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Can someone explain why Apple still bothers to manufacture A1905/A1897 that are identical to the other two phones, but without CDMA support? Why not just make one phone, then use carrier locking? Are the GSM-only phones that much cheaper to make?
 
I've seen nothing but terrible regarding the effects the 5g spectrum will have on human health. Trust me, I've searched for the positive.

iot & vr at the expense of human health.

The FCC approved 5g in a hurry without regard to health effects

We should push back on this until it's shown to be safe
 
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So it's a big deal that the bands that T-Mobile won't have in use by 2019 won't be supported? Interesting.
 
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Can someone explain why Apple still bothers to manufacture A1905/A1897 that are identical to the other two phones, but without CDMA support? Why not just make one phone, then use carrier locking? Are the GSM-only phones that much cheaper to make?

It's because Apple and Qualcomm have their panties in a wad with each other. So Intel, inferior as they are, got to be thrust upon those of us buying from T-Mobile and AT&T.

So in essence, good luck for people trying to get the unlocked Qualcomm version of the X. It's gonna be a while.
 
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This isn't surprising at all. The V30 is the only current phone that supports it.

I was more disturbed that Apple totally ignored HPUE and 4x MIMO. There's simply no excuse for those not being supported. Others have already added these much earlier in the year. Apple dropped the ball on that.
 
I switched from AT&T to T-Mobile this year when T-Mobile was offering 2 x Lines for $100 all included + a free third line (This Line on US promo) so from paying $210 a month to AT&T I went down to $90 for three lines (Kickback credit included) with everything unlimited so who cares if the new iPhone does not support b71. I do prefer $1440 a year in my bank account than a band that I may never get to use because I live in a mayor city.
 
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Apple's iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X are not compatible with LTE Band 71, aka T-Mobile's new 600 MHz spectrum the company plans on rolling out in the United States as soon as this year.

All new iPhone models in the United States support FDD-LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, and 66, and TD-LTE bands 4, 38, 39, 40, and 41, according to the Tech Specs page for the devices.

Support for additional bands can't be added retroactively, so Apple's devices will not work with LTE Band 71 until support is added to future iPhones.

ltebandsiphone8iphonex-800x452.jpg

T-Mobile purchased the 600 MHz spectrum in an FCC auction in April of 2017. Shortly after, T-Mobile announced plans to use the spectrum to deliver 5G coverage starting in 2019, but later said it would use the spectrum to improve its network in rural America starting this year.

Unfortunately, by the time T-Mobile purchased the spectrum and announced plans for rapid implementation, the LTE chips and the hardware for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X were likely already secured, giving Apple no time to build in support for a newly announced LTE band.

iphonexcolors-800x573.jpg

T-Mobile in August activated the first 600 MHz LTE site in Cheyenne, Wyoming and has said it will deploy the spectrum at a "record-shattering pace" with plans to roll out 600 MHz sites in Wyoming, Northwest Oregon, West Texas, Southwest Kansas, the Oklahoma panhandle, Western North Dakota, Maine, Coastal North Carolina, Central Pennsylvania, Central Virginia, and Eastern Washington, but whether T-Mobile will hit that goal and get 600 MHz support in those locations by the end of 2017 remains to be seen.

As Peter Cohen points out, deploying the 600 MHz network is a complicated, time-consuming process that will span several years, so most iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X users won't be heavily affected by the lack of support for the new LTE band at this time.T-Mobile says Band 71 adds increased building penetration and covers greater distances. When used in metro areas, it improves in-building coverage, and in rural areas, it improves the company's LTE footprint.

There are no existing devices that support T-Mobile's new spectrum at this time. Like Apple's newest devices, for example, Samsung's Galaxy S8 and new Galaxy Note 8 do not offer support. T-Mobile has said that LG and Samsung will launch devices compatible with the spectrum by the end of the year, and LG's upcoming LG V30 will be one of the first devices to support it.

Article Link: iPhone 8 and iPhone X Don't Support T-Mobile's Upcoming 600 MHz LTE Network
 


Perhaps they should offer to climb a pole and install the equipment. For some reason, Peter Cohen thinks "there simply aren't enough people in the industry who can climb the towers, install the new hardware, test it and get it working for them."[/QUOTE]
I kinda worry that there are not many people willing to do such job, let alone doing it well, assuming workers are all paid fairly.
 
Not a surprise. 600 MHz is relatively new to T-Mobile's network. Areas are hit or miss with their reception. Anyways, I wouldn't purchase a phone for 600 MHz alone. The two biggest phones on the market, the Note 8 and iPhone X, do not support it. If you want the best flagship with 600 MHz, you have to go LG V30, which involves some compromises like LG's terrible UI aesthetics.
 
