back to article Yes, the Googlephone works in Blighty

In the US, Google's unlocked Nexus One handset plays with only one major 3G wireless network: T-Mobile's. But in other parts of the world, your options are rather more extensive. Sold from Google's new US-based online phone store, the inaugural Googlephone supports four GSM frequencies: 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, and 1900MHz. So …

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  1. GeorgeTuk

    Please can one of the networks carry it?

    Is there any news on an official outlet for the Google Phone ie. O2 or Orange?

    1. Karnka

      Soon...

      Vodafone are getting it in a few weeks.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Paris Hilton

      RE: Please can one of the networks carry it?

      Why? Can't you afford to buy it outright and put in a SIM-only contract SIM into it?

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      wasn't it..

      ..Vodaphone in Europe?

    4. Gordon 10

      Vodafone are going to.

      Type your comment here — plain text only, no HTML

    5. Gulfie
      Thumb Up

      Vodafone

      Are going to carry it.

      But if you buy the unlocked handset (as I will, as soon as the UK online store is open for business) it will actually work on any of the networks.

    6. JohnSmitty

      UK Carriers...

      Vodafone is planning to carry it, don't know which countries however.

    7. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      GeorgeTuk

      Can't you read? Your answer is written in the article.

  2. Adam T

    No GMS

    So I can only use it if I stand on my street corner, where the 3G ley-lines cross?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: No GSM

      Re-read the article. I believe it is saying the CDMA model will not work with GSM networks, not that the phone itself won't, since it clearly states it supports 4 different GSM frequencies.

    2. This post has been deleted by its author

      1. Adam T

        Cool

        Thanks I must've missed it speed-reading.

        I might actually buy one...when the snow goes away. Parcel Force dropped and broke a delivery this morning getting out of his van. I can't admonish him for bravery I suppose.

  3. D@v3

    three?

    Is it that Three (3) is not a 'major UK network' or is it that it does not use the same / right bands? as I was under the impression that Three's network is one of the more capable 3G networks we have in our (currently) snowy isle, and would therefore be a good choice for such a 3G heavy phone.

  4. Chris Byers
    Go

    I took the leap last night

    It had to be done, I'm just sick of Windows Mobile 6.1 thwarting my every attempt to do even the simplest of tasks on my Touch HD. And it's a couple of hundred quid cheaper than the iPhone and Droid. Beware though as they don't tell you about the extra cost for the UK charger ($19 IIRC) and shipping price until checkout!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Stop

      Additional costs

      ... for those ordering from the States, don't forget tax, duty and "administrative handling" by the carriers.

  5. Andrew Ducker
    Stop

    I'll be buying it in the UK

    So that when it goes wrong (and everything goes wrong) I can get it fixed quickly, not wait for it to be shipped to the US and back...

    1. Chris Byers
      Thumb Up

      No hidden charges

      There are no hidden charges. The phone is $529, charger $19.99 and shipping $29.65 which comes to (in sterling) £363.511. A bargin considering the price of the competition.

      1. Patrick 14

        LOL

        if the link works take a look its going to cost you an extra £61.25 for duty etc

        http://www.dutycalculator.com/calculation/saved_calculations/view_details/38216/

        I think I will wait a bit longer, And it might be on sale in April at the Gadget show live

        If its not unlocked on vodafone, which to be honest why would it unless Google tell them too...

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        VAT

        Price is plus VAT surely???

    2. richardm
      Go

      No need to ship to US

      I checked with HTC support about returns and got the follwing response:

      "The phone itself will be sent back to our HTC service centre in the UK, this will ensure the return of the phone on the system and from there we can refund / swap / repair the phone as needed. "

      So no need to return it to the US if it breaks.

  6. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    Vodaphone Maybe?

    I think Voda are going to carry it from April sometime,

    I won't be getting one but I have to say well done Google for realizing that there is a bigger market out there than the US.

    IMHO, the US Mobile networks with GSM & CDMA is just like the Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD battle.

