iPhone 7 Models From AT&T and T-Mobile Do Not Support CDMA Networks

[pcmike]

How do people who plan on upgrading via the Apple Upgrade Program ensure they get a Verizon iPhone 7, even though their phone number in the states is with T-Mobile? We travel in between the states and Brazil every year and we need the CDMA support down in Brazil.

 

[Dirtydutch]

I've never had to put account information in the Apple Store app when purchasing outright. Every year people not on Verizon have purchased it outright same with T-Mobile. People have been buying Verizon outright since the 5 and never seemed to have an issue. Is this year different?

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

Wasn't there an article on MR recently saying that T-Mobile is rolling out 4x4 MIMO but it would require the Qualcomm modem (aka the Verizon iPhone) and that the Intel chip (aka the T-Mobile iPhone) won't support it?

 

[SoAnyway]

From what I've gathered, that won't be possible because in order to order the Verizon phone online, you will need to already have a Verizon account (that you will need to enter during the order process). I hope I am wrong, but that's what I understand.

Oh really? Damn, I was just hoping to purchase the phone outright tonight and not worry about it. Here's a screen shot that got my hopes up when I choose the Sprint option. Notice that it says the phone is unlocked.

 

[MacBird]

Well that's a bummer. I plan on using the AUP. I guess it really doesn't matter though. I'm not looking to change carriers anytime soon and also if you are on the AUP, you can't sell your phone, so it doesn't matter about resale value.

I think you could resell it if you keep it for 2 years. After unlocking it, I sold my old AT&T iPhone 5s to a friend who is on T-Mobile. It sounds as if that might not be possible anymore.

 

[dozers]

If I am not mistaken, both South Korea and Japan now have wide-ranging LTE networks (in addition to CDMA; which was the only choice a few years back) so I think the phones should still work fine there....

Im ordering my phone tonight. heres my dilema... im going to SOUTH korea in november for a month and was planing on getting a pre paid sim for the phone. heres my problem SK is one of the few countries that uses CDMA. I have AT&T and was gonna just order through the next program because I love the simplicity of the upgrade process. anyways. what do I do now?

 

[Dirtydutch]

If you don't have Verizon, I don't think you can select Verizon and complete the checkout process (even if you are paying the full amount). The reason is they ship the phone with a sim card with the phone number so it's going to ask for a Verizon account. I think it's going to take a couple of months before you'll be able to order the 7 without the sim card. This has nothing with the phone being unlocked or not.

Idk that doesn't sound right every year, me, like I'm sure many others just buy Verizon outright select one time payment and wait for our phone. All you have to do is take out the SIM card and put yours in, as stated they're unlocked when bought outright

 

[thetaco25]

Idk that doesn't sound right every year, me, like I'm sure many others just buy Verizon outright select one time payment and wait for our phone. All you have to do is take out the SIM card and put yours in, as stated they're unlocked when bought outright

I confirmed with Apple Support that if you want to buy a Verizon iPhone online, you have to have an existing wireless account with them (or create a new account).

 

[gotluck]

I would guess that it might be more efficient, if it doesn't have to power a CDMA radio.

my logic is that intel is new to the modem game and doesnt have the optimizations qualcomm has. Samsungs 'shannon' modem was significantly less efficient than qualcomms in a similar scenario with the galaxy s6.

 

[KPOM]

Will the unlocked phones that Apple sells through the annual upgrade program support both standards?

Only if you get a Sprint or Verizon model. Apple asks for a wireless account to "link" your phone to on the program.

 

[Dirtydutch]

I confirmed with Apple Support that if you want to buy a Verizon iPhone online, you have to have an existing wireless account with them (or create a new account).

Reps always say that. They have to. I'm not saying you're wrong and I'm not saying you're right, but a phone unlocked with ALL bands would have no reason not to work on all carriers when the sim is switched before powering up. They 100% do not want everyone finding out that the Verizon and sprint models are the ones that will potentially be sim free. And almost all the time the public as we've seen before are way more informed than any reps.

 

[whyamihere]

All you have to do is take out the SIM card and put yours in, as stated they're unlocked when bought outright

But have you actually done this. I've seen much speculation but no one who has actually purchased a Verizon phone at full price, then was able to put in an ATT/Tmobile SIM to activate it. Certainly once activated, the phone is unlocked and can be used with an ATT SIM, but it's the activation part that is crucial. I can only assume a Verizon phone will be requiring a Verizon SIM/account to activate it on the Verizon network before it can be used.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Odin's beard!!! CDMA is still in use?

At least it's not TDMA

 

[KPOM]

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...

View attachment 649189

Yes.

 

[Dirtydutch]

But have you actually done this. I've seen much speculation but no one who has actually purchased a Verizon phone at full price, then was able to put in an ATT/Tmobile SIM to activate it. Certainly once activated, the phone is unlocked and can be used with an ATT SIM, but it's the activation part that is crucial. I can only assume a Verizon phone will be requiring a Verizon SIM/account to activate it on the Verizon network before it can be used.

Yes bought outright it is carrier unlocked. It even says it right in the ordering process. It says it's connected to sprint/Verizon not that it will only work on them. If you pop your sim in before you power on it will just simply have your carrier listed on top. It's not a sprint phone or a Verizon phone etc. it's an unlocked iPhone if bought outright not on any installment plan. That includes IUP, those r the only cases u need account info.

