Nexus on ATT worth it?

[Richard371]

I currently have a company paid for 3GS and Blackberry 9700 on ATT. The devices and service are paid for. If I buy a Nexus one I will have to shell out 529 but have access to many ATT active sims so free service.

Is this device pleasent on ATT? I know it will be EDGE only and I have wifi at work and home. Is it just to slow on wifi?

Also is the dust under the screen still a big problem? I hate the face you cannot buy thisin a store anywhere and they have a restocking fee on top of that.

Is ther anywhere in the SF baye area where I can see one of these?

 

[JuTMSY4]

Couple of thoughts

A) There may be an ATT version coming out - the 3G difference is well worth waiting for as (IMHO) Edge is a bit slower. That being said, Wifi is very fast (I use it in my house) and blows away 3G when available - so no, its not just as slow

B) Dust under the screen hasn't been an issue for me - i currently use the stock sock/sleeve that came with the phone and have been "new phone" protective of it - but I use it a lot. I work in an office (which I assume you do too). Thus far, its been fine.

My personal opinion would be to wait for the 3G att version if possible and/or buy another newer android phone. If you feel that you will be within wifi range a lot of the time you'll use it though, then I'd pull the trigger. The only reason not to buy it as an ATT customer is 3G IMHO.

 

[Richard371]

Is there any eta on the ATT version?

 

[JuTMSY4]

not officially

That being said, BoyGeniusReport suggested that the HTC Desire (Nexus One Clone) might come to ATT in May or June.

Either way - I'd guess you'd have an N1 or close approximate at ATT by June to compete with the Iphone

 

[Richard371]

Thanks. I should wait as we are an ATT and Verizon shop so I will be able to get it free. I could buy it now just to play with it then sell it but I am not sure how much I would get for it.

 

[JuTMSY4]

Verizon's version is coming out in a few weeks actually

If that's an option - that's the way i'd go

 

[Richard371]

I hope the verizon version works globaly unlike the Droid.

 

[grainysand]

If it's CDMA-only, no. Tough luck.

 

[briany]

I also have N1 on AT&T. I'm fine with the Edge limitation because I don't have a data plan anyway, and I have Wifi everywhere I need my phone. But if you have a data plan, and can see yourself needing or wanting it, I'd wait for the 3G version of the N1, if it's in fact real. I decided not to wait and went ahead and bought the N1. Even if the Desire comes to AT&T, I don't know if I would get it because AT&T branded phones tend to be altered somewhat. I don't know if AT&T can control Android phones like they control their other phones, but I decided it probably wouldn't be worth so I just got the N1. I've been satisfied so far.

 

[clutchy]

I also have N1 on AT&T. I'm fine with the Edge limitation because I don't have a data plan anyway, and I have Wifi everywhere I need my phone. But if you have a data plan, and can see yourself needing or wanting it, I'd wait for the 3G version of the N1, if it's in fact real. I decided not to wait and went ahead and bought the N1. Even if the Desire comes to AT&T, I don't know if I would get it because AT&T branded phones tend to be altered somewhat. I don't know if AT&T can control Android phones like they control their other phones, but I decided it probably wouldn't be worth so I just got the N1. I've been satisfied so far.

I'm on At&t with the N1 as well(iphone 3g is on ebay)... I'll probably be switching over to T-mobile at some point though. edge is a bit limiting and we don't have wifi at work... other than that i'm super happy with the phone. I can't wait to get it on a 3g network.

One of the reasons i didn't wait was that apple will most likely be coming out with another iphone sometime in june/july and my phone would be worth less on the 2nd hand market, which btw is shockingly hot right now. I'm fully expecting to get almost what i paid for the stupid on the auction.

Also it's a pride issue for me, i'm so sick of being stuck in contracts and i'm pissed off about carriers trying to grab people by locking in the new cool phone... I applaud google for trying to brake that cycle and i wanted to support their efforts... although realistically this phone is locked to 1 carrier

 

[briany]

I'm on At&t with the N1 as well(iphone 3g is on ebay)... I'll probably be switching over to T-mobile at some point though. edge is a bit limiting and we don't have wifi at work... other than that i'm super happy with the phone. I can't wait to get it on a 3g network.

One of the reasons i didn't wait was that apple will most likely be coming out with another iphone sometime in june/july and my phone would be worth less on the 2nd hand market, which btw is shockingly hot right now. I'm fully expecting to get almost what i paid for the stupid on the auction.

