Carriers Reveal Nexus 6 Launch Plans

The Nexus 6 smartphone is coming soon to major U.S. mobile carriers—just in time for the holiday shopping season.

Google introduced the 6-inch handset last month, alongside the next-generation Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system and Nexus 9 tablet.

The phone—supplies of which have already been depleted in the Google Play store—is also coming to the major carriers.

 

AT&T started taking pre-orders on Wednesday for the Midnight Blue model. Get it for $249.99 with a two-year agreement or $682.99 without a contract. You can also purchase one via AT&T’s early upgrade Next plans:

• AT&T Next 24: $22.77 per month for 30 months (upgrade after 24)
• AT&T Next 18: $28.46 per month for 24 months (upgrade after 18)
• AT&T Next 12: $34.15 per month for 20 months (upgrade after 12)

As an added incentive, new and existing AT&T users who activate a new line of service on AT&T Next can save $50 on the Moto 360, Moto Hint, or Moto Silver II with the purchase of a Nexus 6.

“The Nexus 6 with Android 5.0 Lollipop is the first Nexus device to join AT&T’s leading device portfolio,” Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of mobile devices, said in a statement. “The power of the nation’s most reliable network … paired with the collective innovation from Google and Motorola, make this device a winning combination for AT&T customers.”

Sprint users, meanwhile, can tap into the network’s 2.5GHz LTE data speeds when the Nexus 6 hits shelves on Friday, Nov. 14.

Choose from the carrier’s various payment plans, including Sprint Easy Pay ($0 down, 24 monthly payments of $29), the Sprint Family Share Pack (up to 10 lines get 20GB of shared data and unlimited talk and text for $100 per month through 2015), and the Sprint $60 Unlimited Plan (pretty self-explanatory).

“Nexus 6 sets the stage for exciting new developments in smartphones,” Doug Kaufman, director of Sprint’s device strategy, said. “Families can take advantage of all the features of Nexus 6 without worrying about expensive rate plans or running out of data each month.”

Those folks who have hitched their mobile wagon to the Un-carrier will have to wait a little longer for the Nexus 6, which T-Mobile delayed a week to Nov. 19. Once available, the phone will sell for $0 down and $27.08 per month for 24 months.

Verizon has not yet made any Nexus 6 announcements; its focus at the moment is on the Motorola Droid Turbo.

The massive device is also on sale via Motorola.com, and will eventually make its way to 28 countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America early next year.

Designed by Motorola, the new flagship handset sports a Quad HD display, 13-megapixel camera (with Optical Image Stabilization and HDR+), and dual front-facing stereo speakers. It also comes with a 3,220mAh battery, plus a Turbo Charger for up to six hours of use with only 15 minutes of charging.