    IT is about time that the US & Canada came into line with the rest of the world and ditched CDMA for GSM.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      FAIL

      @Steve Davies 3

      So you want us to completely drop "our" 2G technology (CDMA) and replace it with "your" 2G technology (GSM), despite the fact that "your" 3G technology (UMTS) is.. W-CDMA?

      So after you wake up and realize our technology is better (I'm sorry, TDMA is crap), you want us to replace it with your inferior technology?

  7. Wodger

    Google Phone on the 3 network

    In the UK, Orange, O2, Vodafone, and T-Mobile are referred to as working with the Nexus. Will it work on the 3 Network in the UK?

  8. Carl Fletcher

    Three aswell apparently

    Three too, according to this:

    http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_gb.shtml

  9. Stef 2
    Happy

    Engraved and En route

    Currently in Cincinnati ^_^

  10. DarkOrb
    FAIL

    @GeorgeTuk

    Did you even look at the Google page to buy one?

    https://www.google.com/phone/choose?locale=en_US&s7e=

    "The Nexus One Phone with Vodafone wireless service. Coming soon to Europe."

  11. dmknorth

    Does the Nexus One work on Three?

    I think that the "Three" network also uses the 2100 band. Can anyone confirm this and that the Nexus One will work on for Three subscribers?

    1. Alan_Peery
      Stop

      Warning - Three *SIMs* are network locked

      I have a Three SIM that came in my E71, with a 1Gb/month data plan. I brought a shiny new Nokia N900 (http://maemo.nokia.com) planning to switch the Three SIM into it. The SIM will not work, and when I phoned Three they told me that their SIMs that are acquired with a phone contract are locked to working only in Three phones. The N900 operates just fine with a PAYG SIM from T-Mobile, and a pay-monthly SIM from Vodafone. Since I am locked into a contract for a few months with Three, I am now carrying both the E71 and the N900 -- and unable to use the number everyone knows with my new N900. I am quite annoyed with Three at the moment.

      I don't have a Nexus to check, but I suspect that you'd have the same problem with a *contract* SIM from Three. They PAYG might work well, but you should should also check the "Solo 20 SIM only" offer available from T-Mobile.

      BTW, I think I should say that I'd still pick the N900 over the Google Nexus.

  12. Gerard Krupa

    The Market and Copy-Protected Apps

    After buying a SIM-free Acer Liquid and finding I can't access copy-protected apps on the Android Market and with absolutely zero help forthcoming from either Acer of Google I'd like to ask if anyone has checked for the same issues on an unlocked Nexus One. For example, can you see the following two apps when searching the Market?

    Documents to Go Full Version Key

    Record It (search for "sky record")

  13. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    Hmm

    So do I buy one sim free and pay the extra, or wait for Voda to get it subsidised and hope they don't give me all the "value added" crap that is Vodafone live and their portal.

    Hopefully like Apple google have tolds the carriers not to wreck the phone's UI with all the usual junk no-one wants. It's a smart phone, WTF do I need to access the vodafone WAP portal all the time?

  14. Anonymous Coward
    Go

    Waiting for iPhone 3GS vs Nexus-1 review

    Facebook on the the iPhone now syncs contacts and updates the phone's directory with pictures... the main issues for the iPhone are:

    1) variety of 3rd party apps (due to control - eg. no gambling or porn apps)

    2) multi-tasking

    3) No "free" in built turn-by-turn navigation

    4) No flash at all on camera (5MP vs 3.2 MP is irrelevant - the lens is more important)

    On the other hand, HTC has a poor rep for reliability and Google don't do hardware (look at Microsoft's foray into hardware - XBOX failure and Zune design)...

    1. Rob
      Troll

      Good points

      I have a HTC WinMo phone that doesn't have a flash, but like you say lens is more important.

      It can do multitasking porn navigation on Facebook though, so no worries there ;)

  15. dave 46

    Re: copy protected apps

    That's to do with the people making the firmware - I believe droid had the same problem when it first came out but was quickly fixed.

    My unlocked HTC Hero (bought sim free from amazon) sees those apps just fine btw.

