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Comment by mtgx | Hacker News Reader

They really need to make it a "Google program" of some sort, where any manufacturer can do this with their smartphone models (while respecting Google's strict guidelines of course). They'd basically be Chromebooks for Android.

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The HTC One or even the Facebook phone would be very nice with stock Android

I believe you can simply remove Facebook Home from the HTC First to return to stock Android, though I'm not sure that guarantees updates like the Nexus devices do.

You can, but AT&T has already discontinued the HTC First. If you're lucky you can pick it up for $0.99 before the pull it from shelves.

I believe there's still plenty of time, that BGR report seemed pretty preliminary. They've got stock to burn through. Even the Playbook stayed on shelves for longer than this. I plan on buying a First myself.

Would it really be the Facebook phone if it came with stock Android?

This. I'm surprised that it's taken Google this long to get around to it.

I just hope the network operators actually bother to sell these devices... For reasons I fail to comprehend, EE, the largest network in the UK, still refuses to sell the flagship Nexus 4, or indeed any phone that ships with a non-mutilated version of (stock) Android.

Edit: I suppose it's because the device is such good value on the Play Store that EE wouldn't be able to make a worthwhile margin on their contracts while appearing vaguely competitive.

For reasons I fail to comprehend, EE, the largest network in the UK, still refuses to sell the flagship Nexus 4

Because there is next to no market for it. People who are not developers are not aware of 'stock', and don't care. People who are developers will just buy from the Play Store.

Fair, although this is not simply some geeky dev device. Apart from the poor camera, it is a remarkable phone for the money (in some contrast with this S4!) and I suspect that it is primarily Google's lack of marketing that has prevented it from going mainstream. LG has struggled to keep up with demand for these phones as it is.

Might it have something to do with the fact that EE is an LTE network and the Nexus 4 is a HSPA+ device?

Probably, and it would likely cannibalise sales of their pricey 4G tariffs. Although apparently their official line on the N4 is that it 'failed EE's internal testing'.

What I find really frustrating is the radio in the N4 does support LTE. It's apparently disabled in software. I suppose you could go SIM only - they have some reasonable* tariffs.

*It's all relative.

Carriers are uneasy about giving more control to Google, Apple and Microsoft. They want to keep them at bay by going with the OEMs who are much less likely to challenge them on their turf.

Nokia's chief said that carriers were less keen on Windows Phone because of Microsoft acquiring Skype.

http://www.businessinsider.com/nokias-ceo-says-carriers-hate...

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