Apple Details iPhone 5 LTE Carrier Compatibility

[Mr Fusion]

So that Apple saves their money on parts. Filters, PA's etc... That's pretty much the only version available for users outside of North America.

Could be a lot of reasons (including variations in the hardware antennas), but the fact is that using those bands requires different power amplifiers. It may be the case that the PA part is more expensive for the CDMA model because of how much it supports. Sprint and Verizon don't use the same bands so that complicates the CDMA model.

Good points.

One last question. Is it possible the iPhone 5 LTE radio works with more carriers networks than currently advertised? For example, du (carrier in Dubai UAE) switched on an 1800MHz LTE network a few months ago, but initial reports are saying it won't be compatible with iPhone's LTE chip. Why would that be?

 

[yeah]

I would like to know too. Im going to ask ATT today if no one knows. Do we need to pay extra to get unlimited LTE?

http://www.cultofmac.com/190294/you...d-data-plan-when-you-upgrade-to-the-iphone-5/

 

[chrmjenkins]

Good points.

One last question. Is it possible the iPhone 5 LTE radio works with more carriers networks than currently advertised? For example, du (carrier in Dubai UAE) switched on an 1800MHz LTE network a few months ago, but initial reports are saying it won't be compatible with iPhone's LTE chip. Why would that be?

If they're using the same standard, I honestly don't know. I would question their reasoning.

And yes, as more carriers turn on LTE in those bands, the iphone should be able to roam on them.

 

[milan03]

Good points.

One last question. Is it possible the iPhone 5 LTE radio works with more carriers networks than currently advertised? For example, du (carrier in Dubai UAE) switched on an 1800MHz LTE network a few months ago, but initial reports are saying it won't be compatible with iPhone's LTE chip. Why would that be?

Absolutely, as long as the band 3 is used, which it should be. Same as with T-Mobile USA that uses the same Band 4 found on AT&T's iPhone 5. You may need to get your hands on one of the nano-SIM cards that are also properly provisioned for LTE.

 

[Mr Fusion]

If they're using the same standard, I honestly don't know. I would question their reasoning.

And yes, as more carriers turn on LTE in those bands, the iphone should be able to roam on them.

Absolutely, as long as the band 3 is used, which it should be. Same as with T-Mobile USA that uses the same Band 4 found on AT&T's iPhone 5. You may need to get your hands on one of the nano-SIM cards that are also properly provisioned for LTE.

Sweet! Thanks for the info!

 

[TEG]

Wrong. CDMA LTE Still requires a SIM Card

CDMA is the 2G/3G System, no SIM required. LTE is 4G, and always requires a SIM.

The clarification about not needing a SIM for CDMA was in relation to CDMA the 2G/3G system.

TEG

 

[dontwalkhand]

CDMA is the 2G/3G System, no SIM required. LTE is 4G, and always requires a SIM.

The clarification about not needing a SIM for CDMA was in relation to CDMA the 2G/3G system.

TEG

Yes but on Verizon's system, not having the SIM installed will not even allow you to use 2G/3G CDMA on an LTE device.

CDMA on VZW'S LTE System activates with the CSIM application on the SIM card (formerly known as an R-UIM card, used on Asian CDMA networks to allow for GSM like operation).

VZW'S & Sprint iPhones will require the SIM Card just like the AT&T one.


Also- No more *228!

 

[TEG]

Yes but on Verizon's system, not having the SIM installed will not even allow you to use 2G/3G CDMA on an LTE device.

CDMA on VZW'S LTE System activates with the CSIM application on the SIM card (formerly known as an R-UIM card, used on Asian CDMA networks to allow for GSM like operation).

VZW'S & Sprint iPhones will require the SIM Card just like the AT&T one.


Also- No more *228!

This is true, but I was under the impression the question was about the differences in general instead of iPhone specific.

TEG

 

[minchman]

Absolutely, as long as the band 3 is used, which it should be. Same as with T-Mobile USA that uses the same Band 4 found on AT&T's iPhone 5. You may need to get your hands on one of the nano-SIM cards that are also properly provisioned for LTE.

Hello Milan,

I'd like to get your opinion on which one *YOU'D* buy. Thanks!

 

[milan03]

Hello Milan,

I'd like to get your opinion on which one *YOU'D* buy. Thanks!

