Nexus One for AT&T's 3G bands likely in the works

By all appearances, Google's trying to break Android free of the surly bonds of the manufacturers and carriers that support it, opening its own online store and selling unlocked Nexus Ones to anyone willing to pony up the $529. Problem is, the Nexus One as we know it today is only available in a configuration that supports North American 3G on AWS spectrum, meaning you've got to go with the States' fourth-largest carrier if you want to blaze -- you've got no other option. That's not very "open," is it, Google?

That brings us to an FCC finding today. Take a look at the two labels above; the one on the right comes from the current Nexus One. The label on the left, meanwhile, is physically identical and comes from a new filing for a device with FCC ID NM899110. The old Nexus One has ID NM899100, so this new device is just a single digit off -- likely a variant of the existing model. If you look into the RF reports a bit, you'll immediately notice that the new handset supports 3G on WCDMA Bands I, II, and V, meaning that it'll work on AT&T (and Rogers, Bell, and Telus for the Canadians in the room) along with most of Europe. Same label style, nearly identical model ID, different bands -- we think we know what's going on here. Google, your move.

[Thanks, wonderbread]

[PyRo1509 Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:05PM]

@Banksta3
Get off the network!
From an Iphone user who can't make a call longer than 30 seconds

Help me find a job: EmployWayne.com

[elijahblake Posted Jan 29th 2010 6:42PM]

@Banksta3

I know AT&T gets a bad rep about their network.. But I never have any issues here, 3G or other wise.. They have the best coverage out of all service providers here. I think they get so much flack just from having bad performance in a few of the largest cities in the country. And according to their studies they've vastly improved.. So I for one am glad to see this.

I've been wanting an Android (especially the Nexus One) for waaaaay to long...

[mokonaroin Posted Jan 29th 2010 10:40PM]

@Banksta3 There has been a lot of hype and tension erupted after the unveiling of the nexus one. Today, we are seeing some of the errors and glitches that a future user may want to look before buying the N1 phone. (From the touchscreen glitch after coldbooting, unresponsiveness of the home button, changing the live-wallpaper and insensitivity of the screen (can't sense light presses) are some of the errors being talk on the goog support forums.) Details: http://bit.ly/nexus-one-problems-details

[AckbarsFist Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:01PM]

Yes! Even more devices to slow down the network with.

[Alexandertron Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:18PM]

@AckbarsFist

Is it impossible to have both 3g frequencies on one phone????

Why does this always happen. please respond if you know. thanks

[brozono Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:33PM]

@Alexandertron

It is possible to support all bands, but antenna design is complicated especially when trying to get good performance on all supported bands. Usually the limiting factor are cost and size. Additional antenna mean additional are which could have changed the size of the unit. I wouldn't put it past HTC/Google to set a size limit of thinner than the IPhone and sacrifice multi-carrier support for that requirement.

[Frankenstein Black Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:39PM]

@Alexandertron - No (i.e. the fruit phone works on T-mo US just fine).

[jon Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:51PM]

@Frankenstein Black

Not on 3G it doesn't.

[catdogburger Posted Jan 29th 2010 5:27PM]

@Alexandertron

I was thinking the exact same thing on why they can't build one with every frequency?

Well Qualcomm did... It's called GOBI, and it does everything (including EVDO) ....

http://www.gobianywhere.com/files/gobi2000_overview.pdf

Why they are not doing this for phones? Beats me, your guess is as good as mine...

[dank0 Posted Jan 29th 2010 6:16PM]

@Alexandertron And this, alas, is the problem with the Google sales model in the US. Because the major players don't share the same frequencies and technology, you can't really benefit from competition. This is just like being able to buy various blackberries on multiple carriers, just a different sales point. Hopefully when LTE is available from the major players (other than Sprint), this may alter the landscape a bit.

[jakey Posted Jan 29th 2010 6:42PM]

@Alexandertron
1) Likely cheaper this way
2) They might not be able to fit both in the slim body
3) (conspiracy theory) they don't want you easily switching carriers.

[jon Posted Jan 29th 2010 7:09PM]

@catdogburger

Not everything. I don't see 1700MHz on there anywhere.

