Google Explains Lack of LTE in Nexus 4 Smartphone
Current LTE networks utilize last generation's technology.
Despite featuring a slew of enticing additions such as Android 4.2 and a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.5GHz processor, the Nexus 4 doesn't feature LTE compatibility. Google has now explained why it was hesitant in integrating LTE support into the device.
According to Google's Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital Content Andy Rubin, various LTE networks currently in use are hybrid networks, which still utilizes last generation networks.
"We certainly have a desire to offer devices on every carrier on the planet," Rubin said. "The tactical issue is GSM vs. LTE. A lot of the networks that have deployed LTE haven't scaled completely yet - they're hybrid networks. They'll do their old thing and they'll do LTE, which means the devices need both radios built into them. For now, we're gonna sit back and let those networks evolve."
Rubin also said there were manufacturing concerns to consider as well in terms of integrating LTE support into the Nexus 4.
"Two radios in a device right now certainly raises the cost, and diminishes battery life," he explained. "When we did the Galaxy Nexus with LTE we had to do just that, and it just wasn't a great user experience. It's possible to do it right, but that's not where we'll put our resources initially. Tactically, we want to make sure the devices are available for every network on the planet."
The Nexus 4 is priced extremely competitively, with the smartphone costing just $299 without contract. It'll launch in the United States and the UK among other regions come November 13.

but looking at the price, I'll forgive them...
hoooooly s!!!!t, I'm forgiving them for sure.
but looking at the price, I'll forgive them...
hoooooly s!!!!t, I'm forgiving them for sure.
Microsoft sold Nokia Lumia 900 with 100 dolars. Here prices were ranging between 415 and 600.
As for LTE, its not like you are using your phone to download torrents or 5 GB files.
So book a cheap flight/train/bus to someplace in Europe where prices are reasonable, buy a bunch of Nexus 4s and/or Nexus 10s and resell them just to cover your expenses.
It's like saying does a phone a few years ago need 3G, who uses it, 2G is ok. 3G is the past, old and antiquated. While we're at it, who needs a quad-core or a 1.5 Ghz? Why not just cheap out on there too to lower the cost.
Should we go back to 2G too? Why we're not downloading torrents or 5 GB files. LTE is faster, the whole point of going from 2G -> 3G -> 4G LTE is speed. You're talking about cloud based services and synching stuff and how you don't need an expandable storage, understood. Now you're doing all that on a slower network if you're not on WiFi. Shoot, we can save costs even more we should go to slower WiFi (802.11b) as well since we're not using phones for torrents or 5 GB files...
You do realize most places in the world and most people who will buy smartphones will not have LTE even 3 years from now? It's a strategic decision for Google, do they push the latest and greatest device to less people in more developed places, or do they push a cheaper device to more people all around the world? I think Nexus 7 is proof that there's a huge market for cheap devices that make a few compromises (like no back camera, no SD card), so I think Nexus 4 will sell great if it works as advertised, and users will just have to make-do with downloading only at 2.5 megabytes per second (like two simultaneous 1080p videos from YouTube).
I really think there is no excuse. People would pay more for LTE. People buy phones, off contract, for $550-800 all the time. So add LTE. Add a bigger battery.
I believe there are a lot of great devices, with LTE, that have great battery life. My Galaxy S III makes it through the day without issue. The new Galaxy Note II has crazy battery life.
You don't have to make millions of phones, but come on. You can make some.
And a phone with 8GB with no SD card slot should not exist to begin with. 16GB should be minimum with 32GB option.
Carriers here in the U.S. do cannibalize phones. Especially the Big Red. Google needs to do better at negotiating deals in which carriers aren't allowed to do those type of software tweaks. Especially for flagship phones. Apple doesn't have this issue.
These are pretty weak excuses.
The 16GB model is $349.99, which is roughly $50 cheaper than devices that like Nokia 900 that are 4G, 16GB. There are Android devices that are 4/8/16GB internal with expandable (some come with free 16gb cards) with LTE, front camera, etc. for $50 more. Nexus 4 does offer a more powerful processor, with better display but the battery on it has a lot to be desired to power all that.
They won't have a high end cell phone at all in those places to begin with, so what's your point.
Apple had that response 3 years ago when you could argue lte wasn't available. Every major carrier in. US has deployed lte nationally, even regional carriers now.
A single core CPU on an orphaned OS, 4.3" and 480x800. That's what you're comparing Nexus 4 to, really? And which Android has a quad core Snapdragon, 4.7", 1280x768 and costs even close to $350 off-contract? SGS3 is like $600 if you can find it wherever you live.
I'm sure Google has a pretty good idea how many Android users use LTE or how much storage they use, and are making compromises accordingly.
Say goodbye to whining telecoms complaining about subsidized phones hahahaha
Nope. You're saying that if a city/region doesn't have LTE, then people who live there must be poor. That's simply not the case, there are many reasons why there may not be LTE available in an area, like regulation, technical issues, lack of competition or carrier monopoly, insufficient population density, etc.
And I've been to Eastern Europe and Russia this summer, there are loads of people with high end phones - most either have dumb phones or expensive stuff like SGS, iPhone, etc, even in areas where you get EDGE most of the time (that's 384 kbit/s).
Google is not stupid, they know all this and Nexus 4 is going to sell out in a matter of hours on the 13th.