well....good bye VZW exclusivity

[trophynuts]

we all knew it was coming. Its official now.

Sprint Officially Announces Galaxy Nexus And LTE, Fireworks Ensue - Android Life: An Android Community Blog

 

[CAMAN]

Cool, maybe we'll be able to get a car dock through Sprint then!

 

[Roroco]

The more the merrier! Can't wait to Beam someone...

 

[Sandroidfan]

When is AT&T getting GSM Nexus? Not everyone wants to import GSM one at full price.

 

[mikepic]

Congrats Sprint customers!

 

[trophynuts]

When is AT&T getting GSM Nexus? Not everyone wants to import GSM one at full price.

haven't heard anything lately on that. But AT&T is getting a great phone in the Samsung Sky Rocket HD.

 

[snapcase]

Good to hear. I don't care for exclusive releases in general, and it seems just goofy for google to have a Nexus device exclusive to certain carriers. Hope every carrier gets it eventually.

 

[alprazolam]

The more the merrier! Can't wait to Beam someone...

^^This

 

[Sandroidfan]

haven't heard anything lately on that. But AT&T is getting a great phone in the Samsung Sky Rocket HD.

Yeah, that looks like HD SGSII announced in Korea late last year.
Seems like Samsung is now AT&T's preferred android OEM just like Motorola is to Verizon.

 

[ska.t73]

Good to hear. I don't care for exclusive releases in general, and it seems just goofy for google to have a Nexus device exclusive to certain carriers. Hope every carrier gets it eventually.

Yea it was never going to be an exclusive for long. It was just an exclusive launch. BMX said all along that exclusive doesn't mean forever lol. BMX works for Google BTW.

 

[asmallchild]

verizon network >

no worries on my end

 

[HuskyKMA]

Good, maybe we'll be able to get some decent accessories now.

 

[AppsRUs]

Great news, IMHO. The more the merrier!

 

[PhilosoRaptor]

It's still going to be a while until it launches on Sprint. At least 4-5 months until their LTE network goes live. I know it hasn't been announced yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if AT&T or T-Mobile (less likely) to get it before Sprint does considering the hardware is already perfect for their networks.

 

[vandyman]

So does that mean there will be a separate Sprint Galaxy Nexus thread just like the separate VZW Galaxy Nexus thread to create more confusion?

 

[scary alien]

So does that mean there will be a separate Sprint Galaxy Nexus thread just like the separate VZW Galaxy Nexus thread to create more confusion?

LOL, at least we don't (yet ) have four forums like the SGS2 does--talk about confusion (at least when trying to direct a new member to their "Samsung Galaxy S2" forum ).

I'm sure there's no perfect solution / way to organize them and that the powers-that-be are already aware of this.

 

[PhilosoRaptor]

Pretty lame that they're only getting the 16 GB version. I would be pissed if Verizon/I didn't have the 32 GB version available. I could probably make due with 16 (prolly more like 13 GB usable), but it would stay full all the time and would be annoying to manage. Hopefully they get the 32 GB version soon afterwords, I wouldn't expect it though. It's amazing that the 32 GB GSM version isn't out yet.

 

[Mr. Orange 645]

Hmmmm...wondering if the Sprint variation will have a Google branded battery cover that fits the Verizon variant...possibilities...

 

[redraptor]

This is great to hear. That means that this phone is gonna be FAR more backed up by accessory manufactures which means more market penetration and bigger interest in the phone, which will hopefully translate into good sales. That would mean that the device will be seen more in the hands of people than the any other android device, making it more recognizable to the general public and then considered a true contender to the Iphone.

We all know Android is the stronger OS but to the general public, its the iphone or some other phone thats not as "good" as the iphone. Im praying it will be the Iphone or the Nexus. This is by far the strongest launch for an Android phone I have seen as far as general public recognition and carrier support, and that makes me VERY happy. Android looks like its finally finding its real place in this world.

 

[scary alien]

Hmmmm...wondering if the Sprint variation will have a Google branded battery cover that fits the Verizon variant...possibilities...

LOL, I like that idea .

This is great to hear. That means that this phone is gonna be FAR more backed up by accessory manufactures which means more market penetration and bigger interest in the phone, which will hopefully translate into good sales. That would mean that the device will be seen more in the hands of people than the any other android device, making it more recognizable to the general public and then considered a true contender to the Iphone.

We all know Android is the stronger OS but to the general public, its the iphone or some other phone thats not as "good" as the iphone. Im praying it will be the Iphone or the Nexus. This is by far the strongest launch for an Android phone I have seen as far as general public recognition and carrier support, and that makes me VERY happy. Android looks like its finally finding its real place in this world.

Very nicely said!

 

[snapcase]

This is great to hear. That means that this phone is gonna be FAR more backed up by accessory manufactures which means more market penetration and bigger interest in the phone, which will hopefully translate into good sales. That would mean that the device will be seen more in the hands of people than the any other android device, making it more recognizable to the general public and then considered a true contender to the Iphone.

We all know Android is the stronger OS but to the general public, its the iphone or some other phone thats not as "good" as the iphone. Im praying it will be the Iphone or the Nexus. This is by far the strongest launch for an Android phone I have seen as far as general public recognition and carrier support, and that makes me VERY happy. Android looks like its finally finding its real place in this world.

