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?
Bottom line: AT&T still sucks.
I think you will need SIM card to access Verizon's LTE
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?
Does this mean you can buy the iphone 5 at 199$ with a two year contract but use a different carier (example in the middle east; GSM network) ?
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.
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?
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?
Hmm...why didn't the FCC force the other carriers to do the same thing when they purchased their LTE spectra? Is there something special about this 700Mhz band that Verizon acquired? Don't get me wrong, I think this pro-consumer regulation (for a change!) is downright fabulous--but ALL carriers should be forced to do the same thing.
And also--does that mean that all the other LTE handsets with GSM capabilities are also unlocked by Verizon? Or is the iPhone the only LTE smartphone that includes GSM radios in addition to the CDMA+LTE bands in the case of Verizon?
According Apple's tech specs, all iPhone 5's will support the 1900 MHz band that T-Mobile is rolling out. It seems like this unlocked Verizon iPhone will end up with Verizon or Apple subsidizing T-Mobile users.
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?
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?
----------
CDMA doesn't use SIM cards, so carriers register phones individually by IMEI and thus can restrict their networks to phones that they sell.
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.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?
If you want the phone to work, you have to start a contract on a subsidized phone. Buy the contract free version.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?
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.
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.
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