Google Nexus 6 on T-Mobile

[Joe Antonetti]

Re: For those hoping to buy a T-Mobile Nexus 6 on 11/12


Note the sourcing on that. The article which started that has no source, and seems to assume such from that quote about the N4 and N5 selling more on carriers. Every article since then has inflated it into "Google held back 99.9% of their stock for the carriers"

(I can't post links thanks to my post counts, so I removed it. Sorry about the mess)

 

[fiat3192]

Re: my final choice

Nexus 6

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Robbie317]

Re: my final choice

Before I buy it from T-Mobile I'll have to check the box from the outside..make sure it has nothing to do with T-Mobile(a Sim card from tmo inside the box is a bad sign) My biggest worry is tmo apps being on the phone, and that it isn't unlocked right off the bat, but it's a nexus so it should be just as if I bought it from google.

Posted via Android Central App

For what it's worth....... T-Mobile says no real preloaded software except the my account app which you can remove...

 

[J00P24]

Re: my final choice

Hope they get a demo model that I can check out before I actually buy it. Not sure if I want the tmo model of this phone if its not 100% like google play store edition. I don't even want it to come with a tmo Sim card I side the box... That's just need though

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Robbie317]

Re: my final choice

Hope they get a demo model that I can check out before I actually buy it. Not sure if I want the tmo model of this phone if its not 100% like google play store edition. I don't even want it to come with a tmo Sim card I side the box... That's just need though

Posted via Android Central App

Well if it's like the Nexus 5..... The Model purchased from T-Mobile was exactly like the one purchased from the play store... But if you decided to take it to Sprint they wouldn't activate (You could however take it to AT&T)

I'd venture to guess Verizon and Sprint will act the same way with the Nexus 6... Maybe not... Specially Sprint... You'd think they couldn't afford to turn away anyone willing to come to their network....

Shouldn't be an issue with any GSM carrier though....

 

[adma84]

Re: N6 on tmo?

I think we have to consider the warranty differences. When you buy from the play store, the replacement policy is so much better than anywhere else. I bought the Nexus 7 from Amazon, and therefore had to go through LG for warranty. I had to pay 3 times to Asus to have it repaired, and they kept sending back the same unfixed unit. My N5 from play store, was replaced with a new one, no questions asked. I don't think we will get the google warranty from phones purchased at TMO...

 

[Robbie317]

Re: N6 on tmo?

I think we have to consider the warranty differences. When you buy from the play store, the replacement policy is so much better than anywhere else. I bought the Nexus 7 from Amazon, and therefore had to go through LG for warranty. I had to pay 3 times to Asus to have it repaired, and they kept sending back the same unfixed unit. My N5 from play store, was replaced with a new one, no questions asked. I don't think we will get the google warranty from phones purchased at TMO...

Since I am paying full price I'd much rather buy from the Play Store for most of the same reasons you list... The next problem is just how long of a delay are we looking at with getting one ordered from the Play store? If it was just a couple of weeks.. Fine.... (actually I don't need this so the reasonable side of me could wait until whenever.... but I wanted it like yesterday and the inpatient side of me always overrules the logical/reasonable side.)

 

[J00P24]

Re: my final choice

Well if it's like the Nexus 5..... The Model purchased from T-Mobile was exactly like the one purchased from the play store... But if you decided to take it to Sprint they wouldn't activate (You could however take it to AT&T)

I'd venture to guess Verizon and Sprint will act the same way with the Nexus 6... Maybe not... Specially Sprint... You'd think they couldn't afford to turn away anyone willing to come to their network....

Shouldn't be an issue with any GSM carrier though....

Maybe you couldn't use it on sprint cause you didn't pay it off in full?

Posted via Android Central App

 

[adma84]

Re: N6 on tmo?

Who knows...patience may be rewarded. Last year, I bought the N5 on launch, and not to long after. they silently released a hardware update to fix speakers and sim card tray issues....Really want that play store warranty...buddy dropped his almost year old n5 last week and goog just sent him another for free

 

[Robbie317]

Re: my final choice

Maybe you couldn't use it on sprint cause you didn't pay it off in full?

