• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Why the Uk first?

valorian

valorian

Android Expert
Why is it that when a manufacturer releases a new phone it usually gets released in the UK first? I find this very frustrating.
 
I wonder if FCC approval holds things up for you. There have been times when the USA have been a whole year behind the UK with some phone releases but these days it seems to be a matter of weeks.

It was the other way round for the iPhone and Nexus One if I remember correctly...the USA got them first.
 
Yeah, could be an FCC thing. I know the occasional phone gets released in the US first but it seems like 99% of the new phone or new OS updates are released to the UK first. Weeks or months can go by before the US gets them.
 
So does the UK have their version of the FCC? If so, is the FCC that much more strict or just that much slower in releasing a phone?
 
Out of curiosity: Is the added value that you get the same as the features we get? Like how every carrier here replicates stock Google features that are free and then charges you for their replacement app that either uses Google's resources, or uses it's own sub-par resources. An example being navigation apps. Sprint has TeleNav, VZW has Navigator, and both seem to use Google Maps (which is free from Play and free to use) and the carriers charge for their apps?
 
valorian said:
So does the UK have their version of the FCC? If so, is the FCC that much more strict or just that much slower in releasing a phone?
Click to expand...

Yes we do. It's called ofcom - they perform much the same function but I'm not sure if they approve individual handsets though. That might be down to the networks - or some other organisation.
 
For the Brit version of the FCC, they're a bit stricter on firmware updates, based on experience from Nokia days.
 
valorian said:
Why is it that when a manufacturer releases a new phone it usually gets released in the UK first? I find this very frustrating.
Click to expand...
Could also be because of the different bands. As far as I'm aware, the UK uses the same GSM 900/1800 and 3G 900/2100 as most of the rest of the world. If you have the UK version available, then you can also sell that in other European and Asian countries.

Most phones are quad-band GSM now but only few have 3G support in all countries. I reckon the different frequencies play a role in the delayed release.

Verizon and Sprint both use CDMA technology so that's extra work, too.
 
jerofld said:
Out of curiosity: Is the added value that you get the same as the features we get? Like how every carrier here replicates stock Google features that are free and then charges you for their replacement app that either uses Google's resources, or uses it's own sub-par resources. An example being navigation apps. Sprint has TeleNav, VZW has Navigator, and both seem to use Google Maps (which is free from Play and free to use) and the carriers charge for their apps?
Click to expand...

It can be. Orange have a satnav called Orange Maps. It's usually apps that take you to specific download sites or a pre-configured browser. It's not been too bad of late.

On Windows Mobile and some other platforms, Orange used to completely change the user interface. On WM you could disable it but for some Nokia, SE and Motorola handsets and some others you were stuck with it.
 
rui-no-onna said:
Most phones are quad-band GSM now but only few have 3G support in all countries. I reckon the different frequencies play a role in the delayed release.

Verizon and Sprint both use CDMA technology so that's extra work, too.
Click to expand...

Good point. I wish the US would have joined the UK in going all GSM. It was talked about when Digital first started rolling out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom