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Verizon customer Nexus options

Yes as we all know every big carrier is getting the Nexus 5 except Verizon. So what options do us Verizon customers have in order to get this phone besides switching carriers if there are any at all?

Unfortunately its not compatible with the network. There are people who will put a Verizon Sim in it to get LTE, but you won't get voice or SMS service.

If you want the N5, it looks like you'll need to go to a compatible network.
 
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Speaking from someone who is switching to AT&T from Verizon because of this, my previous best idea was to get the Moto X which is the closest thing to a Nexus device on Verizon right now. I went back and forth in my head many times about this but finally decided that AT&T was a better bet with me and I am also switching to a prepaid plan at AT&T which will actually save me some money, give me a higher data plan and also provide me the freedom to upgrade or move networks whenever I want.
 
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Speaking from someone who is switching to AT&T from Verizon because of this, my previous best idea was to get the Moto X which is the closest thing to a Nexus device on Verizon right now. I went back and forth in my head many times about this but finally decided that AT&T was a better bet with me and I am also switching to a prepaid plan at AT&T which will actually save me some money, give me a higher data plan and also provide me the freedom to upgrade or move networks whenever I want.

FYI, Verizon has the G2 which the N5 is based off of. That said, I'm leaving Verizon for TMo. You can use the N5 on just about any carrier in the U.S. EXCEPT Verizon! Google to Verizon = :eviltongue:
 
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Not to mention the only LTE the Nexus 5 supports on Verizon is band 4. This is only available in 3 cities thus far and doesn't have an open handset requirement like their band 13 does. Therefore they can kill service to that line if they wanted to for using an unauthorized device.

Since the phone does support band 4, do you guys think that Verizon will eventually (hopefully soon) open this band up nationwide and allow other devices on their network?

Also, since they are "working" on certifying the Nexus 7, shouldn't the Nexus 5 be in the same boat?

I really want to this phone on Verizon since the coverage is so much better, perhaps it is time to change carriers...
 
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Since the phone does support band 4, do you guys think that Verizon will eventually (hopefully soon) open this band up nationwide and allow other devices on their network?

Also, since they are "working" on certifying the Nexus 7, shouldn't the Nexus 5 be in the same boat?

I really want to this phone on Verizon since the coverage is so much better, perhaps it is time to change carriers...

I don't think band 4 is going to be nationwide. My reasoning for that is that Verizon sold all of it's band 4 spectrum in my city to T-Mobile, thus leaving it with none here. They could buy some back later, which might change my opinion. It's mostly being deployed in congested cities to help ease congestion on their band 13 LTE.

The reason why the situations are different between the Nexus 7 & Nexus 5 relates to the federal regulations. When Verizon won the band 13 lte frequency in the auction, they had to agree to certain regulations. One of which being that they cannot deny access to a device that is compatible with that frequency. band 4 has no such regulation on it. Since the Nexus7 is compatible with band 13, it can make use that regulation. That is why Verizon is certifiying it, though probably against its will. In all honesty, this shouldn't even happen and they should just provision new sim cards right away. The Nexus 5 doesn't have compatibility with band 13, thus it cannot make use of the open network regulation. Thus Verizon is under no obligation to activate it. What makes the situation even more complicated is the cdma network. Verizon has the right to say which devices can be activated on its cdma network. Which means it can deny the Nexus 5 access to it's voice and texting service and thus make it a data only device.
 
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I'm expecting to get mine tomorrow and I have Verizon in one of the cities that has AWS LTE. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Would be nice if this works as I currently have VZW and will need to switch to T-Mobile (Which works just fine in my area with LTE).

I look forward to hearing the results. I just warn that you shouldn't be surprised if Verizon blacklists the SIM and thus cuts off service once they realize the device isn't authorized and is on a part of their network not under the Open Network clause.
 
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My years of experience reveal its hard to beat a GSM phone. Especially since I'm a tech addict, enjoy the variety of using different phones and travel internationally. I maintain AT&T & T-Mobile as my carriers and since leaving Verizon a decade ago, I've experienced great service, excellent connectivity and clear voice calling. With one for personal, one for work & at least one for modding / experimenting etc, it's all GSM for me. :)
 
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I don't think band 4 is going to be nationwide. My reasoning for that is that Verizon sold all of it's band 4 spectrum in my city to T-Mobile, thus leaving it with none here. They could buy some back later, which might change my opinion. It's mostly being deployed in congested cities to help ease congestion on their band 13 LTE.