 

[madman555]

Reps always say that. They have to. I'm not saying you're wrong and I'm not saying you're right, but a phone unlocked with ALL bands would have no reason not to work on all carriers when the sim is switched before powering up. They 100% do not want everyone finding out that the Verizon and sprint models are the ones that will potentially be sim free. And almost all the time the public as we've seen before are way more informed than any reps.

If you're able to get the Verizon phone, it will be unlocked and will work on all networks. The issue is getting the phone. In order to pre-order it tonight, you'll need to enter a Verizon account. If you somehow have access to a Verizon account and use it, you'll receive the phone with a sim card linked to that Verizon account. You can simply switch the sim out and use it with any carrier afterwards. But the major issue here is getting the Verizon phone in the first place

 

[gim]

Unless you're traveling to a cow pasture in the middle of Montana where Verizon only has CDMA coverage, it should still work on their LTE network.

Well, vacation and traveling means to me that I'm leaving the (big) cities and enjoying nature and the countryside. I assume there'd be a lot of spots without LTE coverage, even with Verizon.
I'm just mad because the European iPhone 7 model is actually worse for traveling than it's predecessors. Just because Apple wants to increase their margin by a few cents by not using Qualcomm but Intel modems. That's a kick in the costumer's ass in my opinion.

 

[KPOM]

But have you actually done this. I've seen much speculation but no one who has actually purchased a Verizon phone at full price, then was able to put in an ATT/Tmobile SIM to activate it. Certainly once activated, the phone is unlocked and can be used with an ATT SIM, but it's the activation part that is crucial. I can only assume a Verizon phone will be requiring a Verizon SIM/account to activate it on the Verizon network before it can be used.

No, I have bought Verizon iPhones "SIM-only" on Day 1 and activated them with an AT&T SIM. All Verizon phones are completely unlocked. It's a requirement of their license of LTE Band 13.

 

[nabeel24]

Just a heads up here, I'm not sure if someone noticed this.

But for those that are buying the Verizon iPhone because it allows CDMA and GSM, it does NOT have the Band 30 on it.

I'm not sure how big of a role that will play. I'm with AT&T and was planning on grabbing the Verizon iPhone since it allows both CDMA and GSM, but it not having Band 30 is a bit worrisome.

 

[KPOM]

This is such crap. Just release one damn phone for all the carriers and stop going back and forth on it.

Apple is actually better than most companies in that their phones support lots of LTE bands. A lot of companies make phones with LTE bands tailored to specific carriers.

In this case, it looks like Apple's desire to diversify beyond Qualcomm to Intel is the reason. I guess giving Intel the contract for modems destined for non-CDMA carriers was logical.
[doublepost=1473362388][/doublepost]

Just a heads up here, I'm not sure if someone noticed this.

But for those that are buying the Verizon iPhone because it allows CDMA and GSM, it does NOT have the Band 30 on it.

I'm not sure how big of a role that will play. I'm with AT&T and was planning on grabbing the Verizon iPhone since it allows both CDMA and GSM, but it not having Band 30 is a bit worrisome.

Yes it does, at least for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

 

[Dirtydutch]

If you're able to get the Verizon phone, it will be unlocked and will work on all networks. The issue is getting the phone. In order to pre-order it tonight, you'll need to enter a Verizon account. If you somehow have access to a Verizon account and use it, you'll receive the phone with a sim card linked to that Verizon account. You can simply switch the sim out and use it with any carrier afterwards. But the major issue here is getting the Verizon phone in the first place

I know I'm saying if bought outright by electing one time payment on the app I've never had to enter further info. I would just checkout. If you're paying full there should be no issue, as I'm stating my previous years experience and I buy every year. The only reason you would have to link it to a carrier is because it's not paid for fully and youre pursuing some type of upgrade.

 

[gotluck]

delete

 

[thetaco25]

Just a heads up here, I'm not sure if someone noticed this.

But for those that are buying the Verizon iPhone because it allows CDMA and GSM, it does NOT have the Band 30 on it.

I'm not sure how big of a role that will play. I'm with AT&T and was planning on grabbing the Verizon iPhone since it allows both CDMA and GSM, but it not having Band 30 is a bit worrisome.

I see Band 30 on the CDMA Verizon phone. http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

 

[Dirtydutch]

Just a heads up here, I'm not sure if someone noticed this.

But for those that are buying the Verizon iPhone because it allows CDMA and GSM, it does NOT have the Band 30 on it.

I'm not sure how big of a role that will play. I'm with AT&T and was planning on grabbing the Verizon iPhone since it allows both CDMA and GSM, but it not having Band 30 is a bit worrisome.

As stated it says band 30 on the second line of the lte bands

 

[jpiszcz]

Just a heads up here, I'm not sure if someone noticed this.

But for those that are buying the Verizon iPhone because it allows CDMA and GSM, it does NOT have the Band 30 on it.

I'm not sure how big of a role that will play. I'm with AT&T and was planning on grabbing the Verizon iPhone since it allows both CDMA and GSM, but it not having Band 30 is a bit worrisome.

They both have the same FDD-LTE bands, the Verizon model is the one to get if you travel and/or want maximum compatibility: http://www.apple.com/iphone-7/specs/

Model A1660*
Model A1661*
FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)

Model A1778*
Model A1784*
FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)