Pixel 6 Availability?

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#2803449 29-Oct-2021 12:01

maxeon:

I heard from someone that Google is setting up to open their business here officially in NZ due to Adwords and once they can do it they can sell devices like phones etc to ensure CGA is given to consumers.

Google have had an NZ presence for many years, and just opened a fancy new office in July.

For sure they know there is demand here, these things just take more time than a single product cycle.

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MaxineN

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#2803461 29-Oct-2021 12:11

NikT:

MaxineN:

@NikT in the past has mentioned this:

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=97&topicid=273097&page_no=2#2538313

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=97&topicid=273097&page_no=3#2538384

I imagine the answer is still the same

To be clear, I would love to launch Pixel, especially right now, and I'm certainly not the only one.

There's a perfect storm of factors making that a no-go:

These are premium products, and do not offer a premium user experience in this market to match those price tags
Google have locked down 5G and VoLTE in software, this is not on NZ telcos at all - Spark and Voda allow open access to both technologies, BYO compatible device and away you go
Historically, Pixels have had a high failure rate, and no authorised service agent locally - real local warranties cost pretty significant money to provide, which makes the products even more expensive to bring to retail
The cost to enter a new market, particularly one where operator and supply chain partnerships are not yet in place, is spendy and a lengthy process
There is a global shortage of semiconductors + tremendous disruption to global (and domestic) logistics right now, smartphones are in dire constraint across the board - and across brands
My understanding is that Google have historically viewed Pixel as a branding showcase for their software and AI rather than a serious smartphone play. Pixel 6 and Pro are stunning, wonderful design, great features, they would do well here, and may be the first step to changing that view. Unfortunately it's not going to happen in NZ until Google wants to do it.

The moment Google drops Pixels in NZ is the moment I call a victory and the moment I stop using my Xiaomi Poco F3 and I pick one of these up.

Question and this is probably pushing in what you can say. Has anyone else but PBTech been interested(or is PBTech actually interested)?

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

jjnz1

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#2803474 29-Oct-2021 12:19

NikT:

Google have locked down 5G and VoLTE in software, this is not on NZ telcos at all - Spark and Voda allow open access to both technologies, BYO compatible device and away you go

There are a lot of threads on the internet including in Googles support forum, with Google blaming (eligibly) the Telcos for not opening up their VoLTE and 5G networks to specifically allow for Pixel phones.

Who is correct? Who do we champion to enable VoLTE?

MaxineN

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#2803483 29-Oct-2021 12:23

jjnz1:

NikT:

Google have locked down 5G and VoLTE in software, this is not on NZ telcos at all - Spark and Voda allow open access to both technologies, BYO compatible device and away you go

There are a lot of threads on the internet including in Googles support forum, with Google blaming (eligibly) the Telcos for not opening up their VoLTE and 5G networks to specifically allow for Pixel phones.

Who is correct? Who do we champion to enable VoLTE?

Well judging by the fact that I got VoLTE and 5G to work on 2 unapproved handsets(one that required root) I say the blame is on Google.

2 unapproved handsets is a small sample size and it requires more phones.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

toxicbubble

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#2803487 29-Oct-2021 12:36

NikT:

MaxineN:

@NikT in the past has mentioned this:

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=97&topicid=273097&page_no=2#2538313

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=97&topicid=273097&page_no=3#2538384

I imagine the answer is still the same

To be clear, I would love to launch Pixel, especially right now, and I'm certainly not the only one.

