Updated: Your Verizon Galaxy Nexus almost lost its Nexus

Updated. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus LTE handset is reportedly no more time a Google-supported developer cellphone, which could have software package update implications. Droid-Daily life has some display pictures indicating that the CDMA Galaxy Nexus — and as effectively as Sprint's Nexus S — no more time seem on Google's web page demonstrating how to get units into fastboot mode. This mode is utilized to lock down the phone's software.

I strike up some web pages that I just lately bookmarked to help me flash pictures on my GSM Galaxy Nexus and I can validate what Droid-Existence is viewing. The CDMA inventory pictures for the Galaxy Nexus, for illustration now show a standing of "archived, for reference only."

I'm reaching out to sources to see what this implies, because it could imply practically nothing a lot more than the removing of developer possibilities in the Configurations screen of the CDMA Galaxy Nexus. But if not, I wonder if this is Verizon's work to acquire complete manage about the software program on its Galaxy Nexus. It's well worth recalling that Verizon was expected to get the unique Nexus One particular, but that never ever transpired and no explanation was ever supplied. It is not a stretch to feel that a management concern at that time entered into the predicament.

The other probability the following is that this is associated to Google Wallet and Verizon's force for its very own cell payment answer in Isis. A Google assertion provided to The Verge indicates this to be the circumstance. If Verizon does have possession over the Galaxy Nexus software package, the handsets could drop a key gain: Attaining the most latest software package updates before other telephones. That attribute is a essential offering level of the Galaxy Nexus and if this does come about, I'm positive current entrepreneurs of the smartphone will be upset.

Update: On a Google Groups page for Android Contributors, the following clarification was composed right after this publish:

For numerous specialized reasons, recent CDMA Android devices apply core telephony operation in .apk files supplied in binary kind by the carriers. To operate properly, these .apk files must be signed by the so-named "platform" important. Nonetheless, when an specific creates a custom made create from the AOSP resource code, they do not use the same signing crucial as these CDMA flies had been signed with.

The consequence is that these files really don’t operate properly, and pure AOSP builds operating on these products cannot place phone calls, entry cellular facts, and so on. Because we purpose to make confident that we are as clear as feasible about the diploma of assistance that products have, we up to date the document more than atsource.android.com to reflect this reality.

We will even now make available as a lot of as attainable of the closed-source binaries for these products, and Nexus devices will carry on to have unlockable bootloaders. And, of training course, GSM/HSPA+ products are still supported, as are any other gadgets we're ready to support. We've basically updated the documentation to be clearer about the latest extent of CDMA support.

So this is not going to show up to be an issue with Google Wallet or a wresting of control it's much more of a clarification on CDMA assistance for Nexus telephones. Whew!

Connected research and research from GigaOM Professional:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a totally free trial.