I'm looking at both AT&T and Verizon services. Ideally I'd like to get a Nexus 6 that could work with both of them, should I decide to migrate. If I get a carrier-specific phone I want to flash it to Google defaults. I really don't like carrier-specific apps or other hooks. And I don't want to have to wait for the carrier to approve an OS version before I get it. I played that game with T-Mobile and never got a single update for Gingerbread, and Verizon had a huge delay before offering 5.1 to Nexus users. I want freedom from their whims.
1) Are there any special technical or business concerns about flashing the phones from either operator? Do any of these companies deny service (anymore) if we dump their company-approved OS?
2) Is it getting too late to just now buy into a Nexus 6? Is there a replacement for this on the near horizon? I don't want to pay full price for hardware that's getting obsoleted by the carrier or Google as I walk out the door. Google already says on their factory OS page that some phones (generally over 18 months old) may no longer be able to upgrade. I think the Nexus 6 is getting close to that line.
3) And given the choice between getting a phone from some third-party, or from the operator, it looks like (because of the age of this device?) some of them are offered for less than US0, but the operators still charge 0+. Are there any do's and don'ts about buying from a third party and then asking one these "big two" companies to use it on their network? I know/believe that for an LTE network we don't need to get an unlocked phone, which only applies to the SIM for GSM. But is there any other way that an off-the-shelf Nexus can be incompatible (for business or technical reasons) with one of these carriers?
Thanks.
1) Are there any special technical or business concerns about flashing the phones from either operator? Do any of these companies deny service (anymore) if we dump their company-approved OS?
2) Is it getting too late to just now buy into a Nexus 6? Is there a replacement for this on the near horizon? I don't want to pay full price for hardware that's getting obsoleted by the carrier or Google as I walk out the door. Google already says on their factory OS page that some phones (generally over 18 months old) may no longer be able to upgrade. I think the Nexus 6 is getting close to that line.
3) And given the choice between getting a phone from some third-party, or from the operator, it looks like (because of the age of this device?) some of them are offered for less than US0, but the operators still charge 0+. Are there any do's and don'ts about buying from a third party and then asking one these "big two" companies to use it on their network? I know/believe that for an LTE network we don't need to get an unlocked phone, which only applies to the SIM for GSM. But is there any other way that an off-the-shelf Nexus can be incompatible (for business or technical reasons) with one of these carriers?
Thanks.