Also it's a pride issue for me, i'm so sick of being stuck in contracts and i'm pissed off about carriers trying to grab people by locking in the new cool phone... I applaud google for trying to brake that cycle and i wanted to support their efforts... although realistically this phone is locked to 1 carrier

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. It's starting to look like it's going to be normal to get tangled up in a contract just to get a smartphone, I can't believe more people don't realize how unfair and unnecessary that is. Unlocked phones are the way of the future (for the US), and even though they probably won't be, they should be.

 

[deel]

Also it's a pride issue for me, i'm so sick of being stuck in contracts and i'm pissed off about carriers trying to grab people by locking in the new cool phone... I applaud google for trying to brake that cycle and i wanted to support their efforts... although realistically this phone is locked to 1 carrier

i understand the difference between contract vs no contract, but what's the big deal by being stuck with one carrier? it's not like you are switching carriers every month, even if that were possible. same goes for people in europe, you dont switch carriers every month, i bet it's more of a headache to switch than to just stick with one carrier.

 

[jbrinkley]

it's no big deal being stuck with one carrier if you like them, the big deal is att altering stock phones to meet their spec.
They do this because they can. They do this because of the way they operate in the US.
And that is why it's horrible.

like buying a 1080p TV and sears altering it so that you can only watch 720p.

 

[grainysand]

As proven by the Motorola Backflip being slapped with bloatware and Yahoo instead of Google. US carriers are terrible.

 

[clutchy]

i understand the difference between contract vs no contract, but what's the big deal by being stuck with one carrier? it's not like you are switching carriers every month, even if that were possible. same goes for people in europe, you dont switch carriers every month, i bet it's more of a headache to switch than to just stick with one carrier.

if the prices were the same, that would be fine and i wouldn't think anything of it, but b/c the phone is stuck on one carrier it can distort a market which i don't agree with. Same thing with contracts... it distorts the market and inhibits competition. Instead of competing on price and service they're competing on product which is not what they sell. This is a the biggest market distortion... a company is able to compete for customers based on a piece of equipment they aren't even marketing or selling as their main product? ridiculous. Phone companies sell voice data sms and other stuff; phones are only an adjunct to their main operations. As soon as people figure this out we'll get more competition(on what they're supposed to be competing) and we'll get better rates and plans. We must demand it, and the first step is not buying their stupid phones and locking ourselves down for 2 years...

I bought a nexus one b/c t-mobile has the best plans/price and google as far as i'm concerned has the best approach for distribution and sale of goods.

I wanted to reward them for that and i'm doing that right now.

 

[murdros]

I've been with T-mobile for years now and have never had bad service but I still bought my phone unlocked. The reason being because they wanted me to change my plan to be able to get the new phone if I did an upgrade. My plan isn't offered anymore and that's the reason I paid the extra money. It sucks but it was well worth it in my opinion. I say buy it unlocked if you want options or are on month to month on an old plan like me.

 

[tamanaco]

I agree with that is being said about unlocked phones, but unfortunately in the US an unlocked phone is not really completely free to move from one service provider to another. When it comes to data connectivity all the US providers run the protocols to support high speed data services in different bands. So, while one can already buy an unlocked Nexus One in the US it will only reach its peak data speed (3G) with t-mobile. Take it to AT&T and you have dud... take it to Verizon and you have a brick. Voice connectivity is only an issue when you want to switch from a carrier that uses CDMA for voice to one that does not. Also, the big providers are not interested in providing competitively priced no-contract service for those of us that buy unlocked phones. Even after the end of a contract with a subsidize phone, providers do not deduct the cost of phone, you have already paid for, from your monthly fee.

In order for unlocked phones to be effective we need data and voice standards across providers ... but in the market place in the US any time the government wants to intervene to level the playing field for "consumers"... the industry and their lobbyist cry fault. We get the catch-all phrase... The Market will resolve it... In the meantime we become captured audiences for at least two years because of the economics of phone subsidies and the convenience of what "appears" to be a tailored contract. But we all know this is just what happens when you go to the movies... you either get a size of popcorn that is too small and expensive at $5.00 or the one that is too much, but appears to be a bargain at $5.75. We all get the size that's $5.75 and end up wasting money and popcorn.

 

[clutchy]

I agree with that is being said about unlocked phones, but unfortunately in the US an unlocked phone is not really completely free to move from one service provider to another. When it comes to data connectivity all the US providers run the protocols to support high speed data services in different bands. So, while one can already buy an unlocked Nexus One in the US it will only reach its peak data speed (3G) with t-mobile. Take it to AT&T and you have dud... take it to Verizon and you have a brick. Voice connectivity is only an issue when you want to switch from a carrier that uses CDMA for voice to one that does not. Also, the big providers are not interested in providing competitively priced no-contract service for those of us that buy unlocked phones. Even after the end of a contract with a subsidize phone, providers do not deduct the cost of phone, you have already paid for, from your monthly fee.

