Why doesn't the Nexus 5 work on Verizon?

[ChuckG73]

This is a very real problem. I've been mostly enjoying using by Google "Galaxy Nexus" phone, but now it's at the end of it's two year run. It's running hot, and the screen is showing anomalies. I'm sold on the idea of early updates to the system, and avoiding all the add-in vendor software, which is, frankly a pain. Verizon's service coverage is decent in my area, and I'm grandfathered into unlimited data at a reasonable rate. A big problem.

If I was stuck with Verizon, I would wait and see what Moto releases. The Moto X is as close as you can get or the Droid Line to the Nexus experience. But never will we see a Nexus device on VZW, so if you need a Nexus you need to make the move to a GSM provider like AT&T or TMobile. I read some where in the past about VoLTE and how that would bring the Nexus back to Verizon, but if this is the case I imagine VZW will also drop unlimited data when that rolls out.

 

[Ng4567]

I know how stupid verizon is. I used to have an s3 with them. Once they rolled out 4.3 for the s3, they locked down the bootloader on that phone and I was extremely mad as I wanted to switch to cm11. Seeing that att was at the time offering the m8 for 100 with a contract, I jumped and got rid of the verizon nonsense. It saddens me that verizon thinks that their bloatware is worth losing customers for. I even told my friend with a verizon phone to immediately flash a custom recovery that way verizon couldn't screw him over and lock his bootloader. I hope Google takes google fiber a step further by not only expanding it to most of the usa but also creating a cell service that can take down lowsy providers like verizon.

 

[bjrosen]

The Nexus 5 is supported on AT&T, that's what I use. You buy the N5 from Google Play and then get an AT&T no contract plan. AT&T discounts the plan by $15 a month when you bring your own device, over two years that's $360, about the price of an N5. Because you don't have a contract you are free to move between carriers, so if you want to give T-Mobile a try you could do that.

 

[Shilohcane]

The Nexus 5 is supported on AT&T, that's what I use. You buy the N5 from Google Play and then get an AT&T no contract plan. AT&T discounts the plan by $15 a month when you bring your own device, over two years that's $360, about the price of an N5. Because you don't have a contract you are free to move between carriers, so if you want to give T-Mobile a try you could do that.

If you have your own phone and AT&T then why don't you use AT&T's Cricket that is owned 100% by AT&T and gives you the same cell towers? Cricket is even cheaper than AT&T for most people.

 

[crxssi]

If you have your own phone and AT&T then why don't you use AT&T's Cricket that is owned 100% by AT&T and gives you the same cell towers? Cricket is even cheaper than AT&T for most people.

Many prepaids do not including roaming, which has the potential of being a huge disadvantage.

 

[ebinrock]

That would be all fine and dandy, except (not trying to be a commercial here) Verizon just happens to have the best call quality and coverage. I've tried Sprint and AT&T before going to Verizon, and I could never make a call indoors (especially in retail and grocery stores) without the conversation going to mush. If only they did what the other carriers do, though, and allow unlocked pure phones, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

[Benjamin_NYC]

Should Google concentrate on getting the Nexus 5 on AT&T instead? AT&T's network is definitely compatible, but AT&T doesn't sell the Nexus 5. If I recall correctly, the iPhone started on AT&T before it moved onto Verizon. Once the iPhone became very popular on AT&T, Apple had more leverage to use against Verizon. Perhaps Google could do the same.

I think you're barking up the wrong tree vis-à-vis Nexus and the carriers. Nexus is not designed to be part of a carrier scheme. It's a pleasure that T-Mobile sells it though, since I can get it for $15/month!

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[Scott7217]

Nexus is not designed to be part of a carrier scheme. It's a pleasure that T-Mobile sells it though, since I can get it for $15/month!

Can you please explain what features of the Nexus 5 make it unsuitable with carriers? T-Mobile is a carrier, and it seems like you enjoy its financing plan for the Nexus 5.

 

[kenmoffat]

Surprise, the Nexus 6 is now on Verizon. What happened?

 

[Q-fugee]

Surprise, the Nexus 6 is now on Verizon. What happened?

The N6 Supports all of VZW's CDMA bands and both their LTE bands. The N5 didn't. The open access terms of the spectrum they won in the last LTE auction force them to allow any device that supports it.

You've been able to use the N6 on VZW since day one of its release thanks to these rules. They just didn't sell or support it. There are instructions elsewhere on how to pop a VZW SIM into an N6 and start using it. (Actually, you buy a T-Mo nanoSIM adapter and trick your existing VZW phone into activating it, then take that SIM out of your old VZW phone, pop it out of the adapter, and pop it in the N6. Or some hoops like that.)

Now you can buy a subsidized N6 directly from them.

The "new" N6 is just sold thru VZW stores now, and comes with Android 5.1. 5.1 may offer support for their HD voice codecs or VoLTE as well. I can't remember off the top of my head. If you've been using your N6 on VZW all along, the 5.1 OTA update will give you the same phone. You'll still have to go this route if you want a 64Gb unsubsidized phone.

--Qfg

 

[nutpn]

If I was stuck with Verizon, I would wait and see what Moto releases. The Moto X is as close as you can get or the Droid Line to the Nexus experience. But never will we see a Nexus device on VZW, so if you need a Nexus you need to make the move to a GSM provider like AT&T or TMobile. I read some where in the past about VoLTE and how that would bring the Nexus back to Verizon, but if this is the case I imagine VZW will also drop unlimited data when that rolls out.

Nexus is here

 

[ChuckG73]

Congrats, I am happy that I was wrong

 

[mojo rising]

Can I switch my Nexus 5 to Verizon? It seems like there have been some recent changes.

 

[Q-fugee]

Nope. There aren't any changes to the physical radio inside the N5. It doesn't support all VZW's LTE bands. Even if you could trick it into using a VZW SIM from another phone it'd still be useless; the SIM would let it access one of VZW's LTE bands, but the VZW tower wouldn't recognize the IMEI of the CDMA radio (not controlled by the SIM) so you couldn't make voice calls. And VZW won't add your IMEI to their access control lists.

--Qfg

 

[DrHenley]

Verizon customers, would you prefer to have a Nexus phone under Verizon's control or no Nexus at all? If you want a Verizon Nexus, what are you willing to compromise?

The only reason I'm a Verizon customer is that it's the only carrier I can get a signal from many of the places I go... like on the farm and in my bedroom. Funny thing is that the Verizon tower and the AT&T tower are the same distance from the farm, but getting an AT&T signal is nigh impossible. I used to get a great Sprint signal there, but after a hurricane came through and knocked down the tower a number of years ago, I've never been able to get on Sprint since.

Verizon is the only game in town unfortunately. Verizon Customer Service (or Customer DisService) makes me so mad I can't see straight.