I *hate* the carrier setup in the US! I want a truly unlocked iPhone! /rant

[aforty]

I'm so sick of this!

I'm sick of carrier contracts and I'm even more sick of not being able to buy a phone that I can't take from one carrier to another (and overseas)!

I thought LTE would finally solve this for us. I thought with LTE it would support every carrier and I could finally get an unlocked one, shop around and switch on a whim. Nope! Now I have to choose between a model that will work with Verizon or Sprints LTE or one that works with AT&T. No word on whether the unlocked one for AT&T will work overseas and I presume the one for Verizon/Sprint will NOT work overseas with GSM providers. What about T-Mobile? No idea.

**** these carriers! Why doesn't the FTC step in and regulate these guys to all work in an interoperable way? Every other country in the worlds seems to be able to do this, why can't this country get it together?

/rant


Anyone have any advice or articles with good technical explanation on why this is so, frequency specs, etc?

 

[AttilaTheHun]

I'm so sick of this!

I'm sick of carrier contracts and I'm even more sick of not being able to buy a phone that I can't take from one carrier to another (and overseas)!

I thought LTE would finally solve this for us. I thought with LTE it would support every carrier and I could finally get an unlocked one, shop around and switch on a whim. Nope! Now I have to choose between a model that will work with Verizon or Sprints LTE or one that works with AT&T. No word on whether the unlocked one for AT&T will work overseas and I presume the one for Verizon/Sprint will NOT work overseas with GSM providers. What about T-Mobile? No idea.

**** these carriers! Why doesn't the FTC step in and regulate these guys to all work in an interoperable way? Every other country in the worlds seems to be able to do this, why can't this country get it together?

/rant


Anyone have any advice or articles with good technical explanation on why this is so, frequency specs, etc?

The good new is that I really can't use LTE
in connecticut NO LTE (ATT)
over sea the ATT LTE don't work so why to be upset?

 

[OllyW]

No word on whether the unlocked one for AT&T will work overseas and I presume the one for Verizon/Sprint will NOT work overseas with GSM providers.

You're out of luck. There are three different models and the AT&T model only works with LTE in the USA & Canada...

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

 

[farawaybrothers]

Wait can't you just buy an unlocked iPhone? That's what I did, I used it in two different countries with two different carriers.

 

[OllyW]

Wait can't you just buy an unlocked iPhone? That's what I did, I used it in two different countries with two different carriers.

You can but LTE won't work in all countries. See the link in my post above.

 

[aforty]

Yeah the LTE is annoying. Even if the LTE doesn't work overseas I'd be ok with that, as long as I can get basic 3G/HSPA+. But my major sticking point are these different bands for LTE. Why can't I buy one phone that works on ALL carriers in the US?


http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html
Looking at that, can anyone tell me if the GSM model A1428 works in Europe with 3G/HSPA+?

 

[vbtwo31984]

Wait can't you just buy an unlocked iPhone? That's what I did, I used it in two different countries with two different carriers.

You can, but you have to choose between a version that works with AT&T LTE and a version that works with Verizon/Sprint LTE. There is no version that works on all carriers with LTE.

It looks like the Verizon/Sprint version would be better for worldwide use though. It supports all the GSM frequencies that the AT&T one does, it supports CDMA, and it supports LTE bands 1, 3, 5 that are in use in Europe. The only thing that it doesn't support is AT&T LTE (or LTE in Canada that runs on same frequencies as AT&T).

 

[farawaybrothers]

You can but LTE won't work in all countries. See the link in my post above.

Yeah I thought of that right after I posted that reply. I agree it definitely sucks.

 

[aforty]

You can, but you have to choose between a version that works with AT&T LTE and a version that works with Verizon/Sprint LTE. There is no version that works on all carriers with LTE.

It looks like the Verizon/Sprint version would be better for worldwide use though. It supports all the GSM frequencies that the AT&T one does, it supports CDMA, and it supports LTE bands 1, 3, 5 that are in use in Europe. The only thing that it doesn't support is AT&T LTE (or LTE in Canada that runs on same frequencies as AT&T).

Interesting. Do you know of a list of countries/carriers by LTE band/frequency/type?

 

[farawaybrothers]

I'm glad I bought a 4S and don't have to deal with this LTE nonsense, I want my iPhone to be mine, not on a contract for a few years.

 

[thewitt]

I'm so sick of this!

I'm sick of carrier contracts and I'm even more sick of not being able to buy a phone that I can't take from one carrier to another (and overseas)!

Buy a full price phone with no carrier subsidy and use it anywhere you wish. That's what I do, and it works great.