No modems support band 71/600MHz. The iPhone X was designed at least 8 months ago, this is not Apple's fault.
Qualcomm X16 modem (released in 2016) supports it.
Apple is in a fight with Qualcomm, so that would probably explain why the new iPhones don't have a compatible modem for it.

Samsung uses the X16, but for some reason decided not to enable Band 71.
 
Can someone explain why Apple still bothers to manufacture A1905/A1897 that are identical to the other two phones, but without CDMA support? Why not just make one phone, then use carrier locking? Are the GSM-only phones that much cheaper to make?

My understanding is that it's because Qualcomm is the supplier for the CDMA chip. For every phone they sell with that CDMA chip, they have to give money to Qualcomm. If there's no CDMA chip, then there's no money given to Qualcomm. That's why they produce a GSM-only version.
 
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Qualcomm X16 modem (released in 2016) supports it.
Apple is in a fight with Qualcomm, so that would probably explain why the new iPhones don't have a compatible modem for it.

Samsung uses the X16, but for some reason decided not to enable Band 71.

That was frustrating. I chalk it up to Samsung rushing to get their Note 8 in before Apple released their 10th edition. Desperation. Hopefully they'll include it in the S9.
 
"T-Mobile says Band 71 adds increased building penetration and covers greater distances."

Hmmmmmm...anyone qualified to weigh in on the health implications of this? Nikola Tesla, perhaps?

Same health implications than TV transmission have had for decades. None.

Band 71 is over-the-air TV spectrum that's being reallocated for LTE use. If anything LTE radio signals will be of much less power than VHF/UHF TV transmissions were.
 
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If I had ordered a new phone, this would be cause for me to immediately cancel the order.

This is very short-sighted by Apple. I understand that TMo didn't win the spectrum until earlier this year but the fact was that SOMEONE was going to win the auctions and it was going to be rolled out. It should have been built in.

I suspect we're going to get a slight revision to the 8/8+/X early next year that adds that band.

Ha, no... It was short-sighted by T-Mobile announcing their plans mid-2017 and expecting Apple to turn on a dime after their design (and their supplier's components) were locked down.
 
Anyone working in mobile phone development facepalms heavily whenever that kind of conspiracy nonsense is spread by people who think that you just need to wave a magic wand to implement a major feature in a new product and that the lack of such a feature implies that it is being purposefully withheld.
The problem is as always the assumption of intentionality behind everything, in particular if it affects the speaker. That nothing 'bad' happens without some 'malevolent' intent somewhere. And I have no idea how to fight this state of mind.
 
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Ha, no... It was short-sighted by T-Mobile announcing their plans mid-2017 and expecting Apple to turn on a dime after their design (and their supplier's components) locked down.
dude...

no one at the auction knew who'd win the 600mhz areas.

its no one fault.
 
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Same health implications than TV transmission have had for decades. None.

Band 71 is over-the-air TV spectrum that's being reallocated for LTE use. If anything LTE radio signals will be of much less power than VHF/UHF TV transmissions were.
The only difference being that people didn't normally carried or held close to their body TV transmitters.
 
Also missing AT&T's new Band 14... in addition to the small chunks of 600 they also have.
 
Apple and all the cell phone manufacturers knew that someone, not necessarily T-Mobile, were going to be using the 600 Mhz band way back in 2015. The question is, why did they wait so freaking long? It could have been Verizon, ATT or Sprint too and probably will be soon since they bought some spectrum also. This is a reason to blame manufacturers.

The same problem is going to happen with Mobile HDTV via ATSC 3.0. Which manufacturers are going to support it? History shows Apple won't be one of them. The one thing I hate about Apple is that they are generally last in technology they didn't design or have anything to do with or isn't in their roadmap. Within 3 years, you'll be able to watch a sports event live on your phone. But I'll bet money it won't be on an iPhone. Because it won't meet Johnny Ive's Thinness spec requirements.
 
Man, I'm waiting until Apple finally gets their act together and makes a phone that works for everyone. I want a phone that I can easily squeeze into a little ball. Then, when I feel like it, unfold it. Sometimes I want to be able to unfold it into a regular iPhone, sometimes into an iPhone plus, and sometimes into an iPhone X. Then, if I'm lucky, maybe even an iPhone XXX. I mean, come on Apple!!!! You guys should have the wherewithal to develop the technology before I need it. After all, you have the reputation to create things before I know I need them. I can't believe that they missed this new spectrum!!!!!! -End sarcasm :):):)
 
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Have they ever done that in the middle of the year before? (I'm thinking no, but curious!)

two things. it's heavily dependent on intel to actually adopt the band. second thing is that the chip design and any requirements woudl have to be exactly the same.

i don't see it happening. This is not hte first time apple released a phone without all the bands present.
 
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