Posted via Android Central App

I bought my Nexus 5 directly from the Play Store at full price.... I've read Sprint had a list of the IMEI #'s sold from the play store and will activate those (I had mine activated on Sprint for a brief time and then took it to T-Mobile) but if it was not sold by Sprint or Google they wouldn't activate.... I find that weird and stupid but it's whatever....

To get your play store device to go form Sprint to T-Mobile and back you had to do a factory reset each time or it wouldn't work with the new network you were activating on... but I've seen a lot of people say they bought their phone directly from T-Mobile at full price in store and Sprint wouldn't activate...

 

[Ragazzochild]

That's correct! Since the spark upgrade, I believe all of sprints new phones after the Note 3 can no longer do voice and data at the same time. The phones used to have 2 chips inside(voice/data), now they have 1(voice OR data). I forgot that pictures won't download if your in a call (data can't pass through chip).

It's not just Sprint. Verizon is going through the same upgrade. The Nexus 6 includes the Snapdragon 805, which allows VoLTE, which means that it can handle data/voice, but the providers have to turn it on. Verizon turning it on for the new iPhone, LG G2, and the Galaxy S5. They're gradually turning it on gradually because it's a huge change for their network.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Re: N6 on tmo?

Really want that play store warranty...buddy dropped his almost year old n5 last week and goog just sent him another for free

Google is absolutely great about customer service on warranty issues on products purchased from their Play store. This has been a driving incentive for me in considering buying it directly from them even if it means a (reasonable) delay in availability. But given that other sources would likely just refer you to Motorola, I thought I'd look for their policy.

They haven't posted warranty procedure for the Nexus 6 yet, so I took a look at it's baby brother, the Moto X (2014), and saw this:

(Source)​

Assuming that the Nexus 6 gets the same treatment, that's a pretty good program, comparable to that of Google's, but even better in that they don't require a credit authorization in the amount of the full retail price (plus tax) of the device - which when you're talking about what might be anywhere from $700-800, depending on your location, would be a pretty big deal for a lot of people.

Long story short, there's likely no real service advantage to buying from Google on this one -- unless Google takes a broader view than Motorola of what is deemed warrantable under the program.

For me, that leaves just one reason why I'm still inclined at this point to hold on till I can get it from Google, and that's that at this point it looks like it may be the only source (except perhaps for purchase straight from Motorola) of a handset that not only is compatible with all the major US networks, but is expected to be allowed for use by them all.

 

[Robbie317]

Re: N6 on tmo?

If you're on CDMA (Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular etc) don't buy the phone from T-Mobile expecting it to work. There's a very good chance only phones sold from Google or by those carriers have been whitelisted to work. Unlike GSM, CDMA can be blocked based on IMEI.

Google's Nexus 6 Works On Verizon SIM Cards Straight Out Of The Box With No hassle | Androidheadlines.com

 

[adma84]

Re: N6 on tmo?

So, you think that it really might not matter way we buy from (like, we don't need to buy from Moto or Google directly), assuming Moto's replacement policy is as good as Googs for N6? That would be nice

 

[Robbie317]

Re: N6 on tmo?

So, you think that it really might not matter way we buy from (like, we don't need to buy from Moto or Google directly), assuming Moto's replacement policy is as good as Googs for N6? That would be nice

Would be nice and let you keep the freedom to move from one carrier to another.... and it would also help a little on resale value of the device at a later date when you looked to upgrade... Carrier locked phones are almost worthless... You have to find someone looking for that exact used phone on that exact carrier.... limits your market....

 

[Jeremy8000]

Re: N6 on tmo?

So, you think that it really might not matter way we buy from (like, we don't need to buy from Moto or Google directly), assuming Moto's replacement policy is as good as Googs for N6? That would be nice

From a repair perspective, it seems like that may be the case, providing that the Nexus 6 enjoys similar policy - and that my interpretation is correct (I've never personally had any experience requesting warranty service from Motorola, so if anybody who has can chime in as to how simple / effective the process actually is, that would be great).

