Nexus 4 coming to carriers

[Eug]

At least in Canada

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1789130-Nexus-4-coming-to-Fido!

Just got word that the Google Nexus 4 is coming to Fido in Feb. Pricing isn't yet available. You can reserve it now using the Fido reservation system.

Not sure if it will be locked.

 

[vshah]

i predict another ****show of availability.

 

[Eug]

I suspect it will be HSPA-only, but who knows. You can already change the settings to get some LTE support out of it in Canada.

I'd guess/hope it won't be locked, and will be sold for $359 (16 GB).

 

[Red Storm]

I would be extremely surprised if it was locked.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

i predict another ****show of availability.

lol... well given LG is ramping up numbers, hopefully not. I hope Google learns its lessons and hires competent people in supply chain management in the future and also finds the right OEM for Nexus phones next round.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I suspect it will be HSPA-only, but who knows. You can already change the settings to get some LTE support out of it in Canada.

I'd guess/hope it won't be locked, and will be sold for $359 (16 GB).

If it's like what they did with T-Mobile, then it could be more expensive.

 

[Eug]

Oh yeah, I totally forgot about T-Mobile.

P.S. Google finally cancelled my Nexus 4 order something like 6 weeks after I complained. They had said they couldn't cancel my order even though it wasn't supposed to ship until 1.5 months after I tried to cancel.

I'm not confident Google and LG have their sheet together with the Nexus 4 yet, so like vshah I'm wondering what stock will be like going forward. How has stock been with T-Mobile?

 

[WelshBloke]

Nexus 4 is pretty cheap off contract its going to have to be VERY cheap on contact for this to be worth anyones time.

 

[rumpleforeskin]

I suspect it will be HSPA-only, but who knows. You can already change the settings to get some LTE support out of it in Canada.

I'd guess/hope it won't be locked, and will be sold for $359 (16 GB).

Is there much of a difference between LTE and HSPA in the USA?

I have a nexus 4 in the UK but we only have one 4G provider and coverage is pretty much non existent outside of a few city centres. But in areas with 4G the speed is nothing to boast about. Friend of mine using a HTC One XL was getting speeds averaging just above 15Mbps which is only 2Mbps faster than the average on my nexus using a 3G network.

 

[Eug]

I can't say for the US but for Canada LTE makes a huge difference, mainly in terms of congestion. In non-congested areas I'm OK with HSPA, but in congested areas HSPA slows right down, while LTE remains quite fast.

And this is not just with regards to transfer speed, but also ping times. It seems that in congested areas, HSPA ping times all goes to crap.

I have seen download speeds over 40 Mbps on LTE, but I don't care about that so much.

Taken together it makes a noticeable difference in browsing, and esp. with tethered browsing on a laptop.

Part of this is due to the network infrastructure of course, but I suspect my carrier will be emphasizing LTE going forward as well. HSPA gets 2nd tier treatment.

BTW, I live in Toronto, and in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, LTE coverage is very good. Actually it's not that great at my house, but I live in a low density area and HSPA is pretty decent in my area so I don't care so much at my house, and it's moot anyway since I have DSL at home. Where it makes a huge difference to me is downtown and other congested areas.

BTW, I'm almost glad Google screwed up the Nexus 4 launch so bad. If they hadn't I would have had a Nexus 4 early, and wouldn't have the RAZR HD with LTE I do now.

 

[ImDonly1]

lol... well given LG is ramping up numbers, hopefully not. I hope Google learns its lessons and hires competent people in supply chain management in the future and also finds the right OEM for Nexus phones next round.

Doubt t this isn't the first awful launch google has done and probably won't be the last.

 

[lopri]

Does that carrier carry Optimus G? I can't imagine a carrier carrying both Nexus 4 and Optimus G.

 

[shabby]

I'd guess/hope it won't be locked, and will be sold for $359 (16 GB).

The fido galaxy nexus was locked, pretty sure this will be too.

