Do we know if all phones will support both or if the most desirable phones will be sim free and Verizon if buying outright
I'm with AT&T but not on a contract - have been on the Apple Upgrade program for a year. Does anyone know if I can upgrade to the Verizon version of the X so I get the CDMA capability but then put my current AT&T SIM in the phone (never activate with Verizon)? I"d get the SIM free but am assuming it won't be available yet on launch day for the X.
I'm wondering this tooThanks @justinf77. It looks like there's a $40 pre-paid/no contract plan with Verizon or I could buy a pre-paid SIM for my iPad Pro. Do you think it would work to buy one of those in advance, create an account, upgrade to a Verizon model through AUP preorder and then pop in my AT&T SIM?
Well, skip the prepaid piece and just go directly apply for IUP with Verizon postpaid. Prepaid is not eligible for IUP.I'm wondering this too
Buy the sim free models like I am
If the Verizon model has a Qualcomm modem, probably best to port to Verizon postpaid temporarily, order the phone and port back to your original carrier.
After a little poking around and digging on Apple's website it does state that the Verizon/Sprint phones will work on AT&T/T-Mobile without any problem. They just ship with the Verizon or Sprint SIM card. If you are buying it outright there isn't a need for a phone number or anything. Should just be able to swap sims and go.
It does state for the AT&T/T-Mobile phones when you go through and attempt to purchase/preorder that they are only compatible with GSM carriers not CDMA carriers like Verizon etc.
You'll need an account for Verizon or Sprint to order the phone on Apples website though just as they've always done for the past few years on the iPhone. Even if you are paying in full. Now I've heard that isn't the case if you buy it in store, but finding one in stock will be difficult for some time I'd imagine.
Well thankfully I have my old Verizon Droid Maxx sitting around. Looks like I will be bring that over to Verizon to activate on a new number a day or two before pre-orders open. Put it on the $35 2gb plan. Then use that number to pre-order the X.Yep this is my understanding as well.
Do we know if all phones will support both or if the most desirable phones will be sim free and Verizon if buying outright
If the Verizon model has a Qualcomm modem, probably best to port to Verizon postpaid temporarily, order the phone and port back to your original carrier.
I don't understand the people thinking that they can use the CDMA part of the phone when their home carrier is a GSM carrier. Where were you thinking you could actually use the CDMA radio, when your carrier isn't? Your GSM carrier doesn't have the means to provision routing of an ESN on their network.
The ONLY reason to get a Verizon/Sprint phone is that the Qualcomm modem performs better. Until there's an Intel one shipping that's faster that is.
No, you're not entirely getting it. It's not just about frequencies. CDMA and GSM are different protocols. (spent my career in tech and telecom, trust me, I know). The entire point of getting a CDMA capable iPhone is the Qualcomm modem - which has been outperforming the Intel ones that Apple has been putting in.The Verizon iPhone includes a CDMA and GSM chip so you can use both frequencies. Hence you can use a Verizon iPhone on the AT&T or T-Mobile network.
The AT&T and T-Mobile models only have a GSM chip. That is why the Verizon version is so sought after.
I agree. But my point is I don't think people want it expecting to use the CDMA radio for their GSM carrier. I think it is so they have the maximum possible carriers available to them. If I have a Verizon iPhone and I travel to another country, I don't have to worry if they only have GSM or CDMA networks since I can access all.No, you're not entirely getting it. It's not just about frequencies. CDMA and GSM are different protocols. (spent my career in tech and telecom, trust me, I know). The entire point of getting a CDMA capable iPhone is the Qualcomm modem - which has been outperforming the Intel ones that Apple has been putting in.
If your home carrier is a GSM carrier, the CDMA radio in the iPhone will never, ever be activated.
Read that last line again please. The post of mine before you replied. Again. The CDMA radio will NEVER be activated. You cannot roam onto a CDMA network without an activated CDMA radio in your phone.I agree. But my point is I don't think people want it expecting to use the CDMA radio for their GSM carrier. I think it is so they have the maximum possible carriers available to them. If I have a Verizon iPhone and I travel to another country, I don't have to worry if they only have GSM or CDMA networks since I can access all.