Did Google Drop The VZW Galaxy Nexus as a "Nexus" device???

[isthmus]

According to a series of articles like this one:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/2/3/2769480/verizon-galaxy-nexus-removed-from-googles-developer-support...

and this one:

http://www.droid-life.com/2012/02/03/google-no-longer-considers-verizons-lte-galaxy-nexus-to-be-a-de...

It seems Google has dropped the Samsung Galaxy Nexus that is sold by Verizon as an official developer phone.  If so this implies that the Galaxy Nexus being sold by Verizon wireless is no longer a Nexus device, and that since google won't be developing it, Google will no longer be pushing updates to it.  Most online discussions are speculating that google has dropped the device as a developer phone because of Verizon's continued interference with it (read loading uninstallable VZW software, adding VZW logos on the device and disabling NFC, plus who knows what else) and their inability to come to an agreement with Google.

If true, WHAT THE HELL VERIZON & GOOGLE?  Thousands of us purchased this phone on your representation that this is a Google experience device (read pure Android and immediate updates pushed directly by google), now you are taking that experience away?

If anyone at Verizon is reading this, please Answer.

If true, I am PISSED.  I did not wait months to order this phone only to be lied to by Verizon.  I for one will be happy to join a mass complaint or class action against Google and VZW should this happen to be true.

VZW, please elaborate and let us know what is going on.

[DustoMan]

Alright Verizon, this is the last straw.  I got this phone because it's a Google phone.  If Google is pulling their support for the device because you just can't handle them wanting Google Wallet on the phone.  You need to get over it.  ISIS and Google Wallet can exist on the same device, not like any one really uses either of those services anyway.  It's just pettiness on your part and it really burns your customers and makes you look bad.

I don't care about you putting your two stupid little apps on the phone.  I don't care that I can't use Google Wallet.  And I don't even care about your ISIS payment product.  I do care about getting pure updates from Google, and the way you launched the device with little advance notice and strung people along from week to week for a month an a half because people specifically wanted this device and not the two other Android bloat phones you were pushing out around it.

I'm extremely angry about this and you need to respond and make this situation right with Google and your customers that use this phone.

[Tidbits]

Didn't anyone get the memo? People jump the gun too much... Everything right now is based on speculation... No word from Google as to why... Until then everything is speculation...

[isthmus]

True it is speculation, but the screenshots showing the VZW GN being dropped are direct from Google's own pages, and those are not speculation, so the question is valid and remains.

[Tidbits]

Like it was before the release of the Nexus for verizon? Again there could be good reason for the change and it could he going in another direction which google is not finished yet.

[Tidbits]

People seem to skip the part all the CDMA source were removed... Tells me there are more things involved than Verizon...

[Tidbits · Accepted solution]

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/android-contrib/phz3S5ZdveU/4eMFf2ctFcgJ

There you have it....

[isthmus]

Thanks for the answer Tidbits.  So basically, so long as you keep your device stock (read, don't flash any Roms), you will continue to get direct Google support and updates.  The CDMA phones just won't be used for developers any more.

[Tidbits]

It can still be used any which way, but it requires certain .apks to be left alone. They are probably making new documentation and pages to reflect the differences.

[scorch968]

I don't think so, according to http://source.android.com/source/building-devices.html "No CDMA devices are supported." As you can see here http://code.google.com/android/nexus/images.html#yakju all toro devices are now archived. And here http://code.google.com/android/nexus/drivers.html drivers have been archived as well.

It seems that Google DEVELOPER support for the CDMA/LTE GNex is over. I think we will continue to see updates, most likely trailing that of the GSM counterparts due to Verizon's necessary part in building and approving the ROMs. It a shame that Verizon and Google couldn't work things out. I don't pretend to know the dealings that went on in the background. I guarantee that Google was a little miffed when Verizon demanded Wallet be removed. Perhaps something else happened and it was the last straw.

I do know that if I cannot get a sanctioned Google developer device from Verizon, I'll be thinking about switching carriers.

[headonbackwards]

I agree wholeheartedly. Verizon should not have marketed this as a Nexus device and has deceived customers who purchased the device. Add to that their continued denial of signal/battery issues on the Nexus as well as the conspicuously absent January update to address these issues, and I believe you a recipe for growing discontent among what may become an exodus of previously satisfied customers. 

[Tidbits]

Yall didn't listen... There are ALREADY COMMENTS FROM GOOGLE stating they did NOT DROP SUPPORT. Take the Tinfoil hats off.

They are redoing the support pages to reflect the difference between CDMA and GSM. Not even after an hour after the initial "OMG they removed CDMA support." Google explained a little bit about the changes and they HAVE NOT dropped support.

Now if it soley had something to do with Verizon.... They why also pull the Nexus S 4G from the support pages as well?

[Tidbits]

FYI - Google went on the record as well stating it had NOTHING to do with wallet either...

[Tidbits]

Yay! 4.0.4 leak with new radios...

[scorch968]

Yes but they did have a knee jerk reaction reply to TheVerge bringing Google Wallet into the conversation, later to be corrected by the PR team. They will support the device, just no AOSP support. AOSP support is what I wanted.

[Tidbits]

Again...  They didn't drop AOSP support...  Most of everything will be available, and IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH VERIZON.  Did you not read?  Do you know how CDMA technology is signed?  If you don't understand that you would understand it was ALWAYS like this from the beginning...  The way things are signed to work is different than it's GSM counter part before Verizon even became a company...  Motorola has a hand in it, Samsung, and Qualcomm as well...

I will look up a good explanation of what is going on and post it here...  Someone wrote it after this whole thing and he figured this out when the Verge blew everything out of proportion.  Maybe it'll open your eyes and it has less to do with Verizon, and more to do with the technology that is OLDER than Verizon...

Here's the kicker... CM is still able to do things with AOSP WITHOUT AOSP support for various CDMA devices...  So exactly what AOSP support are you looking for? It can still be done...

Again blown WAY OUT OF PROPORTION!

It was NOT a knee jerk response.  The only people who probably would understand what happened will treat it as nothing new and understand and makes very much sense.  The people don't(like yourself) are still

[scorch968]

I did read, it has to do with the platform keys used to sign some of the binaries on the rom. More specifically binaries such as the dialer.

Read the following and tell me what your take away from this statement is?

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/?fromgroups#!topic/android-contrib/phz3S5ZdveU

[Tidbits]

short bridge version of the whole deal... As I said there is MORE THAN Verizons key involved... Motorola has a key, and so does Google.  Samsung has a specific key... All belong to a certain piece of technology pertaining to CDMA.  Google has to rights to distribute the code, but when people modify that code the key is lost and it may cause problems.  So Google CHOSE to remove those aspects from AOSP for the betterment of the experience.

[gerio]

Between you people and all of the sites that got this RUMOR started and got all of you worked up, this has been a most entertaining read.

Geri O

[scorch968]

Yes more would be involved as there is more than one cdma carrier.

Time will tell.