There's a perfect storm of factors making that a no-go:

These are premium products, and do not offer a premium user experience in this market to match those price tags
Google have locked down 5G and VoLTE in software, this is not on NZ telcos at all - Spark and Voda allow open access to both technologies, BYO compatible device and away you go
Historically, Pixels have had a high failure rate, and no authorised service agent locally - real local warranties cost pretty significant money to provide, which makes the products even more expensive to bring to retail
The cost to enter a new market, particularly one where operator and supply chain partnerships are not yet in place, is spendy and a lengthy process
There is a global shortage of semiconductors + tremendous disruption to global (and domestic) logistics right now, smartphones are in dire constraint across the board - and across brands
My understanding is that Google have historically viewed Pixel as a branding showcase for their software and AI rather than a serious smartphone play. Pixel 6 and Pro are stunning, wonderful design, great features, they would do well here, and may be the first step to changing that view. Unfortunately it's not going to happen in NZ until Google wants to do it.

I appreciate you taking the time to make this response, thank you. All this doesn't sound that promising for an actual result anytime soon, but I guess it's ultimately up to Google. It's even weirder now that one of the top execs has 'moved' to this country, but still can't get a phone here!?

NikT

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#2803488 29-Oct-2021 12:38

MaxineN:

The moment Google drops Pixels in NZ is the moment I call a victory and the moment I stop using my Xiaomi Poco F3 and I pick one of these up.

Question and this is probably pushing in what you can say. Has anyone else but PBTech been interested(or is PBTech actually interested)?

PB Tech is 100% interested in ranging Pixel. Can't speak for anyone else. :)

jjnz1:

There are a lot of threads on the internet including in Googles support forum, with Google blaming (eligibly) the Telcos for not opening up their VoLTE and 5G networks to specifically allow for Pixel phones.

Who is correct? Who do we champion to enable VoLTE?

It is entirely on Google, all about getting the right people talking to the right people + actually putting the engineering resource in to do it - which, spoilers, they're not going to do if the products are not officially available in market.

I wonder what the telcos are supposed to do about it, just email "someone @ google dot com" at random with "hello here are our sensitive VoLTE and 5G network specs, please enable"? How are they to know who the right person is if the right team at Google does not reach out?

5G in particular feels like a deliberate snub for all networks bar the chosen few - If <not a whitelisted network> then <disable 5G>. It's not really, ostensibly this is because the device's battery life would tank were 5G enabled in a market without 5G, but I don't personally like the way these things have been locked down in software given past precedent for open, global, interoperability. Give users the choice to use the hardware they paid for, people know what they're about.

VoLTE needs network-specific settings. 5G NSA so far in NZ has been largely straightforward with fairly globally standard anchor bands, and would work (albeit without optimisation) if those restrictions were lifted. The majority of vendors globally don't lock this down, and 5G works out of the box. Google are not the only ones doing it this way, see also e.g. OnePlus. That one I'm hopeful will be solved sooner than Pixel, the ColorOS migration could potentially bring OPPO NZ's hard work and significant investment partnering with NZ operators along for the ride.

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lchiu7

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#2804223 30-Oct-2021 12:30

NikT:

5G in particular feels like a deliberate snub for all networks bar the chosen few - If <not a whitelisted network> then <disable 5G>. It's not really, ostensibly this is because the device's battery life would tank were 5G enabled in a market without 5G, but I don't personally like the way these things have been locked down in software given past precedent for open, global, interoperability. Give users the choice to use the hardware they paid for, people know what they're about.

VoLTE needs network-specific settings. 5G NSA so far in NZ has been largely straightforward with fairly globally standard anchor bands, and would work (albeit without optimisation) if those restrictions were lifted. The majority of vendors globally don't lock this down, and 5G works out of the box. Google are not the only ones doing it this way, see also e.g. OnePlus. That one I'm hopeful will be solved sooner than Pixel, the ColorOS migration could potentially bring OPPO NZ's hard work and significant investment partnering with NZ operators along for the ride.

Out of interest I went to the Google 5G compatibility page

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/10082009?p=networkinfo&visit_id=637711466303744278-1493939432&rd=1#certified_carriers_table

NZ is not listed (Australia is of course) The advice on the page is a bit conflicting.

First they say

Selected 5G carrier networks work with Pixel phones. To see carriers with 5G networks that work with Pixel 4a (5G) and later phones, choose a country or region below. Unlisted carriers’ 5G networks may or may not work with Pixel phones.

