Galaxy Nexus, Verizon Exclusive?

Android fans from around the world rejoiced in unison as Google and Samsung took the stage in Hong Kong recently to introduce the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. With its superior screen, impressive design, and overhauled version of Android, it’s clearly the Android flavor of the month. One of the larger points of contention surrounding this device so far has been the carriers that this device will be landing on.

There’s growing concern among many of the followers of this device that the phone will come exclusively to Verizon Wireless. Verizon has, so far, been the only carrier to announce partnering with Google in releasing the Galaxy Nexus, and earlier today it was discovered that if you search the Verizon Wireless homepage for the Galaxy Nexus, you are met with a sign that pretty clearly says “Exclusively from Verizon” on it.

Now, anybody who has not been following the launch of the Galaxy Nexus so far would look at this and understandbly draw the conclusion that this phone is, as clearly labeled, a Verizon Wireless exclusive. There are, however, some strong pieces of evidence that tell a different story.

History

For those who were not around during the launch of the Nexus One or the Nexus S, here’s a little backstory. The Nexus devices have a history of being shunned by the carriers they are on. This is for several reasons. First, Google’s original hope with the Nexus One was that it would be a developer phone that existed separately from the carriers. Not bound by contracts, and not obligated to follow the rules of those carriers, your phone could be yours to do with as you pleased. When this plan was fully unveiled, Verizon and Sprint backed out immediately, and T-Mobile and AT&T refused to carry the phone in their stores, but would allow the phone to be attached to their network.

When the popularity of the device became clear, T-Mobile allowed Google to act as a reseller for their network so you could buy the phone subsidized, but it was never sold in stores. When the Nexus S was unveiled, Best Buy was the only brick and mortar store you could purchase the phone from. Since Best Buy was already a T-Mobile reseller, you could buy the phone subsidized if you chose and attach the phone to your account. It wasn’t until much later that Sprint picked up the Nexus S 4G and began to sell it in stores, where it quickly became one of their most popular phones.

So, to recap, the Nexus line has never been available from a carrier when the device was launched. Verizon has taken the mantle as the first carrier to offer a Nexus phone in their stores at launch time, and will offer the phone exactly the same way they offer all of their other phones, subsidized or not. In some ways, this is an indication that the original thought behind the Nexus line has died. In other ways, it signifies Google’s desire to push the Google experience to as many users as possible in the hopes that the OEM’s will begin to follow suit and model their phones after the Google Experience.

The FCC

When the Galaxy Nexus was unveiled, it was made clear that there would be LTE support, and HSPA+ support depending on the support and desire for the phone on other networks. The latter part of this comment, assumedly, is geared towards the international audience, where the device could be carried if the desire for the phone is high enough. We already know that the Galaxy Nexus is coming to HSPA+ carriers in the US. Before the Verizon Wireless version of the Galaxy Nexus was even confirmed, the HSPA+ version of the Galaxy Nexus passed through the FCC. Not only was it ahead of the LTE version, but it also supports both AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks. Since we know that the chipset in the Galaxy Nexus supports pentaband, this fits in nicely with the knowledge that the GSM networks of the US will, in fact, be getting this device.

Language

When dealing with PR folks, language is extremely important. Every word that is written in a press release has very specific meaning. They are designed to provide you with as much  (and, at times, as little) information as possible without violating any agreements they may have with the manufacturer. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some recent Verizon Wireless Press Releases.

The Droid Incredible 2 on Verizon wireless was described as “Exclusively from Verizon Wireless” in their press release.

The Droid RAZR on Verizon Wireless was described as “Exclusively from Verizon Wireless” in their press release.

The Galaxy Nexus was described as “Coming to Verizon Wireless” in their press release.

There’s an obvious difference in language here. Clearly the Galaxy Nexus, while it will be available on Verizon’s network, does not have the same exclusivity as the other phones from Verizon that are actually exclusive devices.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is coming to Verizon Wireless. In all likelihood, Verizon will be the only carrier to put the phone in their stores. This is not because of some backdoor deal between Google and Verizon. This is not an example of Google “selling out” to get more handsets sold. This is the natural progression of the Nexus line. T-Mobile and AT&T have had access to the Nexus line of phones longer than anyone else, and the phones have never been sold in stores. Based on the history of these devices, the information we’ve been given so far, and the language that has been used it’s likely that the same day the Galaxy Nexus is available on Verizon, Best Buy will have the GSM versions of the phone for sale.