    1. Gerard Krupa

      @dave 46

      As far as I know the unlocked Droid/Milestone hasn't yet had this issue fixed. I'm currently on my second round of trying to convince Acer support to do something about it but all I get is "call our premium rate software support line who'll tell you to reboot, factory reset and then RTM". I'm really more curious than anything about whether having their name on the Nexus One will prompt Google to make that extra effort to get everything working on day one or at least how quickly they'll respond to queries about it compared to their notable lack of interest in other handsets on the Market help forums.

      1. Spikehead
        Happy

        @Gerard Krupa

        My Milestone has no problem with the protected apps. Both the apps mentioned in the original post are there and ready to be purchased from the Marketplace.

  16. BeefStirFry
    Happy

    Missing the point on network operators...

    The whole point with what Google are doing with this phone is to try and make people not think about it as a phone, but as a "SuperPhone" or basically a pocket computer. You buy the phone upfront, as you would for a computer, and then YOU pick which network operator you want, all of them are offering about the same deal for SIM only contracts which are rolling 1 month contracts with unlimited (restrictions kinda apply for some networks) data, between 600-1200 minutes and 500-Unlimited text messages for about £20 a month.

    So if you are unhappy with the quality of the service, you change provider, this will encourage the network operators to become more customer friendly and sort out their network coverage of 3G especially.

    If you can't afford to buy the phone upfront, then you can tie yourself into a 18-24 month contract, where you get the phone for cheaper or free, but in effect you are still paying for the phone over the contract period.

    Good thing on a rolling 1 month contract and buying it outright, is that when new models come out, you can usually sell your old one for close to what you paid for it on eBay and just buy the latest model.

  17. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    No no hidden charges - open and above board ones

    See the HMRC website

    •may have to pay Customs Duty on goods with a value that exceeds £120

    •will have to pay Import VAT on goods with a value that exceeds £18

    the latter is 17.5% , the former is dependant on classification

    Of course google can include these in the purchase price if they've made arrangements beforehand with the Revenue. But a look at the terms and conditions suggest that they haven't and the Customs Duty is 6.5%

    1. Bod

      Plus handling

      On top of these, the courier who delivers it in the UK will ask for a nice chunky fee also just for collecting the money.

      Other things...

      Duty is waived if the value comes to less than £7, but it would be higher in this case.

      VAT limit of £18 is on the value before shipping, but if VAT is added, it's added to the value *including* shipping (as VAT is on both goods *and* services). Again, the value here is way over so VAT is due anyway.

      You might get away with nothing to pay however as not every parcel is inspected, but it's unlikely if it comes via a courier and not just standard Royal Mail. Also, some couriers have been known to hand you the parcel with no charge but send you a bill in the post later.

      Alternatively, you can bring one back on a flight from outside the EU with nothing to pay if the value of all your items you bought overseas is less than £390.

  18. BeefStirFry
    Grenade

    New category required for jPhone 3GS

    When you do comparisons between phones, remember that the iPhone has an advanced version in the jPhone (Jailbroken iPhone)... the jPhone does let you run background apps, use your jPhone as a Wifi hotspot, customise your Springboard, use the Bluetooth to send things to other devices, and for bluetooth keyboards and mice plus a whole load of other applications which aren't under the control of Apple.

    Contrary to popular belief, jailbreaking doesn't damage the phone, is not illegal and will not bring an end to civilisation as we know it (as Apple would want you to believe)... It does sap the battery a bit quicker but that's a price I'm willing to pay to be able to do what I want with my phone...

    1. Gulfie
      WTF?

      Pardon?

      Why would I want to pair a bluetooth mouse with my iPhone? What exactly can I do with the mouse once paired?

    2. Fred Flintstone Gold badge

      What I would REALLY want from Apple

      .. is the ability to use the Bluetooth Laser keyboard on the iPhone or iSlate when that arrives.

      This is where Microsoft actually has an edge - their Slate device runs Windows 7 and will probably have the stack they started using in XP (Toshiba sourced IIRC). That just sees the laser keyboard as a HID and works.

      The consequence of the irritating control freakery with the iPhone bluetooth stack means it doesn't appear to support it, missing the best trick to deploy an iPhone as interim mobile computing platform.

