Nexus 5 is not compatible with 3G contracts

UPDATE: a bug report has been filed. This affects all 3G contracts, regardless of whether the SIM is LTE-capable or not. This Google Plus post has good discussion in the comments.

Reports in the comment section here and elsewhere widely indicate that, for reasons not exactly clear, the b-mobile 3G SIMs are not working with the Nexus 5. According to a local android developer, the phone does not even see the "NTT DOCOMO" network under available networks. While JCI has not yet tested the Nexus 5, they also have been getting a number of reports of 3G SIMs not working.

It his highly likely that ALL docomo MVNOs will be similarly affected.

This SIM will not work with the Nexus 5

SIM cards that are currently incompatible are the BLUE and white FOMA ones:

• Visitor SIM 1 GB and 14 day
• B-mobile FMC
• Talking SIM U300
• Amazon 3G smartphone
• Yodobashi 3G smartphone
• All the old, discontinued products that some of you still may be using (I still have the original 3G Fair), including:
• original 3G smartphone
• original Aeon 3G smartphone
• original talking 1GB flat rate
• original talking FAIR
• original 1GB flat rate (data-only)
• original FAIR
• original U300

If you are a user of a voice SIM, you can have your plan converted over to an LTE plan, but there are several disadvantages. First off, docomo's pricing for voice with an LTE plan is different than with a 3G plan. There is no option for an included number of minutes (free talking allowance), which is reflected in the lack of this option with docomo Xi voice plans. Second, docomo charges each MVNO a fee for both the issuance of a new SIM card and activation of a new account:

• ¥2,100 for a new account when switching from 3G to LTE
• ¥3,150 for a new SIM card.

According to their official twitter, new LTE products that may will have a different pricing structure for the voice plan will soon be available, but I don't have specifics. Also, it's unclear if the administrative fee of ¥2,100 would be generated again by the changing to a different LTE plan. I would think not, since as far as the docomo side of the equation is concerned, there is no new account activation – that should only occur when changing from a 3G to an LTE SIM.