The reason why the situations are different between the Nexus 7 & Nexus 5 relates to the federal regulations. When Verizon won the band 13 lte frequency in the auction, they had to agree to certain regulations. One of which being that they cannot deny access to a device that is compatible with that frequency. band 4 has no such regulation on it. Since the Nexus7 is compatible with band 13, it can make use that regulation. That is why Verizon is certifiying it, though probably against its will. In all honesty, this shouldn't even happen and they should just provision new sim cards right away. The Nexus 5 doesn't have compatibility with band 13, thus it cannot make use of the open network regulation. Thus Verizon is under no obligation to activate it. What makes the situation even more complicated is the cdma network. Verizon has the right to say which devices can be activated on its cdma network. Which means it can deny the Nexus 5 access to it's voice and texting service and thus make it a data only device.

Exactly, thus they need to go ef themselves.
 
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I don't want to be obtuse but Verizon guys... you need to realize that as long as you use Verizon you will almost certainly NOT get what you want.

I used to work for this company in the wireline division. They are the absolute most anti-consumer company out there at the moment. AT&T and friends are not far behind but they are somewhat better.

That said.. you want a Nexus device and not have to have special roms, hacks, or to jump thru hoops then go to a GSM carrier.
Sprint is clearly getting better too.

I know you have to have service, I get that..
If your in an AT&T or T-Mobile area, change carriers. Plain and simple.

Vote with your dollars... and when they ask you why you ported out tell them that they refuse to let you use the phones you want and that their phones are bloated pieces of garbage.

I jumped off the Verizon boat some years back now.
I will NEVER go back because I get to have my Nexus devices without carrier molestation and I pay just as much on AT&T that I did on Verizon and the service (IN MY AREA) is better than Verizon.

So if you can jump to GSM and keep your level of service it's worth the hassle. Then, when the next Nexus device comes along you just swap your sim, no muss no fuss.

Take the leap into the Nexus pool fellas..... the water is perfect.:D
 
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While I agree of all the carriers, Verizon is the least consumer choice friendly, they still have decent phones on their network. Yeah its disappointing they are so hostile to the Nexus line, but they have all the other major flagship devices. Verizon focuses on one thing, and that is network breadth. No other carrier comes close.
 
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I should probably point out that I am being a tad subjective when I say that phones on Verizon are junk.
I personally don't like any phone Verizon had to offer in the last several years.

I tend to stick with the devices that are more open or can be opened and that pretty much excludes almost all their Motorola devices from the start.

Every time there is a Nexus device there are shouts from the mountain tops about the lack of Verizon having such devices and people complain on forums about it, in blog posts... and so forth.

But... Some of these people do change to another carrier.
Good for them, voting with their dollars against the Verizon anti-Nexus device tyranny.

I know that I am probably preaching to the choir when I say.. Nexus != Verizon :rolleyes:

That's why I suggest to people that if they want something slightly more open.. go GSM.
If in doubt about coverage in an area other people.

I love Nexus devices and I think everyone should be able to get their hands on one, even Verizon users. Not going to happen while we have the Grizzly McAdam and Shamu the whale show running Verizon.
 
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While I agree of all the carriers, Verizon is the least consumer choice friendly, they still have decent phones on their network. Yeah its disappointing they are so hostile to the Nexus line, but they have all the other major flagship devices. Verizon focuses on one thing, and that is network breadth. No other carrier comes close.
I believed the same thing but I have been using T-Mobile and tested in bunch of areas since I got my N5 yesterday and actually found that my reception and speed were actually better (except for upload which Verizon won when in good LTE reception). Granted this could be because my Verizon phone was the GNex and maybe it has a worse antenna/radio your mileage may vary. But see if you have someone that has a decent GSM phone, grab a prepaid plan or go day to day and see how it really is, I am glad I did.
 
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Yeah, GSM is way to go with any Nexus device. CDMA phones don't play nice with Nexus. Verizon has decent coverage and some still have grandfathered unlimited. Granted that's huge thing, but everything else just sucks with them. I think they will even get rid of unlimited altogether at some point.

Verizon doesn't play nice with nexus.

Sprint CDMA plays just fine :thumbup:
 
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