[lorax1284 Posted Jan 29th 2010 7:12PM]

@dank0 Now that the three majors in Canada are all on the same frequencies (same as AT&T) and there's one upstart (WIND) on the same frequency as T-Mo, Canada is oddly in a position where competition is likely to bear fruit (when you can take your device and phone number to another carrier with little pain, the carriers better step up!)

[Leindurstit Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:02PM]

Who cares. This thing needs to get on Verizon Wireless. Now.

[N900 Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:02PM]

Thank god it won't be running on MicroSIM! /jk

Questions though: What are the benefits of 3FF SIM, and If you clip some of the SIM fat off your original, will it be compatible with the 3FF reader?

[logicbombde Posted Jan 29th 2010 5:16PM]

@N900

probably not without an adapter.

I'm sure they had the forethought to change the pin configuration so their brand new format isn't easily bypassed by a pair of tin snips

[ongadget Posted Jan 29th 2010 6:54PM]

@N900 no. manufacturers claim to have 'better security.' so i'm guessing its a different encryption.

see http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-ipads-micro-sim-explained/

[Hexydes Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:02PM]

If Google was truly interested in doing what was suggested in the post (namely, breaking Android free of the carriers), then they would have taken a slight loss on the device, and sold it, unlocked, for $199.99. That price would put it squarely in competition with actual consumer electronics devices like the iPod Touch and Zune HD, as opposed to making it an artificially over-priced smartphone that the carriers can "subsidize" and use to lock people into contracts, bound by ETFs.

Google didn't actually care to do that though.

[ChazClout Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:07PM]

@Hexydes
That would have single handedly destroyed the Open Handset Alliance by pricing all of its hardware partners out of the market.
Terrible idea.

[Hexydes Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:17PM]

@ChazClout

Only because those other handset providers buy into inflating their MSRP for the cell phone industry. To effin' bad.

[M3 Posted Jan 29th 2010 5:28PM]

@Hexydes
Rofl, none of those handset makers inflate their prices. You do realize that Cell Phone companies pay a lot less then you do and yet they sell MSRP. Profit Margins for companies like HTC are low because most of their sales are through other companies through which they can not negotiate one-sided contracts like Apple can. Go look at their earnings statements , Net Profit is in the single digit percents, where as Apple has on the order of a 30% profit margin.

[jakey Posted Jan 29th 2010 6:50PM]

@M3
I think in general people can't grasp the idea that businesses have a lot of overhead and selling a relatively low volume product like smartphones (blackberries and iPhone excepted) requires higher margins in order to be profitable.

And ChazClout makes a good point that all the hardware manufacturers would immediately abandon Android if Google decided to do this and Android would be essentially dead since it depends on manufacturer support.

[Edobe Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:04PM]

Seems like a match made in heaven...What could possibly go wrong?

[Zachary Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:05PM]

Don't tell me it's coming to AT&T before it comes to Verizon? geez it hasn't even been announced for AT&T yet.

[ChazClout Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:06PM]

Nexus ones for everyone! Yay!

[Cole Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:07PM]

WCDMA? Since when does that have anything to do with HSPA and AT&T? Wouldn't WCDMA imply Verizon?

[Chris Ziegler Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:10PM]

@Cole No. WCDMA is the technology that underpins UMTS, of which HSPA is a data-side evolution.

[Edobe Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:36PM]

@Chris Ziegler This reminds me of a conversation I had with a young lady on what turned out to be our first and only date :(

[sir1honda Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:07PM]

Good day,
I'm in love with my Nexus One - superphone ( just updated yesterday -OTA- its so much better now about the 3G signal & more faster charging time ) - we still have the 2g iphone & 3gs but were using it as MP3 player in our cars - 09 RIDGELINE & 09 PILOT -

I called my friend who's working on HTC in Houston - (he's senior engineer-the best guy to ask about software & phones) ( USA-HTC repair center is in Houston,Texas ) he divulge something to me.

We moved from California for GOOD - he worked with APPLE before & myself with Honda R&D and now we are in Texas ( hes in Houston, I'm in the best city in the USA - AUSTIN,TEXAS).

