Andy Rubin, the co-founder of Android, recently launched his own smartphone efforts in the form of the Essential Phone. On the phone’s support page, it states that it has been designed to work across all the major carriers in the US, but does it? The core features are there, such as calls, texting, and data, but what about the rest?In a report from The Verge, they reached out to the various carriers in the US to get statements and to see to what extent the phone is supported. Starting with Verizon, a spokesperson said, “While the phone might work on Verizon, we can’t promise the same experience and quality of service as devices that have been tested and approved for use on our network.”
As for T-Mobile, “We’re excited for Andy Rubin and his team (the device looks amazing), and welcome customers purchasing Essential to bring it to the fastest and most advanced 4G LTE network in the country through our BYOD program. We’ll have more to share closer to general availability in terms of what advanced network features might be available in Essential.”
Sprint also confirmed support for the phone and in a statement made by a spokesperson, “Essential’s debut smartphone will operate on our network. More specific information will be provided at a later date.” However as The Verge points out, none of these carriers have come right out and stated that they will be offering the phone for sale, so it’s more like if you have it, you’ll be able to use it.
That being said if you do want the Essential Phone, getting your hands on one might not be quite as easy as you think. Speaking to WIRED, executives told the publication that the company isn’t really setup to mass produce the handsets on an iPhone or Galaxy smartphone scale at the moment.
Filed in . Read more about Essential Phone (PH-1), Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon.