the leap from my Droid on VZW to an N1 on TMo. Loved the phone, coverage was much, much worse. I popped back tot he Droid and returned the N1, pending release on vzw. I'll say this: in my opinion, the Nexus is such a nice device, I still consider swapping back again. Once it hits Verizon, it will truly rock.

Same here.

I ran into the TMO / N1 3G problem the first week the N1 was out. Nobody seemed to know what was going on. I only had a few days to decide to keep the Droid or return the N1. I kept the Droid.

Which screen do you like better? I think the Droid has the better screen as far as resolution and realistic colors.

 

[raremage]

Same here.

I ran into the TMO / N1 3G problem the first week the N1 was out. Nobody seemed to know what was going on. I only had a few days to decide to keep the Droid or return the N1. I kept the Droid.

Which screen do you like better? I think the Droid has the better screen as far as resolution and realistic colors.

Not me, definitely prefer the N1. However, I think that is a question of personal preference, both have excellent displays.

I just found the N1 to be more vibrant.

As an aside, now that they patched the 3G issue, waiting to see how effective it is, may still consider jumping again (or, a Re-Jump)!

 

[andrew53517]

Well, you're locked into a plan with that free Eris, but if you're willing to pay full price for a Nexus One (if that's an option) then I don't see why not. You could probably flip that Eris on ebay for a couple hundred.

As for the Nexus One:

#1 Verizon works well for me EVERYWHERE i go, including visiting family which ranges from the sticks to the suburbs. I wouldn't chance T-Mobile. Your situation might be different.
#2 The current Nexus One is a bit buggy. The CDMA version will be built separately and will likely have the opportunity to have hardware fixes (if they decide to implement) when it goes into production.
#3 Google will probably better have their act together with regards to support by the time the Verizon Nexus One is out.

Just my 2 cents.

Anyone have any clue when it is going into production for Verizon? I know "spring," but they have to be close! Everything seems to be fixed you know? anyone?

 

[raremage]

Anyone have any clue when it is going into production for Verizon? I know "spring," but they have to be close! Everything seems to be fixed you know? anyone?

Leo Laporte reported it as March 23 on one of his podcasts, I think TWiG.

 

[cdmta]

Twit

 

[raremage]

Twit

Actually, I think it was TWiG - This Week in Google. He talked the N1 up on TWiT, but I think he mentioned the VZW date on his Google podcast.

 

[andrew53517]

Whatever it is, thanks! I am starting to wonder if they are going to drop the unlocked price when it comes to verizon.. I mean, the phone is not selling well as it is already, so why not shave off abo4ut $150 or so to get it to sell more once it comes to verizon? Make it like $350 - $400 unlocked.. makes sense since it'll have been out for all most 3 months and its not selling well at all...

 

[kyler13]

Whatever it is, thanks! I am starting to wonder if they are going to drop the unlocked price when it comes to verizon.. I mean, the phone is not selling well as it is already, so why not shave off abo4ut $150 or so to get it to sell more once it comes to verizon? Make it like $350 - $400 unlocked.. makes sense since it'll have been out for all most 3 months and its not selling well at all...

I don't think you'll get a CDMA phone unlocked. I posted my theory in another thread. CDMA carriers have to authorize ESN's into their database so that you can't just BYOD, short of the sketchy process of flashing a usable ESN onto a phone. I think Sprint will ultimately support the Nexus One as well, and through the Google storefront, when you purchase the phone, your CDMA carrier of choice will accept the phone's ESN into their database, forever making it a phone particular to that carrier. You might be able to buy the thing contract free at full price, but I'm guessing you'll have to pick a carrier and be stuck with it. Maybe not. But you're not just getting an unlocked CDMA phone and walking into a Sprint or Verizon store to activate it. These two carriers are pretty strict with what they allow, and you're bound by their acceptance of an ESN into their database, unlike GSM where the ID tied to the carrier is built into the SIM card.

 

[raremage]

I don't think you'll get a CDMA phone unlocked. I posted my theory in another thread. CDMA carriers have to authorize ESN's into their database so that you can't just BYOD, short of the sketchy process of flashing a usable ESN onto a phone. I think Sprint will ultimately support the Nexus One as well, and through the Google storefront, when you purchase the phone, your CDMA carrier of choice will accept the phone's ESN into their database, forever making it a phone particular to that carrier. You might be able to buy the thing contract free at full price, but I'm guessing you'll have to pick a carrier and be stuck with it. Maybe not. But you're not just getting an unlocked CDMA phone and walking into a Sprint or Verizon store to activate it. These two carriers are pretty strict with what they allow, and you're bound by their acceptance of an ESN into their database, unlike GSM where the ID tied to the carrier is built into the SIM card.

I believe you're right about the ESN - however, you didn't used to be able to activate your own phone, or jump from phone to phone. It was an arduous programming process that only a dealer could perform, and they weren't too open to doing it on a regular basis. Now, you dial *228, enter your number, and authenticate. A minute later you have a new phone provisioned.

My point is, the ability to have an unlocked CDMA phone could presumably evolve and change too.

Now having said all that, I think when he said 'unlocked' phone, they probably meant 'un-subsidized' phone. I don't see the price dropping though. Google sold something like 25K on TMo, they'll probably sell 50K or more on VZW when that hits. Look at the price of a Pre at this point - relatively small market penetration, but try to buy an unsubsidized one and see how much it costs - basically the same as when they came out around a year ago. I doubt the Nexus will drop at all three months after release, just hitting a new carrier.

 

[kyler13]

I believe you're right about the ESN - however, you didn't used to be able to activate your own phone, or jump from phone to phone. It was an arduous programming process that only a dealer could perform, and they weren't too open to doing it on a regular basis. Now, you dial *228, enter your number, and authenticate. A minute later you have a new phone provisioned.

My point is, the ability to have an unlocked CDMA phone could presumably evolve and change too.

You're comparing functionality to policy. Yeah, you couldn't readily do it yourself because the infrastructure wasn't in place to do it via the web or automated over the phone. That's wholly different from controlling the population by limiting the network to carrier-approved devices. No one carrier is going to embrace unlocking because it opens the door for their subscribers to easily leave. LTE will break this, but not under sponsorship of the carriers. Once the majority of the US carriers are compatible and SIM-card based, the manufacturers could start selling their phones direct and unlocked. It will be a slow transition. I think Google is paving the way for this as the Nexus One is the first unlocked phone sold in the US in cooperation with a carrier, even though it is self limiting by nature with a single 3G band. Baby steps.