Here's the big scoop guys, GOOGLE wants some share on HTC board & they will invest in the company for more products to be made by HTC for them, like the ultra advance tablet & more advance phones that is way better than the so called OLD TECHNOLOGY iPAD& iPHONE, who are just good in aesthetic appearance with APPLE logo on it ( i'll bet all my money that whatever piece of crap they will make, people will buy it because of the name APPLE )

BUT if it is EMACHINES that even can do anything & will make your life easy and happy, still people will not buy it because its EMACHINE, people did you get it??
WAKE UP!!!

Thats all for now...
Take care buddies & gurlies...
God bless y'all

[Rick James Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:21PM]

@sir1honda

Hopefully I speak for most people who read your post and say wtf was the point of your post? I'm confused as to what your point was. Sounded like a story only Granpa Simpson would tell that rambles on in circles.

[GaryZ Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:48PM]

@Rick James I thought Nigerian scammers are exploring new territories when I saw the comment starts with "Good day"

[Phonejunkie31 Posted Jan 29th 2010 5:11PM]

@sir1honda Freekin joke honda ridgeline is a bitches truck come get some of this 09 dodge ram in dat azz biats

[CrypticWritings Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:09PM]

this is nice! i'll be able to get one in canada and my 3G with Rogers will work on it!

great! hope it's official :)

[ongadget Posted Jan 29th 2010 6:40PM]

@CrypticWritings yeah so do I.

[Padilla7921 Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:09PM]

I'll make this purchase as soon as they fix those connectivity issues. Gonna be sick.

[therodt Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:12PM]

@Padilla7921 You will purchase this when its available /s

[foxyNinja Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:10PM]

Maybe I should've held off on purchasing a bold 9700... though I must say, I do like having a phone that's a good, you know, *phone*.

[Hydra Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:12PM]

Excellent, I will be buying this , finally someone designed a phone with the 3G bands I need

[Meddle Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:16PM]

Hmm high school algebra, two negatives make a positive right?

I am gonna need something to replace my ailing iPhone 3G.

[nickexperience Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:16PM]

I'm going to go ahead and facepalm for being typically overly giddy and buying the Nexus One already while I'm under contract with AT&T...(though I must admit, I get Wi-Fi pretty much everywhere I need speedy access for web surfing, haven't really missed 3G amazingly!)

[PiroThePyro Posted Jan 29th 2010 9:25PM]

@nickexperience

I did the same thing, but like you i also have wifi in most places and at&t doesn't cover where i live with 3g. i will be switching to sprint in about 8-12 months when im off contract since they have 3g in my area.

[desibabu Posted Feb 1st 2010 1:29PM]

@nickexperience

I did the same thing too...don't really miss 3g that much b/c of having wifi access when i need to do heavy surfing....i do hope that there is some sort of trade-in program if and when at&t version comes out...

[Will Smith Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:17PM]

Hmm. iPhone vs. Nexus One on AT&T. We'll find out when a) it comes out and b) when I get my paycheck!

[Fuzzone Posted Jan 29th 2010 5:11PM]

@Will Smith
You sir are and GENIUS!! Now I am wondering why didn't *I* think of this first. Must be coz I am not a genius like you :(

I guess we won't have to wait till it comes out on Verizon to find out. Now we will know once and for all if the AT&T has a crappy 3G network or the iPhone hardware sux!

[logicbombde Posted Jan 29th 2010 5:19PM]

@Fuzzone

I've heard that Blackberry Bold on AT&T in NYC can barely make calls

[rewaju Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:18PM]

is it possible to have both 3g bands on 1 phone (Tmobile and AT&T). the point of an unlocked phone is that you can take it to any network (in the US, ATT or Tmobile). While I think decoupling the phone from the network is a good idea, what is needed is both 3G bands (ATT and Tmo) on the same phone else the cost of the phone or lack of 3G with my phone locks me in.

[R Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:20PM]

This is great news. Choice is a good thing.

[DJ Megatron Posted Jan 30th 2010 11:49AM]

@R
Choice is a very good thing. Makes me wonder what the Android handsets coming to AT&T are. The Motorla Backflip could be one of them, just waiting to see when/if it gets confirmed.

[drumwiz86 Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:25PM]

The interesting thing is this confirms half of that walmart store posting of a nexus one for all networks.

Now to see if they get an EVDO or WiMax version out the door.

[xberxinfinity Posted Jan 29th 2010 4:31PM]

hey chris, i got you bro, im down to blaze too