Google Says Nexus 5 Will Not Come To Verizon

Google made a statement recently to the Verge which suggests that Verizon will not be offering the Google Nexus 5 handset.

Google’s senior VP of Android Sundar Pichai stated clearly and simply that “the Nexus 5 will not be on Verizon” without any explanation of why this will be the case. The announcement is strange given that the Nexus 5 will run on all rival carriers: Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T in the USA, but apparently the lack of support can be put down to the Nexus 5 not supporting the LTE Band 13 required for use on Verizon’s network. However, the device does still support GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100, HSDPA 900 / 2100 and most other LTE bands so it will work on the vast majority of networks.

It isn’t exactly surprising news as in the past Google and Verizon haven’t worked well together. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus took so long to come to market, due to Verizon’s long software review process, that it was almost out-dated and second class by the time it was ready, while the Nexus 4 didn’t support Verizon’s LTE so it meant Verizon couldn’t offer the phone to its customers. Google and Verizon also had a little scuff over the new Nexus 7 2013 Edition tablet where Google showed it operating on the Verizon network despite Verizon claiming it wasn’t supported. Verizon then changed its message saying it would support the device “soon” but has stayed quiet on the topic since.

It isn’t all bad news for Verizon customers though, as Google and Verizon are working together “on a set of projects for 2014” according to Sundar Pichai.

Image courtesy of Google