Earlier this afternoon one of our writers, Daniel, told me that he might be onto something awesome and to jump onto Skype so we could suss it out. After a 4-way conference call we think we’ve sorted it all out. Dan found that a device with the codename GT-i9250T went through the Wi-Fi certification process two weeks ago (pdf) and that it was hardly any different to the GT-i9250M that went through two days ago (pdf). This is where it gets interesting.
Telstra’s Samsung devices usually sport the T after their codenames due to them having 850MHz 3G, these devices sometimes go to Canada as well, as they use 850MHz on their networks, however, the GT-i9250M is going to Canada according to Android Police. We also know that the i9100T went to Telstra and over in Thailand it went to True Move (I recommend them if you travel there) whom also use 850MHz.
So we know the GT-i9250T is all about the 850MHz. We also know that Vodafone is the global Carrier for the Nexus series and they have their new 850MHz network. This could mean that the Nexus Prime might not be an exclusive to Vodafone this time around, Telstra just might jump on the Nexus bandwagon. Interesting thought. I bet if it did go to Telstra, they’d somehow manage to sell it outright for more than any other retailer. What do you guys think? Would you get a Nexus Prime is Telstra slapped it on one of their overpriced plans?
I hope the phone comes to Telstra, but if I have to buy it outright to use it on the Telstra network then I giess I’ll have to suck it up. Not going back to Voda any time soon, even for a handset I want.
I’m a tad lost when it comes to radio bands etc.
If i were to be @ Optus (or one of its sub-carriers) would i still be able to purchase an Unlocked Nexus Prime and enjoy all its goodies without any network drawbacks?
I actually doubt that Telstra would get a Nexus device as they’d want to put a whole heap of bloatware on it, and I doubt Google would let that happen to a Nexus device (there isn’t any Vodafone stuff on my Nexus S).
Yeah, absolutely. It’s an interesting thought for it to be on Telstra — it goes against most things they work by, but it could work out for them.
Just buy one from Vodafone now that both network support 850MHz. When you buy phones from Telstra you actually pay for the bloatware and the blue tick.
There has actually been some very public campaigns lately for telstra to reduce the bloat ware they like to package on every single device. Some quite powerful people in telstra have said publicly that they have a new plan to heavily reduce the amount of bloatware. I’ll believe it when I see it, but if there is a new mindset, it might make the lack of branding on a nexus device a bit easier to swallow for telstra. We can only hope…
If me yelling at them via this website isn’t public enough, I don’t know what is.
The only Nexus devices worth owning are the gsm versions straight from the states, because they are the ones to get updates first. Local models, which normally get shafted hardware (like the Nexus S super LCD screen instead of Super AMOLED), aren’t anywhere near as well supported, getting updates some months later. The whole point of having a Nexus device is to be on the bleeding edge of the Android OS, no point to it if it isn’t treated as such.
Might be a little difficult this time though if it truly is a Verizon exclusive (even of temporarily).
The Nexus S from Vodafone has been only weeks behind when it comes to updates, which isn’t all that bad it all. Weeks is better than months that some manufacturers wait. Even better with Nexus devices, you know that your device will be updated, most other device owners are left clueless.
Well I thought the 2.3.6 update was Sprint only but I got that about 3 days after it was released for Sprint 2 weeks ago!
Since getting my Nexus S, whenever I hear that google has put out an update I’ve been able to manually update it strait away with no delay except once, and that one time (I think it was 2.3.6) it was because google had pulled the update due to problems. It’s also unfair to say local models usually get shafted. There has only been 2 and only one of those arrived with gimped specs. The Nexus S, which was rushed into production with very little notice, as such probably interrupted Samsung’s manufacturing schedule placing a significant drain on their available resources… Read more »
I’m disappointed that we are again faced with the complication of different models fo rdifferent regions with different frequencies. OK fine I understand the need for separate GSM and CDMA models (even though Apple have combined the two), but Samsung have shown in the SGS II they can use a radio supporting all GSM bands, why not now?
I really hope the differentiation between the T and M models is an LTE radio, rather than 3G bands..
The funny thing is Samsung holds the patent for a dual-antenna system, so they can easily have a CDMA+GSM version of the phone. I think the frequency/radio differences here are going to be LTE based. The Australian model could indeed have LTE, I know Vodafone are planning on launching their network nearing the end of this year, so why not have the Android flagship device on that network — it would look good for Vodafone. I don’t see it being on Telstra’s LTE network as they said the HTC Holiday (http://ausdroid.net/2011/09/27/telstra-launch-australias-first-4g-network-htc-holiday-could-be-their-first-4g-smartphone/) would be their first LTE device and it’s launching… Read more »
i’d probably be buying it from mobicity or somewhere cheaper… but i will definitely be looking at telstra because of their nextG network and possibly their LTE network
We reached out to Kogan re. Nexus Prime, but they had nothing to say. MobiCity will definitely gave it though, I think a majority of our team are sourcing the Nexus Prime from them.
Except that in the case of the Nexus S, the i9020T isn’t the 850mhz version, it’s the T-Mobile version. The 850mhz NS is the i9020A, which is the version sold by Rogers in Canada.
So the Prime may follow that system.
Indeed. It’s all very confusing. We’re just speculating here.
It’s strange why they have different versions. Surely Samsung can make quad/penta band devices that work nicely across all carriers.
Yeah I’ve never understood why they don’t. Nokia consistently bring out quad band in even the lowest devices. iPhone is now quad band gsm + CDMA (I think that’s right). I dont get why other companies aren’t doing that….
The SII is quad isn’t it? Given the apparent similarities I would have thought they’d just do the same in the prime + a CDMA version for VZW…. Who knows…
Yeah, even Nokia have sometimes made penta-band devices. The iPhone 4S is quad or penta, not too sure.
The Galaxy S II is quad-band, which leaves me clueless as to why the Nexus Prime wouldn’t be.
My phones vodafone and it had the T at the end of the model. Bought and delivered from vodafone 6 months ago.
Yep, since Vodafone’s network is 850MHz, they’ll be getting ‘T’ devices.
Yep, since Vodafone’s network is 850MHz, they’ll be getting ‘T’ devices.
If Telstra’s iPhone 4S plans are any indication of future direction, you may have to quit with the snark about their being over-priced.
We’ll celebrate with an open-bar if that’s the case
We’ll celebrate with an open-bar if that’s the case
I’ll hold you to that,
Uh oh.
Probably. Been looking for an excuse to switch to Telstra.
Mind you, if my NEXUS doesn’t get updates from Google but instead Telstra, that’s a deal-breaker.
All Nexus devices receive updates directly from Google. Vodafone has little/no control over the update process with the Nexus One and Nexus S.
yes buzz. but if it goes to Telstra they will some how manage to exert their controlling ways on the device and try and Next-G optimize it. If that fails they wont sell it on their network. Cuz we all know how they love everything they sell to be Next-G optimized. Cough *overpriced* Cough
Yeah, I don’t see it being a great idea for Telstra in their current way of doing things — “over controlling”. Maybe they can try something new and sell the Nexus Prime knowing they don’t have to worry about the updates or anything like that. I don’t think there have been major complaints about Vodafone not shipping updates, because it’s in Google’s control. If Telstra see that, they can see they have the flagship of Android on the nations best network.