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Blazinbell

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 6, 2014
80
30
NY
Do we know if all phones will support both or if the most desirable phones will be sim free and Verizon if buying outright
 

Andres Cantu

macrumors 68040
May 31, 2015
3,323
7,991
Texas
I'm curious to know if it's still using the 450Mbps Intel modem from last year or if they at least used the 600Mbps one. I know we didn't get gigabit this year, but something is something.
 

dyfine

macrumors 6502
Jul 10, 2008
256
145
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.
 

justinf77

macrumors 6502a
May 18, 2003
643
568
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.

You can't do this, you need an active Verizon account to get a Verizon model on the IUP.
 

dyfine

macrumors 6502
Jul 10, 2008
256
145
Thanks @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?
 
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Blazinbell

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 6, 2014
80
30
NY
Thanks @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?
I'm wondering this too
 

Kn!ghthawk

macrumors member
Nov 24, 2016
80
21
Buy the sim free models like I am

Does anyone know when Apple will release the sim free iPhone X? It doesn't appear they are doing it at the start. Also is it possible to buy the Verizon version outright and use it on AT&T? Is it like with the other previous generations that the unlocked/sim free phone was the same model number/specs as the Verizon phone?
 

jpiszcz

macrumors 6502
Mar 28, 2010
413
76
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.
 

jpiszcz

macrumors 6502
Mar 28, 2010
413
76
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.
 

Kn!ghthawk

macrumors member
Nov 24, 2016
80
21
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.
 

Jaypatel3192

macrumors member
Oct 26, 2014
47
13
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.
 
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jpiszcz

macrumors 6502
Mar 28, 2010
413
76
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.

Yep this is my understanding as well.
 

Kn!ghthawk

macrumors member
Nov 24, 2016
80
21
Yep this is my understanding as well.
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.

I'm assuming I would have to activate the X with the Verizon sim and then I'd be able to do a factory restore on it and put in the AT&T sim?
 

appletinix

macrumors newbie
Oct 20, 2017
1
1
Do we know if all phones will support both or if the most desirable phones will be sim free and Verizon if buying outright

Last year when I bought the iphone 7, I bought a verizon phone pre-order even though I have T Mobile as I wanted the GSM and CDMA capability. However, this presented a few snags.

1) In order to pre-order a verizon phone, you do need a verizon phone number. And everything I have read, it has to be a post paid (and not pre-paid account). To get around this I used my partner's verizon number. And you will need the last 4 of the SSN to confirm. This presents a problem if you do not know someone with a verizon number who is also willing to let you use it to buy the phone :(.

2) If you do buy Verizon, even though the phone is technically a sim free unlocked phone, when my phone came in the mail, I still needed to activate the new sim to the linked Verizon phone number. This involved setting up the new phone and porting it to the new sim, and then switching that sim to my partner's old phone, as this process inactivates the old verizon sim. Then I simply, switched my current Tmobile sim into the verizon phone.

It seems ridiculous in my mind that this is the process one goes through, even when buying the phone outright at full price without a contract.

The alternative is to buy the factory carrier unlocked iphone, however, those phones are always released after the initial release date which means you may not get the phone until weeks or months after release date. This wait may be magnified especially if demand is high or supply is short, as it is anticipated this year.
 
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Givmeabrek

macrumors 68040
Apr 20, 2009
3,468
1,169
NY
Thanks for the explanation as this question is asked at least 10 times a day. It's a crazy workaround to get what you are paying full price for. Some day hopefully all phones will be sim free and Apple will only have to make one phone model....
 
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protoxx

macrumors 6502a
Oct 10, 2013
599
360
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.

Why port your number? Leave it alone. Get a new Verizon number then you can cancel the Verizon account. Depending on carrier, you may just have to slip sim in. No use canceling your existing account by porting to Verizon and creating a new account with your carrier.
 

Dirtydutch

macrumors 6502a
Sep 19, 2015
685
571
Jerseyyy
I encourage many ppl to continue to attempt these workarounds so during the pre order the fumbling that will occur will make it easier for those doing it the correct way with Apple Pay, their fingerprint, and their actual credentials will have a higher chance of receiving their phone. If it weren't for the few countries and carriers still requiring CDMA, I'm sure Apple would have already been using only Intel modems.
 
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fischersd

macrumors 603
Oct 23, 2014
5,380
1,942
Port Moody, BC, Canada
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.
 

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Apr 4, 2011
2,339
855
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.

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.
 

fischersd

macrumors 603
Oct 23, 2014
5,380
1,942
Port Moody, BC, Canada
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.
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.
 

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Apr 4, 2011
2,339
855
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.
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.
 

fischersd

macrumors 603
Oct 23, 2014
5,380
1,942
Port Moody, BC, Canada
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.
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.

Besides which, where are these CDMA carriers you think you're going to want to roam onto? The two Canadian carriers shut down their networks this year. Think there was one left in the middle-east, but I'm pretty sure they've moved over now. The only CDMA carriers that don't seem to have a firm timeline for shutting down their old networks are Verizon and Sprint.

If it wasn't for the US, Apple wouldn't have made any iPhones this year with CDMA radios.
 
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