I'd like to see Google take their acquisition of Motorola's mobile division and dedicate that to making a Nexus line of phones catered solely to the vision of what a Nexus phone should be. Then market it to all carriers for a simultaneous release when they come out. Effectively making a true "Google Phone". That frankly is the only way I see Android or Google being a real stiff competition to the iphone or (and I hate to use the term) an "iphone killer". People know of Android as an OS only, and don't really associate it with any one particular piece of hardware... and that's fine. However if "Nexus" came to mean something of real standardization, and the benchmark by which ALL other android devices are measured (which is what the Nexus is supposed to be anyway)... all that could add up to a lot of good things for Google. The big key I think would be in marketing the "Nexus" name. It's all about brand recognition.

 

[redraptor]

Absolutely. Im not sure if this was part of Google's plan, but the whole open source idea seems to spread to the manufactures as well. Thus it creates a whole set of "problems" (Its more subjective I suppose) where there is no "one device". And honestly that is a good and bad thing. Its great because people have a choice of what will truly suit them. But on the other hand it fails to create a real recognition with the product (Either android or a particular device).

The way I see it, the average consumer see's the physical product. Its always an iphone or a "droid". Very rarely do I hear people talk about why they like IOS or Android better. Its about what is most popular, and just like in personal traits, people see and gravitate toward what they find the most attractive. Unfortunately in both circumstances, that is more about appearance. There has been MANY a time where I show an iphone fan the incredible flexibility of android and they seem VERY interested. Even to the point of where they start bashing the iphone for being so limited. I see that person again a year later and they have the new iphone. Such is the world I suppose.

I love Android and plan to stick with it for a long time (Atleast 2 more years ) but I feel like Google needs to tighten the leash a little on both the OS and the manufactures. Keep the OS open source and fun to play with for the truly determined but tighten it up to develop a strong and more stable platform. And tell the damn manufactures to slow down (ESPECIALLY MOTO!!! Jesus!) and give them a template to base their phones on without sacrificing identity.

And please, do not get me wrong, I am the FURTHEST thing from an Android fanboy. I actually tell most people that are new to smartphones, to go the apple route. I want to build up Android but there is no denying the simplicity and sensibility of IOS. And for the "casual" market, I think the Iphone fits best. then again, I have yet to play with ICS...

 

[SirKronan]

This is great to hear. That means that this phone is gonna be FAR more backed up by accessory manufactures which means more market penetration and bigger interest in the phone, which will hopefully translate into good sales. That would mean that the device will be seen more in the hands of people than the any other android device, making it more recognizable to the general public and then considered a true contender to the Iphone.

We all know Android is the stronger OS but to the general public, its the iphone or some other phone thats not as "good" as the iphone. Im praying it will be the Iphone or the Nexus. This is by far the strongest launch for an Android phone I have seen as far as general public recognition and carrier support, and that makes me VERY happy. Android looks like its finally finding its real place in this world.

I don't know why anyone would NOT want this phone, size being the only reservation for those that need more iPhone-sized devices. I understand that. But seriously ...

It has a 720p HD screen
Fast, efficient dual core processor
Large battery (I definitely get more battery life out of this than my fascinate or DX, consistently!)
4G when you need it (I turn it off most of the time to save battery. It's too easy to turn on when you need something downloaded in a hurry, provided you even have LTE in your area yet...)
It has very smooth and responsive and stable ICS (phone virtually never locks up. amazing iPhone like stability in my usage)
It can power my USB Christmas lights
It can charge my bluetooth headset
It can go MHL to my HDTV with mirroring
It works flawlessly with bluetooth keyboards and mice, AND usb keyboards and mice, too!!
It has solid wifi performance, and picks up both bands on my router
Has much better call quality (noise canceling mic and louder headset speaker) than the Fascinate did, which wasn't necessarily bad
It has a barometer (see pressureNET and predict the weather)
Rock solid GPS performance (every state I've tested so far, even right after just enabling the GPS, it locks freaking right away and gets me right where I want to go - although I've read the barometer helps with this too)
Voice control (I say call someone, it does. I say navigate somewhere, it does. Even gets it right most of the time)
Instant picture snapping, shot after shot after shot
32GB of memory, if you're with Verizon!! (and it's fast internal stuff, too - music and videos load, scan and skip where you need very quickly)
Bluetooth headsets work properly when the headphone jack is plugged in to speakers (or something) unlike on the Fascinate
It has a completely customizable LED indicator light! I love this feature and use it daily. I didn't have any idea what I was missing on the Fascinate.
You can pay for stuff with it (google wallet FTW)
Wiimotes work since Samsung's own software is not there to screw things up with the bluetooth stack
And I can even charge another cellphone with it.

This is the most amazing phone available in this country right now. I can't believe verizon didn't screw it up, and I'm excited to see it come to more networks. That just means more accessories and apps for us all!!

NEXUS PARTY EVERYONE!!

 

[Jay3]

Start the countdown . . . . my goal is to switch to Sprint after this Galaxy Nexus contract runs out. I'm hoping Sprint has closed the gap in network quality and coverage in two years.

I would like nothing better than to firebomb Verizon if it weren't for their network coverage in my area.

 

[Jay3]

Verizon has had years and years to build up customer goodwill, leveraging off their network quality. Instead, it's been years and years of simmering hatred building.