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Verizon Leaving iPhone 5 SIM Slots Unlocked as Required by FCC Network Access Regulations
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A somewhat related question.
When purchasing an unsubsidized full price unlocked phone from from apple it says that it will only work on a gsm network. Is there a technical reason for that? Or is it just Verizon and Sprint saying, only phones sold through us can work with out networks?
When purchasing an unsubsidized full price unlocked phone from from apple it says that it will only work on a gsm network. Is there a technical reason for that? Or is it just Verizon and Sprint saying, only phones sold through us can work with out networks?
Verizon iPhone 5 at AT&T simultaneous?
Can I use my Verizon iPhone 5 on AT&T simultaneously? We live in a dead spot for Verizon coverage, but we have LTE coverage everywhere else. AT&T tower is a mile away. Could I use AT&T's network on my iPhone 5 when I'm at home, and use Verizon's LTE network everywhere else?
Can I use my Verizon iPhone 5 on AT&T simultaneously? We live in a dead spot for Verizon coverage, but we have LTE coverage everywhere else. AT&T tower is a mile away. Could I use AT&T's network on my iPhone 5 when I'm at home, and use Verizon's LTE network everywhere else?
I've NEVER owned or used a cell/mobile phone. So this cell phone usage and service plans is all new to me. I was considering getting an iPhone 5 to use basically for phone service and specifically for emergencies. Since I'm bedridden I can always use my Wi-Fi network here at home to access the internet so a data plan nor LTE is as important to me as for everyone else. So does this mean if I get a Verizon iPhone 5 I could probably use it with Straight Talk whenever they come out with the nano sim cards to allow me to save money on the cost of a service plan?
which is why i found a sucker who was willing to trade my grandfathered unlimited data plan (throttles) for their verizon grandfathered unlimited data plan (doesnt throttle
) so glad to be on verizon now wahooo
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you are correct.
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yes. you can use straight talk on a verizon iphone. if you arent wanting an iphone for data why not just buy a cheap none smartphone?
if its the apps you want. buy an ipad/itouch.
BFizzle:
Well, I will use it for data but I'll always have Wi-Fi from my wireless router plus it will also double as a remote for my tv and cable box when I'm lying down. Can't use both by my shoulder. I work using a mouth stick. I have no use of my hands or arms. The iPhone is the only smartphone with the accessibility feature set (assistive touch) that allows me to fully operate it.
Well, I will use it for data but I'll always have Wi-Fi from my wireless router plus it will also double as a remote for my tv and cable box when I'm lying down. Can't use both by my shoulder. I work using a mouth stick. I have no use of my hands or arms. The iPhone is the only smartphone with the accessibility feature set (assistive touch) that allows me to fully operate it.
i'm very glad to see that this vzw iphone sim unlock has teeth.
but i wonder why verizon would have an incentive to lock the sim slot. is it because they would otherwise want to force you to pay their exoribitant roaming rates when you go overseas?
because... as an original iphone launch customer, the fact that the vzw iphone5 sim slot is unlocked is what's going to make me switch to verizon. now i know i can use my phone overseas with a prepaid sim card. that was the last thing that was keeping me from switching to vzw (my ATT iphones are all out of contract and they are unlocked... so i would not want to lose that)
i think this is going to cause lots more people to switch to verizon, so it just seems like it's in their favor to unlock the sim slot.
but i wonder why verizon would have an incentive to lock the sim slot. is it because they would otherwise want to force you to pay their exoribitant roaming rates when you go overseas?
because... as an original iphone launch customer, the fact that the vzw iphone5 sim slot is unlocked is what's going to make me switch to verizon. now i know i can use my phone overseas with a prepaid sim card. that was the last thing that was keeping me from switching to vzw (my ATT iphones are all out of contract and they are unlocked... so i would not want to lose that)
i think this is going to cause lots more people to switch to verizon, so it just seems like it's in their favor to unlock the sim slot.
It's good to see this confirmed. I wonder why the FCC didn't place the same restrictions on the 700B Band? Weren't both bands freed up from the analog TV transition a few years ago?
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CDMA doesn't use SIM cards, so carriers register phones individually by IMEI and thus can restrict their networks to phones that they sell.
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CDMA doesn't use SIM cards, so carriers register phones individually by IMEI and thus can restrict their networks to phones that they sell.
From everything I've read, the Verizon iPhone 5 comes with a Verizon nano-SIM installed which is what enables access to Verizon's LTE network. If you pop that out and put in an AT&T nano-SIM, the phone will connect to the fastest non-LTE network AT&T has available in your neighborhood. You should then be able to put the Verizon SIM back in when you want to hop back on the Verizon LTE network.
At least that's my understanding of how it works.
The other blocks weren't part of the same auction. The 'C' block was a special auction, and Google (as one of the bidders) convinced the FCC to add special conditions to the use of the block regardless of the winner. Not locking devices was one of those conditions.
IOW, we have Google to thank for this. Unfortunately, since the 'C' block was (IIRC) the most recent block to go up for auction, it's the *only* one that carries these constraints. Hopefully more future blocks will have similar conditions.
And how does T-mobile get a subsidy by this? It is building a network that individual buyers of full price iPhone 5 can use on their network. Incidentally if you see the financial reports, the average price of phone paid by cell phone companies is closer to the minimum memory phone, indicating that Whole sale rate to AT&T and Verizon is less than what T-mobile customers will pay while buying unlocked version of the phone directly from Apple.
1) Could I buy a subsidized Verizon iPhone 5, then just use my existing AT&T SIM without ever starting a VZW contract? Is a contract required to activate the phone?
2) When Sprint unlocks the phone for international GSM use (after 60 days), how can they stop you from using it in the USA with a GSM carrier?
No, you cannot buy a subsidized phone from any carrier without signing a contract. The carriers give you the subsidized price because you're locked into paying for their service for a period of time. You'll be required to pay an early termination fee if you choose to break the contract early.
Don't talk about what you don't know about. Verizon and Sprint LTE devices use the SIM card, even for CDMA. Ever heard of a C-SIM before? Take out the SIM and let me know how well your Verizon iPhone 5 works. It'll be as useful as an iPod touch. However even with SIM cards, you can still only swap the SIM between other Verizon phones as its still good old restrictive CDMA.
Even if the at&t model had a cdma chip, verizon and sprint would never accept it. Looking at the at&t version, it doesn't seem to list the cdma specs.
If you want the phone to work, you have to start a contract on a subsidized phone. Buy the contract free version.
Correct. The SIM will also tell the CDMA portion to "activate" or not. So removing the SIM will also deny you CDMA network access.
I believe that's the case on the Verizon model now. However, SIM cards are not built into the CDMA standard the way they are with the GSM standard. Therefore, phones must be individually registered with a CDMA network. Plug a Verizon U-SIM into a Sprint phone and let me know how well it works. By contrast, the GSM network is registered to the SIM not the IMEI of the phone, so plugging in a SIM into an unlocked GSM phone will work provided it operates on the frequencies supported by the tower.
Verizon's and Sprint's SIM CARD solution isn't all too custom however for CDMA. C-SIMs was used an Asia for many years on CDMA. It was formerly known as a RUIM card.
The only reason why Sprint and Verizon would reject each others cards now is mainly due to carrier greed and databases not allowing the MEID not sold by Verizon on to Verizon
But my main point is that SIM/RUIM cards are not required by the CDMA standard, which gives CDMA carriers a lot greater ability to restrict particular phones from their networks.