 

[Eug]

Videotron has the Nexus 4 too now. $500. Ouch, when Canadian pricing for an unlocked Google Play-sourced Nexus 4 is $359 for that 16 GB model.

http://mobilesyrup.com/2013/01/30/videotron-releases-the-16gb-nexus-4-prices-it-at-500-outright/

 

[Ravynmagi]

I read somewhere that Google controls the price of the Nexus 4 sold through Google Play, but that LG controls the price when sold elsewhere. And that is why we see $500 prices at places like T-Mobile and other retailers. So it may not be the retailer's fault.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

I read somewhere that Google controls the price of the Nexus 4 sold through Google Play, but that LG controls the price when sold elsewhere. And that is why we see $500 prices at places like T-Mobile and other retailers. So it may not be the retailer's fault.

yup i think its 599 at tmobile

 

[Eug]

I read somewhere that Google controls the price of the Nexus 4 sold through Google Play, but that LG controls the price when sold elsewhere. And that is why we see $500 prices at places like T-Mobile and other retailers. So it may not be the retailer's fault.

No, it's not the retailer's fault but it is still irritating.

 

[jacktesterson]

Fido also has the highest up front prices for any Top Tier phone in Canada on Contract other than the Razr HD.

I ordered the Nexus 4 two days ago and it was shipped yesterday. (Play Store)

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

I must be missing something, why on earth would you buy a Nexus 4 from a carrier?

 

[Eug]

Fido also has the highest up front prices for any Top Tier phone in Canada on Contract other than the Razr HD.

Perhaps you should qualify that. eg. The BB10 is $350 up front on Fido, but it's for a 2-year contract. With Rogers it's only $140, but it requires a 3-year contract, and that 3-year contract usually costs more per month as well. However, if you really want to get it on a 3-year contract at Fido, you can also pay more per month and pay $150 up front, so I guess yeah, it's more expensive. The big differentiator here though is the ability to buy it on a 2-year contract at Fido, which is a big savings overall.

BTW, two identical plans are $56 for the 2-year plan, and $67 for the 3-year plan, $11 per month more. However, those plans expired a few weeks back I believe. Current in-market plans are $60 for the 2-year plan, and $80 for the 3-year plan.

So why would anyone get a 3-year plan? Because phones like the iPhone are only available on 3-year plans (or else pre-paid). I personally won't be getting a 3-year contract any time soon.

I must be missing something, why on earth would you buy a Nexus 4 from a carrier?

Some of the carriers have extra incentives. eg. My wife has 3-digit $ in incentive Fido Dollars that can be used toward a new phone. It's currently $1xx sitting unused.

Secondly, if you buy it on contract, the price will be lower. My wife currently has no contract at all, and she is on a plan which is only $35 a month for 200 minutes plus unlimited evenings and weekends, no Canadian long distance or roaming charges (meaning all of Canada is considered a local call), unlimited SMS/MMS, voicemail, caller ID, and 250 MB data. That $35 plan is eligible for all phones on the carrier that have 2-year contracts.

Say Fido were to sell the Nexus 4 for $499.99 up front, but $199.99 on a 2-year contract plus $25 activation fee. That's $225 total on a 2-year contract. She doesn't want the phone, but if she did, she could sign a 2-year contract, and then apply her say $150 incentive dollars, and get the phone for $75. That's still a heluvalot cheaper than Google Play for that 16 GB model. She'd basically be getting the phone for $284 (plus tax) off, which amortized over 2-years is $11.83 per month... on a $35 plan, effectively making her plan about $23 a month.

And no, she can't get a better plan for much cheaper anywhere else, except on some of the really low end small carriers which have lousy coverage.

 

[Eug]

Nexus 4 $549 at Wind Mobile.

http://mobilesyrup.com/2013/02/02/nexus-4-to-be-549-outright-at-wind-mobile-launching-february-4th/

Ugh.

 

[Eug]

Decent pricing at Fido:

$100 on a 2-year contract, or else $425 pre-paid.

http://mobilesyrup.com/2013/02/05/fido-launches-the-nexus-4-costs-100-on-a-2-year/

For $100 on a 2-year I'd be fine if they locked it to Fido.

 

[jacktesterson]

I think it will be locked if you get from Fido.

The Galaxy Nexus was locked in Canada on providers when on contract (I know for sure Rogers, Fido, Bell and Telus) although unlock codes are available for them all for $5 on ebay.