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

[milan03]

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.

full price AT&T phone is factory unlocked as well. Same as the unlocked which is just another way of selling it.
And I'm not sure why you're waiting, the unlocked version is not gonna "unlock" european LTE bands lol. It's a different PCB, different set of antennas, PA's Tuners, filters. It'll still work on european 3G networks, you make it sound like something terrible is happening.

Also keep in mind the transceiver in iPhone 5 RTR8600 supports 5 LTE bands and it's impossible to just make one unit that supports ALL the bands including Band 20 and Band 7 used in Europe. Completely different antenna setup is required. Btw AT&T model has four LTE bands according to FCC 2,4,5, and 17. I'm guessing Band 1 (2100Mhz) might be there but it's not used in the U.S. so FCC doesn't test those...

If you want european LTE compatibility, get a Verizon model at full price. It's unlocked AND it supports Bands 1,3,5 used in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

 

[CyBeRino]

Well F me. That's the last time I try to help people by pointing out clarifying facts regarding something a lot of people have misconceptions about.

You are not clarifying anything by giving false information.

The iPhone 5 not working on another carrier's LTE networks is not a result of the iPhone's lockedness. It has to do with antenna tuning and radio power amplifiers. For every supported radio band, it needs an amplifier chain or stuff just won't work: it can't send and receive on a band for which it does not have hardware.

Apple I'm sure would love to add support for all 30-odd LTE bands to their phone. But it'd require the thing have 30 send and receive chains because each band requires its own. It'd also require a bunch more antennae because a 2600MHz antenna just won't work very well for an 800MHz network. That just isn't going to fit in a device that we want to fit in our pockets.



By the way, the LTE chip is identical in all models; it's just the supporting hardware for frequency tuning that differs between A1428 and A1429.

 

[foxnews1]

But not at LTE Speed.

SOME other countries.

Yes.




Accurate

Look like Verizon IP5 costs more to make and has more resale value sine it is more globle, in US and abroad.

 

[apierrec]

I also loathe the CDMA technology (however, iP5 Verizon is pseudo GSM too, lol) but think can live with the fact that I will not be able to use voice & data on iP5 Verizon. I rarely use it and if ever I need to I have the new iPad for data over wi-fi or hotspot.

However, would jailbreaking solve that limitation?

Am gonna go with iP5 Verizon since it's wider global LTE & networks capabilities more important to me plus the fact I can continue using AT&T nano sim on up thru 3.5G capability until my contract expires mid next year. And when am done with iP5, like my other iPhones, am giving it to loved ones who live overseas.

Speed is not my number 1 priority with iP5 and am not obsessed with LTE but with AT&T not having LTE coverage or plans in my area is a dealbreaker for me.

Downside: More expensive or costly
upfront and down the road (am buying the no contract Verizon iP5 and will be simultaneously switching / swapping under contract AT&T and pay as you go Verizon nano sims. Paying it 6 months up thru 1 year with no interest in BB anyway. I will lose unlimited data with AT&T if I decide to drop them once my contract expires (if I like the 3.5G speed, I might stick with them despite the fact I will never experience AT&T LTE on an iP5 Verizon technology).

But the fact that this approach will give me more flexibility and freedom (to hop / shop around and even temporary stop service) by mid next year, it is going to be totally worth it.

PS
Which carrier do you all think is the best when it comes to pay as you go / month to month no
contract plan on an unlock iP5 Verizon? What are their plans or press releases for iP5?

 

[Domino8282]

Can anyone comment on the resale value of the various ip5 models? I'm on AT&T and the global LTE doesn't concern me so much for all the reasons mentioned on this thread (not much LTE rolled out yet globally, still able to use voice and 3/3.5G) but I AM concerned about the resale value of my phone in 1-2 years.

If I get my AT&T phone carrier unlocked, do you think I'm still going to be able to sell it for a decent amount compared with an unlocked Verizon model? My wife and I weren't up for a subsidized upgrade so I paid the early upgrade (+250) price and my wife paid full retail for the AT&T 64GB model. Thanks...

 

[Let's Sekuhara!]

You are not clarifying anything by giving false information.
The iPhone 5 not working on another carrier's LTE networks is not a result of the iPhone's lockedness.

What info did I give that was false? I never claimed that the band limitation was a result of the phone being locked to a specific carrier. What I wanted to point out is that this is not a "world phone" in the sense that the 4S was.

When I used the term "unlocked" I meant in the sense that you can currently buy an "unlocked" 4S free-of-contract and it works to its full potential on both GSM and CDMA - in any country.

The 5 is not so equal-opportunity. When you buy a 5 you need to know which countries you plan to use it in, and switch your carrier accordingly if you want LTE speeds. I feel that if I am going to buy one of these devices I want it to do everything it's supposed to, including LTE. And I want it to do it wherever I happen to be. I don't think that is an unreasonable request.

I am on AT&T in the US, but need an iPhone that will also work on Softbank. Since I can't seem to get that with the 5, I will need to switch to Verizon to buy the phone (then unlock after 60 days and cancel contract) unless a true contract-free "world phone" version is released. And that's why this whole issue is a big deal to me.

But apparently nobody else cares. So fine, I will leave the issue alone.
Still not buying one until a universal usable-anywhere contract-free version comes out.

 

[CyBeRino]

What info did I give that was false? I never claimed that the band limitation was a result of the phone being locked to a specific carrier. What I wanted to point out is that this is not a "world phone" in the sense that the 4S was.

Well, to start with you're doing it again here:

When I used the term "unlocked" I meant in the sense that you can currently buy an "unlocked" 4S free-of-contract and it works to its full potential on both GSM and CDMA - in any country.

No, it won't. CDMA 4Ses are only sold by Verizon and Sprint (or by Apple for VZW and S). You can't use them anywhere else in the world as CDMA phones, and they're locked by default (though these two carriers will unlock them for international use if your account is in good standing).

The 4S as sold anywhere else does not talk CDMA; you can't buy a 4S in Europe or from AT&T and use it on Verizon later.

feel that if I am going to buy one of these devices I want it to do everything it's supposed to, including LTE. And I want it to do it wherever I happen to be. I don't think that is an unreasonable request.

It is technically impossible for a single device to "do everything". Talk to your governmental representation about LTE bands.

I am on AT&T in the US, but need an iPhone that will also work on Softbank. Since I can't seem to get that with the 5, I will need to switch to Verizon to buy the phone (then unlock after 60 days and cancel contract) unless a true contract-free "world phone" version is released. And that's why this whole issue is a big deal to me.

You can't do that.

Well, you can, but then you won't get LTE on AT&T if you switch back. So either get the AT&T model and no LTE on Softbank, or get the VZW model and get no LTE on AT&T. Or get the VZW model, stay with VZW and get LTE on both.

But apparently nobody else cares. So fine, I will leave the issue alone.
Still not buying one until a universal usable-anywhere contract-free version comes out.

You're going to be waiting for the iPhone 16.