Both since I have two lines lol. AT&T because I have unlimited data, and Verizon because it covers my roaming habits

If you're looking for a single device and live in the US, go for Verizon as it'll offer unmatched LTE coverage(371 markets, 400 by year's end), nationwide 20Mhz of 700Mhz, and much more reliable voice, and it comes in handy with roaming.
Also Verizon is expected to overlay their entire network with LTE by mid 2013, and with their track record, they'll most likely exceed that deadline (that originally used to be end of 2013). At that point, they'll start deploying LTE-Advanced and VoLTE, and slowly sunset their CDMA network, and refarm/repurpose 2G/3G spectrum for additional LTE carriers.

 

[khalnayk]

Global GSM on VZN LTE?

Would the Global GSM version work on Verizon's LTE? I would assume there wouldnt be a fall back if there is no LTE avail on VZN-which would be fine since that would be taken care of in early 2013.

My dilemma: Currently contracted on 2 networks: VZN and GSM (in Asia) since I commute between the 2 places. My Asian contract is is coming up, so prefer to renew it and get a good discount on the new device.

 

[dhess]

Great info in this thread, especially for US residents who travel internationally. Thanks to everyone who's contributing the technical info! At this point, it's much more helpful than what Apple has made available.

 

[macUser2007]

...
If you're looking for a single device and live in the US, go for Verizon as it'll offer unmatched LTE coverage(371 markets, 400 by year's end), nationwide 20Mhz of 700Mhz, and much more reliable voice, and it comes in handy with roaming. ...

Bleh, I hated Verizon's customer service and despite of their claims, they are NOT any better than AT&T or T-Mobile in terms of voice coverage, at least in West LA. Their data speeds also seem a little less, in casual comparisons.

Oh, and Verizon is about as overpriced as you can get....

But what I am trying to understand is, what is the benefit of getting a CDMA iPhone? How is it different from the unlocked GSM version you can get from the Apple Store?

In other words, does this mean that if I buy the unlocked, CDMA version from the Apple Store, then the benefit would be that I will also have a choice of CDMA when choosing a carrier, in addition to GSM, while the reverse is not true?

If so, does it mean that I can order an unlocked CDMA version and simply plug in a T-Mobile or Virgin SIM in it and use it as the GSM version or CDMA version, within the US?

 

[milan03]

Would the Global GSM version work on Verizon's LTE? I would assume there wouldnt be a fall back if there is no LTE avail on VZN-which would be fine since that would be taken care of in early 2013.

My dilemma: Currently contracted on 2 networks: VZN and GSM (in Asia) since I commute between the 2 places. My Asian contract is is coming up, so prefer to renew it and get a good discount on the new device.

You won't be able to use Global GSM model on Verizon's LTE since it only support Global bands. On the contrary, if you go for CDMA model, it'll support ALL of those Global bands in addition to Verizon and Sprint LTE networks in the US.

----------

Bleh, I hated Verizon's customer service and despite of their claims, they are NOT any better than AT&T or T-Mobile in terms of voice coverage, at least in West LA. Their data speeds also seem a little less, in casual comparisons.

Oh, and Verizon is about as overpriced as you can get....

But what I am trying to understand is, what is the benefit of getting a CDMA iPhone? How is it different from the unlocked GSM version you can get from the Apple Store?

In other words, does this mean that if I buy the unlocked, CDMA version from the Apple Store, then the benefit would be that I will also have a choice of CDMA when choosing a carrier, in addition to GSM, while the reverse is not true?

If so, does it mean that I can order an unlocked CDMA version and simply plug in a T-Mobile or Virgin SIM in it and use it as the GSM version or CDMA version, within the US?

I assume West LA you mean Los Angeles? If that's the case, AT&T only has 10Mhz of their Band 17 LTE spectrum which will have speeds up to 37mbps in that area. That means once your neoghbours start buying them iPhone 5's and start populating that AT&T limited spectrum, you're about to hate life lol
On the other hand, Verizon has deployed 20Mhz of LTE in LA with speeds up to 73mbps which is gonna take that hit much nicer. Not sure about your area, but here in NYC I can hardly ever complete a call on AT&T, and use my Verizon line whenever I'm making any important call.

