Nextbit: No Robin Phone for Verizon, Sprint

Bad news for Sprint and Verizon customers hoping to go their hands on the Nextbit Robin smartphone.

Nextbit on Th announced that it is killing off plans to launch a CDMA version—a.yard.a. the ane for Verizon and Sprint.

In a blog mail service, Nextbit CEO Tom Moss said the company has finally fulfilled all its orders for the GSM version (for AT&T and T-Mobile) afterward several delays. But the CDMA version is facing "a different set of bug, and unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be a workable solution."

If y'all already ordered the CDMA model, don't worry: you won't lose your money. Nextbit is offering every CDMA backer a full refund.

As for what happened, Moss explained that Nextbit initially wasn't planning to launch a CDMA version, but got so many requests from backers asking for it that they decided to endeavor to make it happen.

"As y'all tin imagine, we were in a rush," he said. "The Kickstarter entrada is but 30 days long, and it wasn't until the second week of the campaign that we realized the demand and started the investigation.

"Because of this, we had to become with the best information we could go earlier the campaign was over, and over fourth dimension information technology turned out that this data was not accurate," Moss continued. "What people at the carriers, in good faith given our need for quick answers, idea would take 'weeks' has turned into 'months.' What they thought would cost 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' has turned into 'millions.'"

Moss said the company however has "no clear answers" virtually when it would exist able to ship the device for these networks, and then it has decided to cancel the CDMA version altogether.

"We were too optimistic, as well bullish, and as a result we accept to deal with our biggest fear, disappointing you, our supporters," Moss wrote.

Fortunately, Kickstarter backers who opted for the CDMA version will get their entire pledge back, including any extras charged for accessories and shipping. If you lot pre-ordered the device, yous're also in the clear: Nextbit has not charged y'all, and it won't.

As an added peace offering, Nextbit is giving each CDMA capitalist a 25 percent disbelieve lawmaking on one club from the company'due south online store. If yous can't apply this discount yourself, you lot tin can pass it on to someone else who might like a Robin.

"From all of u.s.a. at Nextbit, I would similar to offer our apologies for this counterfoil," Moss wrote.

For more, bank check out PCMag's review of the Nextbit Robin and the slideshow above.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag'due south good on fitness and smart dwelling products. Educational activity yoga for nearly 10 years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected health products including fitness trackers, middle rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela as well tests smart home devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, only to name a few.