 

[aforty]

Buy a full price phone with no carrier subsidy and use it anywhere you wish. That's what I do, and it works great.

Duh, why didn't I think of that?

That's exactly what I want to do. I'm ranting about the fact that it won't work with LTE around the world, or even with all carriers in this country.

 

[duction]

I'm glad I bought a 4S and don't have to deal with this LTE nonsense, I want my iPhone to be mine, not on a contract for a few years.

im the same,

 

[SavMBP15]

The iPhone 5 GSM phone will work on ANY GSM network if the phone is unlocked.

 

[0970373]

The iPhone 5 GSM phone will work on ANY GSM network if the phone is unlocked.

We have a similar thread going on over here.

But I think you've answered the question that's most important to me. I understand (now) that no phone will have LTE on a global scale but I really just need to be sure the AT&T iP5 will work on any other GSM carrier w/ HSPA+/3G if I just pop a nano-sim in there from a local provider, given it's available in said country. Yes, I have every intention of purchasing the iP5 factory unlocked as soon as it's available.

Thank you!!!

 

[KPOM]

We have a similar thread going on over here.

But I think you've answered the question that's most important to me. I understand (now) that no phone will have LTE on a global scale but I really just need to be sure the AT&T iP5 will work on any other GSM carrier w/ HSPA+/3G if I just pop a nano-sim in there from a local provider, given it's available in said country. Yes, I have every intention of purchasing the iP5 factory unlocked as soon as it's available.

Thank you!!!

Supposedly Amazon designed its own chip for the Kindle Fire HD that addresses all LTE bands. Apple likely can't do that since it has to buy the chips from Qualcomm (I'm guessing Samsung is in no hurry to license its standards essential patents to Apple to build their own LTE chips). Also, Amazon has the luxury of a larger device so it probably doesn't care how big the chip is or how much power it draws.

LTE is nice, but unfortunately, carriers the world over have scattered the frequencies all over the spectrum because there isn't much free radio space left.

For us in the US, we need to choose between AT&T (which also works in Canada), and Verizon/Sprint (which also works with European LTE networks). Unfortunately, putting all the LTE bands along with all the 2G and 3GB bands just isn't feasible right now. It could be why Apple is delaying formally announcing the unlocked iPhone 5 in the US (though T-Mobile is scheduled to begin rolling out LTE on the same bands as AT&T in 2013).

 

[Rigby]

No word on whether the unlocked one for AT&T will work overseas

It will, just not with LTE. The problem is that the available spectrum within the usable frequency ranges has historically been used for different purposes in different countries, so there was no single band that was available everywhere when the LTE bands where allocated. You can't really fault the carriers for that. It makes things a lot more complicated and expensive for them too.

 

[0970373]

For us in the US, we need to choose between AT&T (which also works in Canada), and Verizon/Sprint (which also works with European LTE networks). Unfortunately, putting all the LTE bands along with all the 2G and 3GB bands just isn't feasible right now. It could be why Apple is delaying formally announcing the unlocked iPhone 5 in the US (though T-Mobile is scheduled to begin rolling out LTE on the same bands as AT&T in 2013).

I have no problem waiting until the unlocked version is out. I waited a few months for the unlocked 4S version to come out. Again, I just want to make sure it'll be compatible w/ HSPA+/3G speeds at least. I have an AT&T unlimited data plan and don't want to have to give that up here in the US.

 

[aforty]

I have no problem waiting until the unlocked version is out. I waited a few months for the unlocked 4S version to come out. Again, I just want to make sure it'll be compatible w/ HSPA+/3G speeds at least. I have an AT&T unlimited data plan and don't want to have to give that up here in the US.

Wait, so the unlocked U.S. GSM won't even be available for a few months? Geez..

 

[Mr Hill]

With an unlocked iPhone in the US you are pretty much limited to AT&T and T-Mobile and their MVNOs.

Sprint and Verizon aren't letting go of their CDMA crap anytime soon.

 

[xraydoc]

Any of the US models will work on GSM/HPDA worldwide. LTE is a different story - LTE is a mess, not just in the US but everywhere. Multiple different frequency bands used by different carriers (even carriers in the same country). And due to other factors, it's not even guaranteed that a US LTE phone that supports, say, band 5 will work in Europe or elsewhere on their band 5.

And there is no single phone from any manufacturer that supports all possible LTE configurations. At present, there are too many different frequencies and configurations.

Bottom line is that while GSM/HPDA is a "worldwide" standard, LTE is not. Do not expect LTE to work anywhere but your home carrier.

