This is probably going to be convoluted, so please bear with me. You'll deserve a medal for getting through it. 
I've been waiting a long time to upgrade my 4S but am unsure what to do now that we're a week away from the 6s being released. However, I'm willing to wait a while longer to get the phone I need because I plan to use it for 4 years as I have the 4S.
My carrier is a prepaid Verizon MVNO -- Selectel. Consequently, the phone has to be whitelisted by Verizon. It stands to reason that I need a Verizon 6s.
But as you know, the same model no., A1688, is for Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, and the other model, A1633, is for AT&T. And, as you know, the only difference between the two models is Band 30 on the AT&T A1633. Otherwise, all have the necessary frequencies and bands to function on all four towers.
I have reserved a Verizon 6s for the 25th at our local Apple Store, but the question remains whether that particular store will let me purchase it outright without a Verizon account.
I could pre-order a full-price T-Mobile 6s, which is still scheduled to be delivered on the 25th, as of a couple of minutes ago.
1. Thinking about the A1688 phones, is there anything that would set the Verizon 6s apart from the Sprint and T-Mobile 6s so that only the Verizon phones would be whitelisted for Verizon MVNO's, such as a range of IMEIs? If not, then any A1688 would work.
2. Would you recommend holding out for an unlocked AT&T A1633 so that I could have even greater flexibility down the road should I find it better to go with a GSM MVNO? Would Band 30 really be that positive a feature to wait for the AT&T A1633? I'm rarely in an urban area, which seems to be the reason for Band 30, but you never know.
3. Would it be best to wait a few weeks to see how all this settles out?
4. There is to be a SIM-free offering in the future, but that was after the new year with the iPhone 6. Is it worth waiting on that model? Is there anything to be gained?
Any advice is appreciated.
I've been waiting a long time to upgrade my 4S but am unsure what to do now that we're a week away from the 6s being released. However, I'm willing to wait a while longer to get the phone I need because I plan to use it for 4 years as I have the 4S.
My carrier is a prepaid Verizon MVNO -- Selectel. Consequently, the phone has to be whitelisted by Verizon. It stands to reason that I need a Verizon 6s.
But as you know, the same model no., A1688, is for Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, and the other model, A1633, is for AT&T. And, as you know, the only difference between the two models is Band 30 on the AT&T A1633. Otherwise, all have the necessary frequencies and bands to function on all four towers.
I have reserved a Verizon 6s for the 25th at our local Apple Store, but the question remains whether that particular store will let me purchase it outright without a Verizon account.
I could pre-order a full-price T-Mobile 6s, which is still scheduled to be delivered on the 25th, as of a couple of minutes ago.
1. Thinking about the A1688 phones, is there anything that would set the Verizon 6s apart from the Sprint and T-Mobile 6s so that only the Verizon phones would be whitelisted for Verizon MVNO's, such as a range of IMEIs? If not, then any A1688 would work.
2. Would you recommend holding out for an unlocked AT&T A1633 so that I could have even greater flexibility down the road should I find it better to go with a GSM MVNO? Would Band 30 really be that positive a feature to wait for the AT&T A1633? I'm rarely in an urban area, which seems to be the reason for Band 30, but you never know.
3. Would it be best to wait a few weeks to see how all this settles out?
4. There is to be a SIM-free offering in the future, but that was after the new year with the iPhone 6. Is it worth waiting on that model? Is there anything to be gained?
Any advice is appreciated.