This kind of answers my question from yesterday. Even though I am a T-mobile prepaid customer, since I am buying the phone in full, it's better to get the Verizon/Sprint versions for a truly unlocked phone without restrictions from other carriers.
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iPhone 7 Models From AT&T and T-Mobile Do Not Support CDMA Networks
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So it looks like this only applies if you are buying the phone in full or choosing a different payment method than the Apple Upgrade Program.
If I choose AT&T as my carrier and enroll in the AUP, it looks as though I would still get a GSM/CDMA phone.
If I choose AT&T as my carrier and enroll in the AUP, it looks as though I would still get a GSM/CDMA phone.
Where I live now, I get LTE only on Verizon. [well, their "4g" speeds]. Two of my AT&T devices [original iphone and iphone 3gs] are old enough that they do not support LTE; but my iPad mini 2 does support LTE on AT&T and I can only get LTE [or any cell speed] on it when I drive 15 minutes closer to a city. So it's always been, since day 1, "No Service".
Verizon often gives me 3G and 1x, but at least I have service. The AT&T iPhones do get service when closer to town. AT&T towers here are rare; Verizon has put a lot of them up, so they tend to be what everyone in the rural areas has.
The question is how to get VZW phone without the account?
Att Apple Upgrade will be Att/T-mobile 17__ phone, not 16__ . If I pay the same amount I want to have more functional phone.
Also I don't want Intell Modem. They are new with iPhones and I don't know how it will work with them.
Att Apple Upgrade will be Att/T-mobile 17__ phone, not 16__ . If I pay the same amount I want to have more functional phone.
Also I don't want Intell Modem. They are new with iPhones and I don't know how it will work with them.
No, both the 7 and 7+ of the AT&T/T-Mobile phones are missing the CDMA radios needed to work on Verizon and Sprint.
That's what I'm trying to figure out. And when I receive a VZW phone... do I simply put my AT&T sim card and it will work without me contacting VZW?
If you're getting LTE the CDMA network is not serving you (unless there is no VoLTE). CDMA is the old tech going out the door.
I'm in the same boat, too. Are we sure we need to enter any Verizon account details when we purchase the Verizon phone? Would love to pop in my existing AT&T nano-SIM into a Verizon iPhone 7.
Choosing which iPhone model to purchase this year should be more carefully considered, as both AT&T and T-Mobile models of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus do not support CDMA networks such as Verizon and Sprint in the United States. Apple confirmed the matter in fine print in the iPhone 7 tech specs and on its LTE page.
A customer that purchases an iPhone 7 from Apple's website and selects AT&T as their carrier, for example, would be unable to later use the smartphone on Verizon, Sprint, or any other CDMA network, even if the device is unlocked. By comparison, all iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models worked on both GSM and CDMA networks.
A customer that purchases an iPhone 7 from Apple's website and selects Verizon as their carrier, on the other hand, would also be able to use the smartphone on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, or any other GSM or CDMA network. This essentially means iPhone 7 models from Verizon or Sprint are closer to being a true "world-phone."
It was previously reported that Apple would switch to Intel modems for select iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models, including AT&T models, and Intel modems do not support the CDMA standard in the United States. That is likely the reason why AT&T and T-Mobile models are limited to GSM networks.
Only Verizon and Sprint models support both GSM and CDMA networks
The same report said Qualcomm would supply modems for the remaining iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus units, including Verizon and Chinese models, and this appears to be the case. Qualcomm modems support both the GSM and CDMA standard, which explains why the iPhone 7 from Verizon and Sprint will work on all carriers.
Qualcomm, which holds patents for WCDMA and CDMA2000 standards, is the main CDMA modem supplier in the United States. The company developed the first CDMA-based cellular base station in 1990, and since then it has licensed its technology to companies like Apple in return for royalty payments.
Until this year, Qualcomm was Apple's exclusive supplier of modems for LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity, which explains why the iPhone 6s and previous generations supported both GSM and CDMA networks regardless of carrier. But with Intel entering the mix, choosing which iPhone to purchase is now more meaningful.
All iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models supported both GSM and CDMA networks
The lack of CDMA support in iPhones with Intel modems may be short lived, fortunately, as Intel acquired CDMA assets from VIA Telecom in 2015. It is believed that this acquisition could pave the way for Intel to release its first LTE modem with both GSM and CDMA support as early as 2017 or 2018.
Ultimately, the most obvious choice should be to purchase a Verizon or Sprint model, even if you are an AT&T or T-Mobile customer, especially when considering resale value. However, some customers may have difficulty purchasing from another carrier, depending on their current status with their existing carrier.
Apple should also release an unlocked SIM-free model in the U.S., likely based on the Verizon/Sprint model, in a few weeks based on past launches.
Article Link: iPhone 7 Models From AT&T and T-Mobile Do Not Support CDMA Networks
So the question is will the T-mobile and Att versions be exactly the same? With the 6s the att version had every band while tmobiles was lacking I think the 700mhz band for att.
Judging by this article it would seem that getting a Verizon model even though I have att would be the best option as it still has cdma for roaming better in Asia.
Dual vendors with competing prices, that's the advantage.
I have a new question. After reading the text on the screenshot below I am left wondering, if I buy a Verizon iPhone 7 outright and use it on the AT&T network, will AT&T's wifi calling still work on the phone?
This is directly form the Apple Store app FAQ about the iPhone 7...
This is directly form the Apple Store app FAQ about the iPhone 7...
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No, it's true. "Unlocked" doesn't mean the phone has any particular modem.
Well, I went thru the process with the SE for VZW. And it appears that I'll need a VZW account... very unfortunate that AT&T and T-Mobile went with Intel.
I don't see anything that would indicate AT&T wifi calling wouldn't work on a Verizon iPhone 7.
T-Mobile is "unlocked" but it is not the same phone/model # as the global sim-free model. It's missing a few bands.
All I know is what my iPhone tells me - I know that when Verizon released "LTE" here a while ago it really was not true 4G, but I do know I get faster speeds with it than I do with my DSL connection [10 down/1 up with DSL - 24 down/9 up with iPhone on LTE]. And I know my iPad mini 2, which gets LTE when in town, has "No Service" when here at home while my iPhone has no issues getting LTE. I also have an iPad Air [1st gen] on Verizon and have no issues getting LTE on it from home, while the iPad mini 2 on AT&T sits next to it with "No Service".
I prefer choices. Be it cars, cell phones, health care, real estate, buy on a free market with little or no regulations makes the society and economy stronger as a whole.
The upgrade program allows you to choose any phone you want. So simply choose Verizon/Sprint if you want a model that supports all 4 networks.
Based on the LTE info on Apple's page the AT&T and T-Mobile versions of the 7/7+ will have identical LTE band support.
Good call. It does appear we'll need to put in account information. Does this incentivize anyone else with AT&T to get the device through AT&T Next or the Apple Upgrade Program?
This is very good news for the resale value of my 6S... thanks Apple.
I am using a Verizon 6S with my ATT sim in it, and WiFi calling works just fine. It connects to a Microcell I have access to as well, in a different location. Hopefully its the same this year.
I would guess that it might be more efficient, if it doesn't have to power a CDMA radio.