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nomad00

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 13, 2006
16
0
Just curious if anyone with a more complete understanding knows if, theoretically at least, we would be able to use an unlocked 3G iPhone on Verizons new 'open' network?
 
Im no expert, but Im pretty sure that it wont work. Probably has something to do with the iPhone being GSM and Verizon being CDMA. But like I said, I dont know the specifics of the open network, so someone correct me if I am wrong.
 
Ok, cool, I wasn't as confused as I thought :)

What i was speculating about is if the expected 3G iPhones could possibly work on Verizon, now that they are promising "Any Apps, Any Device"
 
Ok, cool, I wasn't as confused as I thought :)

What i was speculating about is if the expected 3G iPhones could possibly work on Verizon, now that they are promising "Any Apps, Any Device"

Still has to be compatible to the network. The 3G iPhone will not have EVDO or CDMA which is required to be on VZW's network.

The open part just means they will allow any CDMA phone onto their network if it is certified by VZW that it won't harm the network. Since the iPhone is GSM and will like only stay GSM, it will not work on VZW.
 
Still has to be compatible to the network. The 3G iPhone will not have EVDO or CDMA which is required to be on VZW's network.

The open part just means they will allow any CDMA phone onto their network if it is certified by VZW that it won't harm the network. Since the iPhone is GSM and will like only stay GSM, it will not work on VZW.

Ahh, ok. I did not realize that GSM & CDMA were separate distinctions from '3G'. Thanks for clearing that up!

Oh well.
 
Ahh, ok. I did not realize that GSM & CDMA were separate distinctions from '3G'. Thanks for clearing that up!

Oh well.

Yea, 3G is just a general name for all current gen data...EVDO (CDMA), UMTS (GSM), whatever. 4G (LTE and WiMax) is another which is launching down the road.

Now VZW is going LTE (GSM Upgrade Path) with its 4G data down the road so there is no telling what will happen then, but that is a few years off at this point :)
 
Ahh, ok. I did not realize that GSM & CDMA were separate distinctions from '3G'. Thanks for clearing that up!

GSM and CDMA are communication methods. Like AM and FM radio, one cannot be used on the other.

3G refers to the "third generation" of comms. Although not just about speed, people use them to roughly refer to...

1G = old analog phones. data up to about 19kbps

2G = digital phones from here on. data up to 144kbps

2.5G = a marketing term, used for speeds between 2G and 3G

2.75G = marketing decided 2.5 wasn't cool enough

3G = now generally means 344kbps or more.

4G = 100Mbps or more

Much of this is open to different definitions, though. Especially in marketing.
 
GSM and CDMA are communication methods. Like AM and FM radio, one cannot be used on the other.

3G refers to the "third generation" of comms. Although not just about speed, people use them to roughly refer to...

1G = old analog phones. data up to about 19kbps

2G = digital phones from here on. data up to 144kbps

2.5G = a marketing term, used for speeds between 2G and 3G

2.75G = marketing decided 2.5 wasn't cool enough

3G = now generally means 344kbps or more.

4G = 100Mbps or more

Much of this is open to different definitions, though. Especially in marketing.

Well, the easiest way to describe it would be:

1G: AMPS
2G: GSM CDMA
2.5G: EDGE
3G: UTMS EV-DO
3.5G: HSPA
4G: LTE WiMax/UMB
 
It's more like that:

1G: analogue standards
2G: GSM, CDMA, PDC
2.5G: GPRS (actually 2G but marketing decided packets are more than 2G)
2.75G: EDGE (actually 3G but marketing decided to keep the 3G label for the new UMTS standard)
3G: UMTS, CDMA2000 1xRTT
3.5G: UMTS with HSPA, CDMA EV-DO (actually 3G but marketing decided higher speeds are more than 3G)
3.75G: UMTS with HSPA+ (actually 3G marketing decided even higher speeds are even more than 3.5G)
4G: LTE, UWB, WiMax (in development and subject to change)
 
Once AT&T and Verizon both use LTE in a few years, you might be able to use the iPhone with them.
 
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