Sprints iphone 5s is the truest world phone if you get it unlocked as it supports the most bands including the all four in the US
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Iphone 5S on Verizon will it work on gsm
- Thread starter corry20
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The phone should be the same for all 3 carriers. The reason the tmobile and att version won't work on Verizon is because Verizon only allows authorized phones. They won't authorize an unlocked phone or a different carriers phone.
I'm not sure with other CDMA carriers do but both sprint and verizon control what phones run on their network. If the carriers over seas have that limitation, none of them will work. If they don't, then they all should.
Again, this is totally confusing me. Everyone says the phones are exactly the same but they don't work on this or that network. Even though the hardware is the same, if they don't work on all networks they are by definition not the same.
Here's a simple question. I want a contract free, unlocked phone that will work on Verizon, ATT, and Tmo. Where all I have to do, is walk in, get a sim, and plop it in. That's it. Which phone do I get?
You want the verizon phone then. It will be registered in Verizon's database and you can activate it on their system at anytime. The gsm side will be unlocked and that will work with tmobile and att. Att and tmobile don't restrict what phone is on their network. If it's unlocked and has the gsm bands they use it will work.
I don't know what to tell you other than get the phone and put in a T-Mobile/AT&T sim in it in 2 weeks. That will be your proof. Like the person above said... I see no reason why this would change for iPhone 5S.
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Yes!!! What he said.
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http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
Other than this, we won't know until Verizon says it does or doesn't.
So i went to price out a 5C. Jus to see how it will work when the 5S comes out. But I can't seem to get an off contract Verizon phone as an option. It just says Sim Free GSM phone, it asks me to sign up for Verizon to get the Verizon phone. In the past you would select a carrier and you had the option to purchase off contract for that carrier.
Apple must have went back and changed their 5S information.
For the 4S, there was a shared model number (A1387), even though there was still a GSM and CDMA variant, meaning the phones were physically the same but "programmed" differently from the factory to be either GSM or CDMA.
But for the 5 there was the GSM (A1428) and CDMA + Non-USA LTE GSM (A1429), which were separate devices altogether.
Apple seems to have gone back and updated the 5S LTE website page. Before it just had one model for the 5S for GSM + CDMA in the USA, but now they are differentiating between the A1533 as a GSM model and a CDMA model. Seems like they reverted to the "4S model", of having one single phone, but having it be programmed differently from the factory.
What I'm wondering is if the CDMA 5S can run GSM 4G (non LTE) networks), like the 5 could, or if this loophole was closed at Verizon's instruction.
For the 4S, there was a shared model number (A1387), even though there was still a GSM and CDMA variant, meaning the phones were physically the same but "programmed" differently from the factory to be either GSM or CDMA.
But for the 5 there was the GSM (A1428) and CDMA + Non-USA LTE GSM (A1429), which were separate devices altogether.
Apple seems to have gone back and updated the 5S LTE website page. Before it just had one model for the 5S for GSM + CDMA in the USA, but now they are differentiating between the A1533 as a GSM model and a CDMA model. Seems like they reverted to the "4S model", of having one single phone, but having it be programmed differently from the factory.
What I'm wondering is if the CDMA 5S can run GSM 4G (non LTE) networks), like the 5 could, or if this loophole was closed at Verizon's instruction.
Yes but Sprint iPhone will never be unlocked for US Domestic use...(AT&T, T-mobile etc) = Not a true world phone in my opinion.
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Has anyone been able to buy Verizon iPhone on launch day at full price (Not on contract/Subsidized) from a Verizon Store?
I'm not sure when they updated this info, but currently you can find the following on Apple's site:
About the Unlocked iPhone
The unlocked iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a wireless contract commitment. You can activate and use the unlocked iPhone on the supported GSM wireless network of your choice, such as AT&T or T-Mobile in the United States. The unlocked iPhone 5c and unlocked iPhone 5s will also work on the CDMA networks of Sprint and Verizon Wireless. The unlocked iPhone 4s will work only on GSM wireless networks and will not work with CDMA-based carriers, including Sprint and Verizon Wireless.
If you don’t want a multiyear service contract, or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the unlocked iPhone is the best choice. If you choose T-Mobile, your iPhone comes with a T-Mobile SIM card already installed. You will need to contact T-Mobile or visit an Apple Retail Store to activate your iPhone.
Otherwise, the unlocked iPhone does not come with a micro-SIM card for iPhone 4s, or a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, so you’ll need to get one from any supported GSM carrier worldwide (or from Sprint or Verizon Wireless for the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s). To start using your iPhone, simply insert the SIM card into the slot and turn on iPhone by pressing and holding the On/Off button for a few seconds. Then follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone.
Purchasing an unlocked iPhone means you will not qualify for the lower iPhone price associated with a contract. The unlocked iPhone 5c model is A1456. The unlocked iPhone 5s model is A1453.
So, according to Apple,the unlocked 5s is indeed the Sprint model(which conveniently includes support for the most bands).
Thank god I read this. You're a Lifesaver. You're welcome to choose the flavor.
BTW how did you get to this page exactly?
Thanks for the heads up!!! I was going to purchase the Verizon version till now. Now it looks like I can use the unlocked version for Verizon.
If you use an ATT sim and therefore the ATT network, can you get LTE data?
If I remember, it used to be you only got HSPA+ data.
Good question. You may need a sim that's already assigned lte. It won't work unless your account has lte enabled. This is true for att locked iPhones too.
Thanks for the heads up!!! I was going to purchase the Verizon version till now. Now it looks like I can use the unlocked version for Verizon.
Just got off a chat with a rep. No unocked phones available tomorrow. Will happen but later.
No disrespect, but the chat reps information is so misinformed. I seem to always get different answers from different reps.
Clears it up whether the unlocked iphone will work on Verizon. The issue is whether Verizon will allow it or not. It's one thing that it will work on Verizon, another if they will allow it.
Well they normally have done this in the past, offering the unlocked phone a month later, this probably has to do with initial demand. The only reason I think it's weird is because now it means that T-Mobile customers can't get the phone on launch
Not exactly. At present, Verizon LTE phones drop down to CDMA 1x for voice, and the phones can't do CDMA and LTE at the same time. Hence, currently the phones can't do simultaneous voice and data. However, I believe Verizon has said they will be deploying Voice over LTE (VoLTE) by next year. With VoLTE, the phone is using LTE for both voice and data and hence you can use both.
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I called around today. For the 5S, you can't order a device-only phone from either Apple or Verizon. But you can buy a device-only phone from either if they have it in stock.
I don't think you can buy a "device-only" phone at Verizon (at least I couldn't), you have to have (or create) an account with them. And even when calling Apple stores I have gotten the response saying something to the effect "we currently only sell "contract" phones, because of the high demand".
I called my closest Verizon store and the rep told me that I could buy a contract-free, device-only phone if they have it in stock, but anything that has to be ordered can only be ordered with service, and all iPhone 5Ss need to be ordered for now but should be in stock in a couple of months. I also called my closest Apple store and the rep there said pretty much the same thing (can buy contract-free, device-only phone if it is in stock, but can only order a Verizon iPhone 5S with service). However, the local Apple store did have a Verizon one in stock so I went over and bought it. I don't know if it is locked or not.