Do be aware that a US Verizon phone will support 3G GSM worldwide (and if you're in good standing at Verizon, they WILL unlock your SIM slot for foreign - but not domestic - GSM carriers). I can use any overseas GSM carrier on my (now retired) Verizon iPhone 4S. One call to Verizon worldwide support and they unlocked my phone. Does NOT work on AT&T or T-Mobile but will work on Canadian or overseas SIMs.

----------

With an unlocked iPhone in the US you are pretty much limited to AT&T and T-Mobile and their MVNOs.

Sprint and Verizon aren't letting go of their CDMA crap anytime soon.

CDMA is fine for voice. Data is carried by LTE. No reason to change at this point. And Verizon (and presumably Sprint) will eventually go to VoLTE).

 

[aforty]

Any of the US models will work on GSM/HPDA worldwide. LTE is a different story - LTE is a mess, not just in the US but everywhere. Multiple different frequency bands used by different carriers (even carriers in the same country). And due to other factors, it's not even guaranteed that a US LTE phone that supports, say, band 5 will work in Europe or elsewhere on their band 5.

And there is no single phone from any manufacturer that supports all possible LTE configurations. At present, there are too many different frequencies and configurations.

Bottom line is that while GSM/HPDA is a "worldwide" standard, LTE is not. Do not expect LTE to work anywhere but your home carrier.

Do be aware that a US Verizon phone will support 3G GSM worldwide (and if you're in good standing at Verizon, they WILL unlock your SIM slot for foreign - but not domestic - GSM carriers). I can use any overseas GSM carrier on my (now retired) Verizon iPhone 4S. One call to Verizon worldwide support and they unlocked my phone. Does NOT work on AT&T or T-Mobile but will work on Canadian or overseas SIMs.

----------



CDMA is fine for voice. Data is carried by LTE. No reason to change at this point. And Verizon (and presumably Sprint) will eventually go to VoLTE).

Good info all around, thanks for the insight. I'm leaning towards AT&T/T-Mo for the US (I have a friend who works at T-Mo who cna get me on his employee plan) and then if it works in Europe over 3G that would probably be enough for me.

 

[terraphantm]

I'm so sick of this!

I'm sick of carrier contracts and I'm even more sick of not being able to buy a phone that I can't take from one carrier to another (and overseas)!

I thought LTE would finally solve this for us. I thought with LTE it would support every carrier and I could finally get an unlocked one, shop around and switch on a whim. Nope! Now I have to choose between a model that will work with Verizon or Sprints LTE or one that works with AT&T. No word on whether the unlocked one for AT&T will work overseas and I presume the one for Verizon/Sprint will NOT work overseas with GSM providers. What about T-Mobile? No idea.

**** these carriers! Why doesn't the FTC step in and regulate these guys to all work in an interoperable way? Every other country in the worlds seems to be able to do this, why can't this country get it together?

/rant


Anyone have any advice or articles with good technical explanation on why this is so, frequency specs, etc?

Both the AT&T and Verizon versions will be able to use overseas carriers if they're unlocked. They both support UMTS and GSM bands for all the major carriers.

Based on the bands on the device, the Verizon version may also work with international LTE carriers, but the AT&T version won't. The Verizon version has all the same bands as the international version in addition to the Verizon specific bands. I'm really hoping Apple sells this version as a factory unlocked model

 

[stuffradio]

I'm so sick of this!

I'm sick of carrier contracts and I'm even more sick of not being able to buy a phone that I can't take from one carrier to another (and overseas)!

I thought LTE would finally solve this for us. I thought with LTE it would support every carrier and I could finally get an unlocked one, shop around and switch on a whim. Nope! Now I have to choose between a model that will work with Verizon or Sprints LTE or one that works with AT&T. No word on whether the unlocked one for AT&T will work overseas and I presume the one for Verizon/Sprint will NOT work overseas with GSM providers. What about T-Mobile? No idea.

**** these carriers! Why doesn't the FTC step in and regulate these guys to all work in an interoperable way? Every other country in the worlds seems to be able to do this, why can't this country get it together?

/rant


Anyone have any advice or articles with good technical explanation on why this is so, frequency specs, etc?

At least your contracts are decent. Us Canadians have to put up with 3 year contracts.

 

[KPOM]

I have no problem waiting until the unlocked version is out. I waited a few months for the unlocked 4S version to come out. Again, I just want to make sure it'll be compatible w/ HSPA+/3G speeds at least. I have an AT&T unlimited data plan and don't want to have to give that up here in the US.

It will support HSPA+ overseas.