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Nexus 4 and Android 4.2 hit US market

After selling out within hours of its UK launch, Google’s no-contract Nexus 4 hits the Google Play store in the US today. The GSM/HSPA+ phone is sold unlocked for $299 ($349 for the 16GB version). Although it’s called the Nexus 4, its display is actually 4.7 inches, and it measures 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm.

Although Google is not making the phone available through carriers, AT&T and T-Mobile USA can both expect to win new prepaid customers thanks to the Nexus 4. T-Mobile USA offers unlimited data and 100 minutes of talk time for $30/month, and unlimited talk, text and data for $60/month. AT&T’s prices are slightly higher, and its coverage is more extensive. The Nexus 4 is also likely to bring new customers to the smaller regional carriers that also operate on GSM networks, including GCI Wireless, Cincinnatti Bell Wireless, Union Wireless, Straight Talk, Viaero Wireless, Simple Mobile, Immix Wireless, Simple Mobile, and Wal-Mart Family Mobile.

The Nexus 4 is almost sure to be a compelling competitor to the iPhone 5, offering comparable screen resolution, more cloud storage, a quad-core processor, and wireless charging with a charging mat. And it will be the first smartphone to run Android 4.2, which also becomes available today. Galaxy Nexus owners began reporting this morning that they awoke to find their tablets downloading Android 4.2 over the Internet. And the new operating system is available to Nexus 7 tablet owners via a manual download. Android 4.2 will enable Nexus 4 users to take advantage of the phone’s 360 degree photo panorama capabilities. It also enables Qualcomm’s Miracast, which enables the smartphone to connect to television sets over Wi-Fi and display the smartphone’s content on the big screen.

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ABOUT AUTHOR

Martha DeGrasse
Martha DeGrassehttp://www.nbreports.com
Martha DeGrasse is the publisher of Network Builder Reports (nbreports.com). At RCR, Martha authored more than 20 in-depth feature reports and more than 2,400 news articles. She also created the Mobile Minute and the 5 Things to Know Today series. Prior to joining RCR Wireless News, Martha produced business and technology news for CNN and Dow Jones in New York and managed the online editorial group at Hoover’s Online before taking a number of years off to be at home when her children were young. Martha is the board president of Austin's Trinity Center and is a member of the Women's Wireless Leadership Forum.