Would be nice and let you keep the freedom to move from one carrier to another.... and it would also help a little on resale value of the device at a later date when you looked to upgrade... Carrier locked phones are almost worthless... You have to find someone looking for that exact used phone on that exact carrier.... limits your market....

Spot on. If you plan on staying with your carrier and keeping the phone till it fades away into the annals of wireless antiquity (which phrasing doesn't lend itself well to a journey that will probably only last 3-4 years at most), the benefit lies with the source from whom the device would be compatible and you can get the best price (or get it fastest, whichever matters more to you). But if you envision the possibility that you might want to make a switch, or upgrade phones every year or two, you will likely have a much larger block of prospective buyers if the device is from the Play store.

 

[Robbie317]

Re: N6 on tmo?

But if you envision the possibility that you might want to make a switch, or upgrade phones every year or two, you will likely have a much larger block of prospective buyers if the device is from the Play store.

and that is why I'd rather buy from the play store...... I am on a yearly upgrade schedule now..... and I usually sell the old device to usually covers 40% of the cost of the new device..... You get a little bit of a premium when it's an unlocked device.... For the Nexus 6 I already sold my 2013 Nexus 7 and will sell my 32 GB Nexus 5 once I get my hands on the Nexus 6....

Got $170 for my GS3 to use towards the Nexus 5.... 32 GB Nexus 5's are going for about $250 - 300 on Swappa.... and I sold my Nexus 7 for $125 already....

 

[J00P24]

Re: my final choice

I bought my Nexus 5 directly from the Play Store at full price.... I've read Sprint had a list of the IMEI #'s sold from the play store and will activate those (I had mine activated on Sprint for a brief time and then took it to T-Mobile) but if it was not sold by Sprint or Google they wouldn't activate.... I find that weird and stupid but it's whatever....

To get your play store device to go form Sprint to T-Mobile and back you had to do a factory reset each time or it wouldn't work with the new network you were activating on... but I've seen a lot of people say they bought their phone directly from T-Mobile at full price in store and Sprint wouldn't activate...

I think you change the phone from gsm to CDMA by dialing *#*#4636#*#*

This way you pick the connection type. No need for a full reset. But I maybe wrong.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[fredwardnelson]

Re: N6 on tmo?

Google's Nexus 6 Works On Verizon SIM Cards Straight Out Of The Box With No hassle | Androidheadlines.com

That's not what he's talking about though. The site purchased that device directly from the Play Store. He's saying if you buy it from a GSM carrier it will not work on CDMA ones. His post said that too but I'd like to know the answer to this myself.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Re: N6 on tmo?

That's not what he's talking about though. The site purchased that device directly from the Play Store. He's saying if you buy it from a GSM carrier it will not work on CDMA ones. His post said that too but I'd like to know the answer to this myself.

I dropped by a Verizon store this evening. FWIW, and with the ever-present caveat that salespeople are not always privy to this type of detail, the rep with whom I spoke said that she was certain that even if a Nexus 6 were purchased from another carrier, so long as it was not locked to that carrier it would be eligible for activation on their system. I probably should have waited till she went to another customer so I could ask a different rep to give me a different 'certain' answer.

I'm really hoping that her thought was correct, as my intention is to get a Nexus 6 and use my unlimited 4g hotspot plan SIM in it. Can't buy one from Verizon as I don't have a voice service, and it looks like it might be some time before it's again available from the Play store, so picking one up from T-Mobile might be my best option. Of course, that rests partly on how well it would perform on Verizon's network using Hangouts for calls (I figure I'd port my number from T-Mobile to Google Voice), so if anyone has experience using Hangouts calling on Verizon, I'd love to hear it. The thought of unlimited, unthrottled 4G data on the phone, unlimited calling, and unlimited 4G hotspot (I also use it as my home internet connection) for a grand total of about $60/month is quite appealing