[LG V30 Guides, News, & Discussion] Septfox:
Test data for a different phone, yea. I'd guess that the antenna layout and geometry is a bit different, what with different casing and all.

LG shouldn't have much of a stake in this, if any. They're being comissioned to build a device to certain defined specs, they have no reason to go above and beyond to add extras, and I'm sure Google has entered into a contract to purchase X number of units.

I do have a few theories.

We've been working under the assumption that the Pixel is based on the V30, but what if it's the other way around? Could be that the Pixel's development started before the V30's and band 71 support was far enough out that it wasn't a design consideration until it was too late. Nobody expected T-Mobile to move this fast, after all, Google might not have thought it'd be a serious thing until at least the middle of next year. It's actually kind of amazing that the V30 has it.

Could also be that Google purchased a bunch of the older 835s, that lack the updated modem. LG has the updated ones, of course, but it's not like they have any obligation to use their own inventory, especially since they're presumably funneling them all into the V30.

A last one for consideration: Verizon sabotage. For some bizarre reason - I mean, Verizon stands firmly against many of the good things about Android, in the name of controlling their customers, WHY in god's name would you partner with them of all people - Google is apparently exclusively partnering with them again for carrier distribution.

What if one of Verizon's requirements was for Google to neuter the phone for its primary rival's new band?

Think about it from Verion's standpoint: they don't want their customers to grab a Pixel with whatever upgrade discount there is, give Verizon the middle finger, then immediately switch to T-Mobile. Unless Verizon is completely oblivious to the situation, they should be growing increasingly worried about T-Mobile, and they're not going to give them any advantages if they can help it.

I would hope that Google would laugh in their faces and take their business elsewhere, since catering to carrier squabbles should be beneath them, but then I'd have expected them to keep the headphone jack, too...and see where that expectation got us.

'course, this would only apply to the Verizon version; nothing stopping Google from filing their own C2PC to "add" band 71 to thir unlocked variant, assuming the hardware support is there.

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Regarding V30 and band 71...

The T-Mobile variant has its own FCC filing, and band 71 is only in that filing.

THis could be because band 71 wasn't official in...uh...6th month...June, when the filing for the base model was entered. This seems to be the generally accepted explanation. But in this case, I would have expected LG to file a C2PC, adding band 71 to the base model, then go on to make variants from there.

Another possibility that recently occurred to me is that the T-Mobile version is electrically different. This is one of those places where a C2PC wouldn't apply, because it can't be done unless the equipment that the change is on is electrically similar to that in the original filing (so only the used frequencies are being tested and changed). In this case, they would have to file a new FCC entry.

Dunno, we'll have to see...but it does seem odd that, this late in the game, LG still hasn't filed for a change to the unlocked base model. They've been filing plenty of other class 2 changes otherwise, just nothing for this. Then again, they don't seem to be in any particular hurry to do anything with the V30, sooooo...