In order for unlocked phones to be effective we need data and voice standards across providers ... but in the market place in the US any time the government wants to intervene to level the playing field for "consumers"... the industry and their lobbyist cry fault. We get the catch-all phrase... The Market will resolve it... In the meantime we become captured audiences for at least two years because of the economics of phone subsidies and the convenience of what "appears" to be a tailored contract. But we all know this is just what happens when you go to the movies... you either get a size of popcorn that is too small and expensive at $5.00 or the one that is too much, but appears to be a bargain at $5.75. We all get the size that's $5.75 and end up wasting money and popcorn.

well yes, but not true in the case of t-mobile. an unsub plan is for the nexus one is $60 vs. $80 for the sub. Over the 2 year contract it ends up costing you $480 for the sub over the unsub plan, plus your phone of $180, which ends up being substantially more than if you just buy the unlocked phone and use it that way.

although to my knowledge none of the other carriers do this.

I find it odd that a foreign company comes to the US and is trying to install market principles... makes me sad

 

[tamanaco]

well yes, but not true in the case of t-mobile. an unsub plan is for the nexus one is $60 vs. $80 for the sub. Over the 2 year contract it ends up costing you $480 for the sub over the unsub plan, plus your phone of $180, which ends up being substantially more than if you just buy the unlocked phone and use it that way.

although to my knowledge none of the other carriers do this.

I find it odd that a foreign company comes to the US and is trying to install market principles... makes me sad

I understand that when it comes to unlocked phones with no-contract t-mobile pricing appears to be fair. When I said "big providers" I meant AT&T and Verizon. I'm with AT&T and I'm seriously considering switching to t-mobile and buying an unlocked N1. I'm just waiting see what kind of deals Verizon is going to offer with their soon to be released version of the N1. I'd also will like to see what AT&T is going to be offering as their high-end Android phone. The rumor around is that AT&T is going to offer the HTC Desire/Bravo, but I don't think I'd wait more than two months. Any longer and the Nexus Two will be out in the market. (EDIT: If they do to the Desire/Bravo what they just did to the new Motorola Backflip... I'd also consider leaving for either t-mobile or Verizon - The issue with Verizon is that their phones take longer to be hacked by the folks from XDA/ppcgeeks. An example of this is the Verizon Imagio... there is no modified ROM available for it from the usual sources)

I don't know about foreign companies installing market principles in the US... All I want is a consumer market place where the industry profits are driven by consumer demand... and not by market giants tying consumers to contracts due to lack of fair and balanced competition.

 

[deel]

well yes, but not true in the case of t-mobile. an unsub plan is for the nexus one is $60 vs. $80 for the sub. Over the 2 year contract it ends up costing you $480 for the sub over the unsub plan, plus your phone of $180, which ends up being substantially more than if you just buy the unlocked phone and use it that way.

although to my knowledge none of the other carriers do this.

I find it odd that a foreign company comes to the US and is trying to install market principles... makes me sad

you forgot to include the initial purchase of the unlocked phone at $530, you definitely do not save $480, you only save $130 by buying unlocked and using the plans above

 

[clutchy]

you forgot to include the initial purchase of the unlocked phone at $530, you definitely do not save $480, you only save $130 by buying unlocked and using the plans above

indeed, i usually write that in there, i guess i forgot

thx for the catch.

 

[renaissanceU1]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forums.

I had a question for Briany (or anyone who can answer); how are you able to use your nexus one on AT&T without a data plan? I thought AT&T is now forcing everyone with a smartphone to buy a $30/month data plan?

Your help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[clutchy]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forums.

I had a question for Briany (or anyone who can answer); how are you able to use your nexus one on AT&T without a data plan? I thought AT&T is now forcing everyone with a smartphone to buy a $30/month data plan?

Your help would be greatly appreciated!

if you buy an unlocked phone they can't force it on you b/c you don't have a contract. They will probably make you disable data on your account so that you can only use WiFi.

unlocked phones allow you to do whatever you want with the phone... pretty much

you're no longer beholden to their rules. All you're doing is buying monthly service, and if you dont' like it change it. You're not obligated to continue.

we'd get alot better service if more people did this.

 

[Nak#57]

True they can't make you get the $30 plan its your choice but they won't let you get the $10 or $15 unlimited data plan those 2 are for non smart phones. But remember the N1 has up that check online on a consistant basis so you can do 2 things either have att disable the data on your acct like mentioned above or you can change your network settings on your phone. And if your wondering why, its because if you don't you will get a really big bill for just data usage

 

[renaissanceU1]

thanks guys! is there anyone out there who has successfully done this?