LG Nexus 4 LTE “feature” explained, bad news Verizon or AT&T customers November 25, 2012Gadgets & Mobile NewsOff

November 25, 2012, 3:40 P.M., Sunday, New York local time — Move on, people, or just wait for possible Nexus 4 LTE variants because the unlocked Nexus 4 from the Google Play Store, a phone with Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, lacks some needed hardware to fully harness the power of the 4G technology.

Citing missing hardware, LG Mobile finally breaks its silence and addresses issues related to the LG Nexus 4 and its so-called “hidden LTE feature” that works with LTE Band 4. Unsurprisingly, LG kills all hope of a fully functioning LTE on the Nexus 4, so yes, all Nexus 4 units from the Google Play Store and T-Mobile are not compatible with any LTE networks in United States (Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, US Cellular).

An LG spokesman claims that the LG Nexus 4, the latest Google Nexus device that runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box, is using the same processor found in the LG Optimus G, however, the new Google Nexus 4 does not include necessary hardware such as the signal amplifier and filter, and certain a software update is not enough to add LTE.

But here’s the caveat, and it looks like LG is not sharing the complete story here, certain tests show that the Google Nexus 4 can work with some LTE networks, including the widely publicized Telus 4G LTE network in Canada. A simple code using the phone application on Android allowed one Nexus 4 to tap the power of the Telus LTE, specifically the code “*#*#4636#*#*” that gives access the radio preferences of the new Google phone.

LTE on Android or other platforms such as Windows Phone and iOS is like a teamwork, a tandem or a collaboration. The phone manufacturer must comply with conditions of the carrier, while the carrier will provide the network and the conditions for the end-user. In United States, top US operators like AT&T and Verizon Wireless are offering  Band 17 and Band 13, so the unlocked LG Nexus 4 from the Google Play Store or T-Mobile will still not work on Verizon or Sprint because the Nexus 4′s hardware is compatible with the LTE Band 4 only.

Either way, if Google can prove that the Nexus 4 is one of the hottest devices and customers love it (which is obvious because customers sapped dry the initial inventory), Verizon, Sprint or AT&T might use its popularity to lure more customers who are willing to lock themselves in contract agreements.

For the benefit of some users, the Nexus 4, or Google Nexus 4 is the latest flagship phone, made by LG, and sports the Google branding. It includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor, 2GB RAM and Android Jelly Bean 4.2 mobile operating system out of the box. With a nicer build quality than its predecessors, the Nexus 4 also offers a better 8-megapixel primary camera, a front-facing HD video chat camera and other key features such as NFC or Near Field Communication, Bluetooth and WiFi.

The Nexus 4 is still sold out in many stores worldwide, including all Google Play Stores. T-Mobile’s Nexus 4 is also sold out.

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