It's too early to answer your last question though. Verizon iPhone 5 will cover all the GSM/HSPA frequencies for AT&T's network, as well as GSM/EDGE on T-Mobile and in some areas their HSPA on 1900Mhz they're in process of refarming. If we look at the iPhone 4S, then Verizon will most likely lock down domestic GSM providers from their phone, but if we're looking at the iPad 3, either Verizon or AT&T model played nice with all of our US carriers. Verizon iPad actually accepted AT&T's SIM for HSPA+ access!
We'll see.

 

[macUser2007]

....If we look at the iPhone 4S, then Verizon will most likely lock down domestic GSM providers from their phone, but if we're looking at the iPad 3, either Verizon or AT&T model played nice with all of our US carriers. Verizon iPad actually accepted AT&T's SIM for HSPA+ access!
We'll see.

Thanks for the explanation, Milan! It clears up things and I get it now.

But I think I'll try to stick with T-Mobile (and will look at Virgin, also).

 

[whistler222]

I'm so confused.. sorry for not being techie enough..

If i buy an ATT Iphone 5.
Will I get LTE data or 3G data when I go to Japan/Singapore/etc..

What about if i buy a Verizon Iphone 5 and sign up with Verizon at home (Seattle)

If neither works.. can i buy an international version? and still get LTE at home (in seattle) with any of the networks?

 

[milan03]

I'm so confused.. sorry for not being techie enough..

If i buy an ATT Iphone 5.
Will I get LTE data or 3G data when I go to Japan/Singapore/etc..

What about if i buy a Verizon Iphone 5 and sign up with Verizon at home (Seattle)

If neither works.. can i buy an international version? and still get LTE at home (in seattle) with any of the networks?

Only Verizon iPhone will work on US (Verizon) LTE network and in Japan/Singapore LTE networks. AT&T will not.

 

[schaffinosx]

I'm very fortunate to have an upgrade in October. Cannot wait for LTE. I've been listening to my girlfriend and her brother brag about having LTE for too long... Time for me to join the party.

 

[whistler222]

Only Verizon iPhone will work on US (Verizon) LTE network and in Japan/Singapore LTE networks. AT&T will not.

What about voice calling? if i take a verizon ip5 overseas, does it work everywhere?? (europe, africa, asia, etc)?

and verison ip5's LTE works EVERYwhere in the world, where as AT&T's works no one except canada?? ((((

 

[dontwalkhand]

What about voice calling? if i take a verizon ip5 overseas, does it work everywhere?? (europe, africa, asia, etc)?

and verison ip5's LTE works EVERYwhere in the world, where as AT&T's works no one except canada?? ((((

Your <b>iPhone will work</b> everywhere in the world, no matter what service you have it on in the United States, including LTE, if you're on Verizon.

If you have AT&T's model, GPRS/GSM/EDGE/HSPA/HSPA+ will work all over the world, but not LTE, unless you're in Canada.

 

[whistler222]

If you have AT&T's model, GPRS/GSM/EDGE/HSPA/HSPA+ will work all over the world, but not LTE, unless you're in Canada.

If I get the Verizon model, will LTE work all of the world? (except Canada?)

 

[dontwalkhand]

If I get the Verizon model, will LTE work all of the world? (except Canada?)

That's what it looks like.

 

[milan03]

If I get the Verizon model, will LTE work all of the world? (except Canada?)

Read through the posts it's been explained quite a few times

 

[elhungarian]

Apples page with the three models and corresponding countries page in the footer notes that just because the frequency matches it may or may not work in different countries
"contact carrier..." If Verizon's phone does everything the European Asian phone does why offer another model for just Asia and Europe?

 

[milan03]

Apples page with the three models and corresponding countries page in the footer notes that just because the frequency matches it may or may not work in different countries
"contact carrier..." If Verizon's phone does everything the European Asian phone does why offer another model for just Asia and Europe?

That's been discussed as well. Contact carrier means make sure your Verizon iPhone is unlocked by the carrier. If the phone has Band 1,3,5, along with Verizon bands, there is nothing besides Verizon that can block global LTE access. They don't advertise it loudly because they expect most users to sign a two year contract with Verizon and lock in.
Also, it's another way of acknowledging that even if your country's carrier isn't listed and isn't selling the iPhone officially, by buying it unlocked from a different country the iPhone 5 may work on your local LTE network.