LG Blames Google For "Poor Sales Forecast" On Nexus 4 Shortage

With the increase in demand and lack of supply of the increasingly popular Google Nexus 4 Smartphone, LG blames Google for its poor estimates.

The Smartphone sold on the online store GooglePlay.com faces a huge demand due to its high specifications and the latest version of Android at a great price which led to an instant sell out worldwide. Later, the handset returned briefly, to be sold out again almost immediately. While selected mobile networks have started offering the handset, they are capitalizing on its scarcity by charging significantly more for the device than if it were still available through Google directly.

Rumors are rife on the internet that Google and LG have voluntarily caused the shortage to create more demand in the market, if so, then, the ploy is certainly playing its part well. Meanwhile, Cathy Robin, director of LG France's mobile division, in an interview with the French magazine Challenge has refuted the rumors regarding the voluntary stoppage of production and said that the rate of production will be increased to meet the demand for Nexus 4 by mid February.

Cathy clearly stated “Supply problems are not necessarily completely related to LG. Google presented sales forecasts calculated according to their previous sales history of Nexus Smartphones. But they were in less demand.” She went on to say that LG has delivered a number of pre-ordered handsets and the company continues to make regular deliveries when, Dan Cobley, Google UK & Ireland's managing director has stated in an email shared on the XDA Developers forum that the “Supplies from the manufacturer are scarce and erratic, and our communication has been flawed.” The two companies should bring out their evangelists, just to have a go at it.

If LG wants to “double” their “market share, at least” in this year then the manufacturing giant will have to get its communication experts trained by Steve Ballmer himself in order to deal with an entity like Google and come to a consensus.

 

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Google asks FCC for wireless spectrum, but don't get too excited

The company has requested frequencies across the 2524-2546 and 2567-2625 MHz ranges. However, a source tells that the testing isn't for delivering any service to consumers.

Google has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission for permission to apparently conduct testing on, well, something. But it's not a new wireless service that some have hoped it would be, CNET has exclusively learned.
Steven Crowley, a wireless engineer, discovered the application, which was filed by Google last week. The application asks for permission to test frequencies across the 2524 to 2546 MHz range and 2567 to 2625 MHz range. According to Crowley, those ranges are reserved for Educational Broadband Service and Broadband Radio Service. But here's the catch: Clearwire, a company that Google had owned a slice in until last year, uses the ranges for its mobile broadband service.
Predictably, that has prompted speculation over whether Google is testing its own wireless network. The company currently offers free Wi-Fi service in the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City and has been dipping its toe in the service waters with Google Fiber in Kansas City.
Google, however, has not provided any details on its plans in the FCC petition. The report is heavily redacted and includes only one exhibit outlining where it will place base stations to test the service in its Mountain View headquarters.
Given the relative inability of concrete information, some circumstantial evidence is being drawn to guess at Google's plans. The filing, for example, was authorized by Google Vice President of Access Services Milo Medin. The Access Services unit handles the Google Fiber and wireless initiatives.
However, the spectrum range in question currently does not work natively with any popular consumer devices, due to past regulations put in place by the FCC and due to Clearwire's own handling of the spectrum. In addition, a source with knowledge of Google's plans, has told that the testing is just that. The source added that the search giant has no plans, at this time, to deliver a consumer-facing service with the spectrum.
So, what is Google up to with this testing? At this point, according to the source, it's nothing that consumers will end up using and falls in line with Access Services' charge of regularly testing wireless technologies.

 

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