That suggests that it might work but nothing to suggest that they have locked it down to specific countries.

But then they say

At this time, unlisted countries have no selected 5G carrier networks that work with Pixel phones.

I guess we have to wait for the first person to get a Pixel 6 in NZ and try it out.

Also noted is that this

Unlocked Pixel is not compatible with millimeter wave (mmWave) networks.

I think they have a version with mmWave for Verizon for both the 6 and 6 Pro but even if you get the 6 Pro it won't work with other carrier's mmWave networks. I have no idea if any carrier here is using mmWave.

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lNomNoml

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#2804238 30-Oct-2021 13:21

According to Orcon support the Pixel 6 should work on 5G but I suspect the support didn't look into anything.

witchdoctorgaz

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#2804297 30-Oct-2021 14:10

I received this valuable insight from Spark

I think I'll follow this thread before purchasing, wait for beta testers to solve the 5G/VoLTE questions for me.
I'm getting curious about the Motorola Edge 20 Pro which by no means is a flagship phone, but is close to being a stock android with a decent periscope camera.
Might even be able to side load the Google camera sdk onto it.

hadenkose

169 posts

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#2804696 31-Oct-2021 14:24

Looks like my Pixel 6 Pro has made it to Auckland already. Due for delivery on Wednesday, but might hopefully arrive earlier. Some interesting reviews coming out. Most seem pretty positive. Even if the upgraded hardware hasn't been fully optimised yet, I'm hopeful that Google's software will catch up with it eventually. (I've already had a play around with magic eraser on my Pixel 5 and it's pretty fun). Not bothered with no 5G, as 2degrees doesn't have it yet anyway. It's gonna be a long day tomorrow refreshing my tracking page every 5 minutes!

maxeon

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#2804698 31-Oct-2021 14:27

hadenkose: Looks like my Pixel 6 Pro has made it to Auckland already. Due for delivery on Wednesday, but might hopefully arrive earlier. Some interesting reviews coming out. Most seem pretty positive. Even if the upgraded hardware hasn't been fully optimised yet, I'm hopeful that Google's software will catch up with it eventually. (I've already had a play around with magic eraser on my Pixel 5 and it's pretty fun). Not bothered with no 5G, as 2degrees doesn't have it yet anyway. It's gonna be a long day tomorrow refreshing my tracking page every 5 minutes!

Looking forward to your hands on experience. I on the fence about the 6 or the pro due to the size. Where did you order it from?

everettpsycho

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#2804700 31-Oct-2021 14:35

Has anyone ever tried B&H video for this sort of thing. Looks like they will ship here at is prices plus $40 shipping. They have estimated about $116 of tax as well.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1665071-REG/google_ga02900_us_pixel_6_dual_sim_128gb.html

mulac

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#2804702 31-Oct-2021 14:53

A few people looked at it on Page 4 of this thread but B&H wouldn’t sell to NZ

prat33k

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#2804703 31-Oct-2021 14:58

mulac: A few people looked at it on Page 4 of this thread but B&H wouldn’t sell to NZ

Huh.. seems like they are actually shipping now? Earlier it was saying "We can't ship this item to NZ" or something. I tried and it seems they are even giving customs estimate + delivery charges to NZ.

For pixel 6, there shouldn't even be customs to be paid as this is under $1000 nzd.

old3eyes

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#2804704 31-Oct-2021 15:04

prat33k:
mulac: A few people looked at it on Page 4 of this thread but B&H wouldn’t sell to NZ

Huh.. seems like they are actually shipping now? Earlier it was saying "We can't ship this item to NZ" or something. I tried and it seems they are even giving customs estimate + delivery charges to NZ.

For pixel 6, there shouldn't even be customs to be paid as this is under $1000 nzd.

They're probably meaning sales tax and any duty if required.

Regards,

Old3eyes

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