      (In truth, I just want a valid excuse to buy a laser keyboard - it's been intriguing me since I came across it :-))

      1. Anonymous Coward
        WTF?

        what

        So you're saying microsoft has the advantage because their *tablet computer* is more capable than a phone?

    3. OrsonX
      Thumb Down

      Jay-Phone

      As I was so fed up with my iBone I tried to Jailbreak, lots of places tell you how easy it is... but if you read the forums you'll also find loads of people with bricked phones! I got stuck at the "recovery mode" step, I managed to put the phone in it but then the computer (OSX) wouldn't recognise the phone! Thankfully the iTunes backup was, for once, extremely useful and restored the phone, phew!!

      Why did I want to Jailbreak? Well for nothing more than having my own picture as wallpaper (instead of black!) and to have my own message alert tone - it's the little things!!! Oh... yes... I'd also like to see the clock (bigger) and most of all, when I have something entered into the calendar on a certain day I"D LIKE IT TO F-IN TELL ME (deep breath)....

      The G-Phone looks very interesting, can't wait till April when my O2 iBone contract's up....

      [of concern though: sunlight legibility, non-existant apparently?!]

  19. Chimpy

    Nexus with SIM-only deal

    I second BeerStirFry's point ...

    It seems to me like it would be fine to buy it from the US store as it's compatible with any UK network. It's around £360 (inc shipping) for the phone. I notice that Vodafone UK are currently doing a SIM-only deal with 900 free minutes, unlimited texts and 500Mb mobile internet for just £20 per month. Slap that into the Nexus and you've got one of the cheapest smart phone deals around.... you can guarantee even Vodafone's own Nexus bundle won't come under £30 per month. Perhaps a good reason why the Nexus could soon outsell the iPhone.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      FAIL

      Nice maths there

      Except you forgot to factor in the price of buying it up front. Of course vodafone's own deals won't be under £30, they're subsidising the cost of the handset.

    2. TeePee

      Getting a Nexus One to the UK will cost you £450

      $529 for the phone + $19.99 for a UK charger + $29.65 shipping

      with VAT on the total at 17.5%, and a further 6.5% import duty on all that it comes to ~$725 (i.e. about £453).

      Better to find a friend who can send you one as a 'gift'.

      1. OrsonX
        IT Angle

        USB charging?

        does it? Money saving possibility!

        1. Bod

          USB charging works

          According to their support.

          "The phone also charges when it is connected to a computer's USB port with the included USB cable, and when inserted in an optional desktop or car dock accessory"

          All manufacturers have agreed to move to a standard of USB charging with a standard micro-USB connector now anyway (except of course Apple who refuse point blank, probably because the connector doesn't fit in with their image and they can't flog an expensive custom cable).

      2. Bod

        Gift won't work

        "Gift" declarations will make no difference

        For one thing the limit only changes from £18 to £36. For another, buying a commercial product for someone as a gift does not count. It has to be something like a sweater your granny knitted for you, etc. Even second hand eBay purchases don't count as gifts.

        Of course you can get them to buy it and send it from a private address declared way under valued, but note that fraudulent declarations can get both you and the sender in trouble. Or at least you'll just get slapped with the full charge based on the value HMRC thinks it's worth, or maybe get the item confiscated.

        p.s. Add to the total, the handling fee the courier will charge (varies, £8 for Royal Mail, £14? I think for Parcel Force. Could be a lot more with some couriers).

  20. Anonymous Coward
    Alert

    Actual Cost

    The real cost of obtaining the phone over here is around £460, not the lower figures that seem to be banded around. The breakdown is as follows:

    Nexus One $529.00

    UK AC Adaptor $19.99

    Shipping $29.65

    Total $578.74

    Converted into pounds, shilling and pence via xe.com comes to £363.43

    However there are more costs - according to google's own web page they are 17.5% VAT and 6.5% duty (they do not say if duty is on the phone only or the whole order so I have assumed the latter). This comes to around £450.65.

    DHL also charge a 'convenience fee' for fast-tracking the customs process that amount to £10 according to their web site.

    There may be card fee's as well from your bank for buying in dollars. The point being that this phone, although desirable, is not as cheap as some are claiming.

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