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A step backward: iPhone 5 is not a "world phone"

Let's Sekuhara!

Let's Sekuhara!

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 30, 2008
357
1
日本
This is a big deal for AT&T customers (the majority of iPhone users) who have ordered an iPhone 5 or will be waiting in line for one tomorrow.

If you buy an AT&T iPhone 5 it's not going to support LTE on any carriers outside of North America!

Don't believe me? See this:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

I hope you don't plan on traveling much.

Just one more reason I am fed up with carrier lock-in and am content with waiting for the unlocked version.
 
Last edited:
Did you look at the Apple website before you bought it?
I did.
It was pretty clear that it wasn't going to be a "Universal" phone.
Don't get me wrong- I can't stand AT&T (or any of the US carriers for that matter), but this was an Apple decision through and through.
 
It will mean that resale to potential buyers will not be as favorable should they want to take it out of the country.
 
The same with a Verizon or Sprint iPhone, in fact it won't connect to networks in most countries. At least your AT&T one will.
 
The Verizon ans Sprint versions will not work at all. The AT&T will work perfectly on everything but the LTE speeds over there. So basically the same speeds as a 4S
 
Considering the ridiculous amount of international fees you will be charged, LTE or not, you're better off not using your AT&T iPhone outside of the states.
 
Mliii said:
Did you look at the Apple website before you bought it?
Click to expand...
Haven't bought it. As stated above, won't be buying it until the unlocked one is available.

Mliii said:
It was pretty clear that it wasn't going to be a "Universal" phone.
Click to expand...
Not trying to point out the obvious. Just thought it might not be obvious to a large percentage of customers. And I'm surprised more people aren't talking about it.

Mliii said:
This was an Apple decision through and through.
Click to expand...
Seems like a bad one if you ask me.
 
Let's Sekuhara! said:
This is a big deal for AT&T customers (the majority of iPhone users) who have ordered an iPhone 5 or will be waiting in line for one tomorrow.

If you buy an AT&T iPhone 5 it's not going to support LTE on any carriers outside of North America!

Don't believe me? See this:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

I hope you don't plan on traveling much.

Just one more reason I am fed up with carrier lock-in and am content with waiting for the unlocked version.
Click to expand...

How will the unlocked version help you? This doesn't seem to be a problem with the phone being locked to a specific carrier, it's that there are different models with different chips inside.

If you want a phone that will work in Europe, you need a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 5...however that phone will not work in Canada on LTE.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/09/want-global-lte-roaming-on-iphone-5-dont-buy-it-from-att/
 
chembox said:
Considering the ridiculous amount of international fees you will be charged, LTE or not, you're better off not using your AT&T iPhone outside of the states.
Click to expand...

Agreed. AT&T international rates are a ripoff.

The difference is that my iPhone 4 has all of the same functionality it did when I was locked into an AT&T contract... but now that my contract is up and AT&T has unlocked it for me I can take it wherever I want, swap the micro SIM, and use it as it was meant to be used.
 
ct2k7 said:
The same with a Verizon or Sprint iPhone, in fact it won't connect to networks in most countries. At least your AT&T one will.
Click to expand...

Wrong.

CDMA model A1429*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)

source: http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html under cellular and Wireless.
 
chembox said:
Considering the ridiculous amount of international fees you will be charged, LTE or not, you're better off not using your AT&T iPhone outside of the states.
Click to expand...

Except for texting. Last time I was traveling internationally, the AT&T rates for international texting were not all that bad, considering. $50 for sending 500 text messages, which is honestly a bit high, but all incoming texts were just taken out of my USA AT&T text plan, so it worked out.

For data, though, I would definitely recommend renting a 3G or 4G hotspot from a provider in whatever country you're visiting.

EDIT: And then use Skype for any actual voice calls you need to make, through your rented 3G/4G hotspot. Way cheaper than any alternative, whether roaming or through a rented SIM.
 
Last edited:
HXGuy said:
How will the unlocked version help you? This doesn't seem to be a problem with the phone being locked to a specific carrier, it's that there are different models with different chips inside.
Click to expand...

Because shouldn't the unlocked version (when it is released) support ALL bands?
It would be ridiculous for it not to.
 
At&t uses very odd bands for LTE that are not compatible with Asian and European Carriers.

The LTE standard itself is a mess there are 36 different band that are part of the spec and will be used around the world.

Best bet to get a iPhone that will be able to roam internationally on LTE is to get the CDMA or the international GSM version.
 
Because I totally want my super expensive data to be SUPERFAST while traveling overseas.
 
There's a lot if confusion in this thread.....

You need to think about both LTE bands and CDMA vs GSM

The sprint/Verizon phones may offer LTE bands that are more common in Europe, but we don't use CDMA.

So you need a GSM phone with the right LTE bands to operate in Europe, and such a phone isn't available in the US.

If you do intend to roam, the AT&T model will work up to 3G speeds. The sprint/Verizon one will be useless.
 
ct2k7 said:
I will check, but with my experience, Verizon phones generally don't work elsewhere, regardless of chip capabilities.
Click to expand...

No need to check you are incorrect. I use my verizon iPhone 4s all over Europe. The CDMA model iphone 5 has already been recommend for international travel once again AT&T fanboi's spread lies.
 
KrisLord said:
So you need a GSM phone with the right LTE bands to operate in Europe, and such a phone isn't available in the US.
Click to expand...

Right!
And that's why I reached the conclusion that an unlocked iPhone 5 continues to have value (both resale value and practical value), whereas an AT&T iPhone 5 is only valuable to someone who is committed to living in the US or Canada for the duration of their ownership of the phone.
 
Let's Sekuhara! said:
This is a big deal for AT&T customers (the majority of iPhone users) who have ordered an iPhone 5 or will be waiting in line for one tomorrow.

If you buy an AT&T iPhone 5 it's not going to support LTE on any carriers outside of North America!

Don't believe me? See this:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

I hope you don't plan on traveling much.

Just one more reason I am fed up with carrier lock-in and am content with waiting for the unlocked version.
Click to expand...

If you can afford to pay international data roaming, you may as well buy an iPhone for every country you visit...
 
KrisLord said:
There's a lot if confusion in this thread.....

You need to think about both LTE bands and CDMA vs GSM

The sprint/Verizon phones may offer LTE bands that are more common in Europe, but we don't use CDMA.

So you need a GSM phone with the right LTE bands to operate in Europe, and such a phone isn't available in the US.

If you do intend to roam, the AT&T model will work up to 3G speeds. The sprint/Verizon one will be useless.
Click to expand...

Agreed. In fact, everyone here blaming this on a poor Apple decision is also wrong. It's not Apple's decision to exclude anybody. The reason for this mess is the Carrier's inability to agree on one LTE standard that is worldwide. Here in Sweden, LTE has been out for years now but it is an older variant that isn't supported on any of the bands used elsewhere. Telia, the largest carrier in Sweden, is planning to convert to the newer 1800 band next year but until then, we will be forced to use HSPA+.
 
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