In September, Verizon promised Google's Nexus 7 would come to its LTE network "shortly." Now it has introduced an LTE-capable tablet. What gives? Crave's Eric Mack went looking for answers. November 6, 2013 11:13 AM PST Did Big Red snub the Nexus 7 to make room for the Ellipsis 7? (Credit: Verizon Wireless) On Tuesday, Verizon Wireless officially introduced its 7-inch Android tablet, the Ellipsis 7, which seems to be a competitor to the likes of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX. This is of particular interest to anyone who remembers that Verizon has been delaying LTE activation of Nexus 7 users, despite that the Nexus 7 is LTE compatible. Taking an active Verizon SIM card out of another device and slipping it into a new Nexus 7 reportedly will allow the tablet to connect to Verizon's LTE network, but the company won't activate a new SIM specifically for the device. Back in September, Verizon addressed the issue with a statement: The Google Nexus 7 is not yet a Verizon 4G LTE-certified device, though it entered our process in August and we expect it will be certified shortly. Once the device is certified, we will work with Google to enable the device to be activated on our 4G LTE network. It's been several weeks since that statement, a time frame that stretches all possible definitions of the word "shortly." Verizon says the process typically takes four to six weeks, which would seem to indicate that certification of the Nexus 7 is at least a month late at this point. Couple that apparent delay with the Ellipsis 7, which Verizon describes as "the first product from Verizon Wireless in the Ellipsis family," and it's easy to imagine a plan to keep the Nexus 7 off Verizon's LTE network permanently. Some Verizon customers, most notably tech pundit Jeff Jarvis, believe the carrier could be in violation of Federal Communications Commission rules by keeping the Nexus 7 off its network. He filed a complaint with the commission to that effect in September. I spoke to Jarvis briefly on Tuesday. He was less concerned about the notion that Verizon could be keeping the Nexus 7 down to help prop up the Ellipsis 7 than he was about the FCC acknowledging his grievance. He sent a follow-up letter to the entity today, again requesting that it order Verizon to connect the Nexus 7 to its LTE network. The letter briefly addresses Verizon's new tablet, with Jarvis noting that "of course, Verizon is free to sell its own device ... But that should have no impact on its support of other devices on its open network and it certainly does not excuse Verizon for refusing to connect the Nexus 7. The fact that Verizon has its own similar tablet is only more reason that it must be compelled to support the Nexus 7 or else its 'open' network is not open at all." Jarvis told me he's had no responses from the FCC and nothing new from Verizon beyond the line about certification. The thing with the Ellipsis 7, of course, is that it will compete with the Nexus 7 and numerous other tablets currently certified for use on Verizon's network -- a handful of which are also sold in Verizon stores. So, to see this strictly as a duel between Verizon and Google is surely a bit narrow-minded. I also have to allow for the possibility that the Nexus 7 really has not completed certification yet. As Verizon explains on its "Open Development" site, the testing for certification is done by third-party labs and "the device manufacturer is responsible for working with the external test lab to complete the approval testing." Perhaps Google is so busy building barges that Nexus 7 certification for Verizon LTE slipped through the cracks at Mountain View? Maybe. Or maybe Verizon truly feels that the Nexus doesn't belong in the same room as the Ellipsis family. You know, it's like that uncle at Thanksgiving who always has to be at the center of it all, hogging all the glory for himself and driving everyone else to just sort of trail off ... elsewhere... . I've contacted Verizon and Google to ask where the Nexus 7 is in the certification process to the best of its knowledge and will update this post when I hear back. Meanwhile, the Ellipsis 7 goes on sale Thursday in Verizon stores for $249. While the tablet's specs underwhelm a bit when compared to the Nexus 7, a $100 discount will be offered for a limited time with a new 2-year contract.
In September, Verizon promised Google's Nexus 7 would come to its LTE network "shortly." Now it has introduced an LTE-capable tablet. What gives? Crave's Eric Mack went looking for answers.
Did Big Red snub the Nexus 7 to make room for the Ellipsis 7?
(Credit: Verizon Wireless)
On Tuesday, Verizon Wireless officially introduced its 7-inch Android tablet, the Ellipsis 7, which seems to be a competitor to the likes of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX. This is of particular interest to anyone who remembers that Verizon has been delaying LTE activation of Nexus 7 users, despite that the Nexus 7 is LTE compatible.
Taking an active Verizon SIM card out of another device and slipping it into a new Nexus 7 reportedly will allow the tablet to connect to Verizon's LTE network, but the company won't activate a new SIM specifically for the device. Back in September, Verizon addressed the issue with a statement:
The Google Nexus 7 is not yet a Verizon 4G LTE-certified device, though it entered our process in August and we expect it will be certified shortly. Once the device is certified, we will work with Google to enable the device to be activated on our 4G LTE network.
It's been several weeks since that statement, a time frame that stretches all possible definitions of the word "shortly." Verizon says the process typically takes four to six weeks, which would seem to indicate that certification of the Nexus 7 is at least a month late at this point. Couple that apparent delay with the Ellipsis 7, which Verizon describes as "the first product from Verizon Wireless in the Ellipsis family," and it's easy to imagine a plan to keep the Nexus 7 off Verizon's LTE network permanently.
Some Verizon customers, most notably tech pundit Jeff Jarvis, believe the carrier could be in violation of Federal Communications Commission rules by keeping the Nexus 7 off its network. He filed a complaint with the commission to that effect in September.
I spoke to Jarvis briefly on Tuesday. He was less concerned about the notion that Verizon could be keeping the Nexus 7 down to help prop up the Ellipsis 7 than he was about the FCC acknowledging his grievance. He sent a follow-up letter to the entity today, again requesting that it order Verizon to connect the Nexus 7 to its LTE network.
The letter briefly addresses Verizon's new tablet, with Jarvis noting that "of course, Verizon is free to sell its own device ... But that should have no impact on its support of other devices on its open network and it certainly does not excuse Verizon for refusing to connect the Nexus 7. The fact that Verizon has its own similar tablet is only more reason that it must be compelled to support the Nexus 7 or else its 'open' network is not open at all."
Jarvis told me he's had no responses from the FCC and nothing new from Verizon beyond the line about certification.
The thing with the Ellipsis 7, of course, is that it will compete with the Nexus 7 and numerous other tablets currently certified for use on Verizon's network -- a handful of which are also sold in Verizon stores. So, to see this strictly as a duel between Verizon and Google is surely a bit narrow-minded.
I also have to allow for the possibility that the Nexus 7 really has not completed certification yet. As Verizon explains on its "Open Development" site, the testing for certification is done by third-party labs and "the device manufacturer is responsible for working with the external test lab to complete the approval testing."
Perhaps Google is so busy building barges that Nexus 7 certification for Verizon LTE slipped through the cracks at Mountain View?
Maybe. Or maybe Verizon truly feels that the Nexus doesn't belong in the same room as the Ellipsis family. You know, it's like that uncle at Thanksgiving who always has to be at the center of it all, hogging all the glory for himself and driving everyone else to just sort of trail off ... elsewhere... .
I've contacted Verizon and Google to ask where the Nexus 7 is in the certification process to the best of its knowledge and will update this post when I hear back.
Meanwhile, the Ellipsis 7 goes on sale Thursday in Verizon stores for $249. While the tablet's specs underwhelm a bit when compared to the Nexus 7, a $100 discount will be offered for a limited time with a new 2-year contract.
