Why doesn't AT&T subsidize this phone?

[cnguyen0320]

This is interesting to not see AT&T subsidizing this phone. Obviously, it is cheaper than unlocked iPhones so it wouldn't hurt them as much if they subsidized it. Anyone know why this is? And does anyone know if they ever might?

EDIT: why doesn't AT&T subsidize any Nexus phone?

 

[Woosh]

This is interesting to not see AT&T subsidizing this phone. Obviously, it is cheaper than unlocked iPhones so it wouldn't hurt them as much if they subsidized it. Anyone know why this is? And does anyone know if they ever might?

EDIT: why doesn't AT&T subsidize any Nexus phone?

You should email them and ask. But I'd guess they simply don't need or want to. Could be they don't see any demand in a phone with no lte. They are probably right though, they have a great lineup and don't need this phone.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cnguyen0320]

You should email them and ask. But I'd guess they simply don't need or want to. Could be they don't see any demand in a phone with no lte. They are probably right though, they have a great lineup and don't need this phone.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

They've never subsidized any Nexus phone. I want to use Nexus stock Android but with the high price of buying it unlocked, I cant

 

[dmmarck]

Perhaps due to their LTE push and Google's somewhat implicit stance on LTE going forward?

 

[jd914]

AT&T already had the Optimus G which is basically the same device. Anyway IMO I wouldn't want any carrier to subsidize a Nexus device. That's what makes nexus devices different because they are free from any carrier interference (except Verizon and Sprint) and offer the best Android experience hands down. $349 isn't too much to pay anyway.

 

[cnguyen0320]

AT&T already had the Optimus G which is basically the same device. Anyway IMO I wouldn't want any carrier to subsidize a Nexus device. That's what makes nexus devices different because they are free from any carrier interference (except Verizon and Sprint) and offer the best Android experience hands down. $349 isn't too much to pay anyway.

You just mentioned that 2 of the biggest 3 carriers in the US subsidize Nexus. I think it would get Nexus phones to more people seeing as AT&T is the biggest (or second biggest) carrier in the US. I have thought about the LG Optimus G but I want stock Android. Anyway, with the same plan, getting a subsidized phone is still better than paying unlocked since I can get like 2 or 3 subsidized S3's for the price of the nexus unlocked. If they don't end up subsidizing this year, I might end up getting S3's and rooting it to run stock.

 

[jd914]

You just mentioned that 2 of the biggest 3 carriers in the US subsidize Nexus.

and it turned out to be a disaster for Google because Verizon and Sprint's interference delayed Jellybean on the Galaxy Nexus. This didn't go well with Google hence no announcement of a CDMA device like they did last year.

 

[cnguyen0320]

and it turned out to be a disaster for Google because Verizon and Sprint's interference delayed Jellybean on the Galaxy Nexus. This didn't go well with Google hence no announcement of a CDMA device like they did last year.

There still hasnt beenan official announcement of the nexus devices. They have showed up randomly on google play. Plus i'm confused as to why google can't do what apple does and not let carriers tinker with nexus phones?

 

[Mac58]

I am a bit confused. Can you not just buy the phone outright and pop in a ATT sim card and it will work? For the price of the device, that seems like the better option, or am I missing something?

 

[blaze5]

There still hasnt beenan official announcement of the nexus devices. They have showed up randomly on google play. Plus i'm confused as to why google can't do what apple does and not let carriers tinker with nexus phones?

That's why I've been wondering about all Android phones

Sent from my PC36100 using Android Central Forums

 

[dmmarck]

I am a bit confused. Can you not just buy the phone outright and pop in a ATT sim card and it will work? For the price of the device, that seems like the better option, or am I missing something?

You can and it is a better option and the option I'd take FWIW.

 

[Woosh]

I am a bit confused. Can you not just buy the phone outright and pop in a ATT sim card and it will work? For the price of the device, that seems like the better option, or am I missing something?

Yes you can. Idkw but apparently op wants it to be cheaper and come with a $350 ETF.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cnguyen0320]

Yes you can. Idkw but apparently op wants it to be cheaper and come with a $350 ETF.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Sorry for confusion but i won't be paying for early termination. Basically i'll be paying the same for data, voice, texting since i'll still be with AT&T and using their service. So the carrier costs are still there and equal. But instead of paying $349, I'd like to only pay $199 for the 16gb. It'll probably be cheaper actually because carriers subsidize the $600 iphone to $200, so a subsidized nexus would be 50ish.

I cant go with a program like straight talk because it actually ends up to be the same thing as my mobile share plan and most of my family is still under contract. Thats why I want the nexus subsidized.

 

[Andrew Martonik]

Because AT&T can't restrict the firmware and put its own bloat on it or lock it down. AT&T knows it wont sell well and doesn't care to take on the cost of supporting it.

Google doesn't want AT&T to subsidize it either for the same reasons.


But seriously, why do you need a subsidy? It's $299/$349 unlocked... and then you can put in a SIM from ANY carrier, not pay AT&T $100+ a month.

 

[dmmarck]

Because AT&T can't restrict the firmware and put its own bloat on it or lock it down. AT&T knows it wont sell well and doesn't care to take on the cost of supporting it.

Google doesn't want AT&T to subsidize it either for the same reasons.


But seriously, why do you need a subsidy? It's $299/$349 unlocked... and then you can put in a SIM from ANY carrier, not pay AT&T $100+ a month.

Any HSPA+ supporting carrier

 

[cnguyen0320]

Because AT&T can't restrict the firmware and put its own bloat on it or lock it down. AT&T knows it wont sell well and doesn't care to take on the cost of supporting it.

Google doesn't want AT&T to subsidize it either for the same reasons.


But seriously, why do you need a subsidy? It's $299/$349 unlocked... and then you can put in a SIM from ANY carrier, not pay AT&T $100+ a month.

Yeah like I said, im kinda locked into AT&T. I need data text and voice. Many carriers offer similar rates anyhow. I don't see how I can switch to tmobile or us cellular and get same coverage and quality speeds without paying the same

 

[Woosh]

Yeah like I said, im kinda locked into AT&T. I need data text and voice. Many carriers offer similar rates anyhow. I don't see how I can switch to tmobile or us cellular and get same coverage and quality speeds without paying the same

Hard to judge when we don't know what you pay att. But if you have unlimited data then you are better off just buying the phone at full price....use your subsidy on an iPhone 5 and sell it for $700.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cnguyen0320]

Hard to judge when we don't know what you pay att. But if you have unlimited data then you are better off just buying the phone at full price....use your subsidy on an iPhone 5 and sell it for $700.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks for your patience and willingness to help me. I'm paying $200 for 4 phones - 700min (we barely use this), unlimited texting, 200mb on each phone for data (would love to use more and have been limiting ourselves but mostly around wifi anyway).

 

[Woosh]

Thanks for your patience and willingness to help me. I'm paying $200 for 4 phones - 700min (we barely use this), unlimited texting, 200mb on each phone for data (would love to use more and have been limiting ourselves but mostly around wifi anyway).

That isn't a bad plan. You could upgrade to an iPhone and sell it to cover the cost of the nexus.

Or straight talk is $45 a month so would come to be about $192 for four phones and you would have a little bit more data to play with.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[randyw]

+1. Carriers only screw with the Nexus experience and slow down updates with all of there extra testing of the OS.