Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

SIM-free iPhone 6S at launch in USA? [MERGED]

Right now it seems like there are only 2 models per each. Last year they had the same 2 models for each phone but then it was divided between CDMA and GSM, however its been proven that the CDMA/GSM versions of the same model were exactly the same as the unlocked GSM model worked with Verizon no problem. A1522 CDMA was identical to A1522GSM even though it said the GSM did not have CDMA radios. So maybe this year it will be the same, maybe not. Till we start seeing them ship we will not know.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
The above link has all the info we need, except for info on the 6S models.
 
Check out the conversation I've just had with Apple Support:


  • David: If you buy an unlocked iPhone 6S no sir you should not have to put in that information [your wireless account information] however your carrier should be able to provide you with better information on that.

    Me: And will unlocked iPhones be available for sale at launch?

    David: Yes sir they will be.
 
brad08s said:
Check out the conversation I've just had with Apple Support:


  • David: If you buy an unlocked iPhone 6S no sir you should not have to put in that information [your wireless account information] however your carrier should be able to provide you with better information on that.

    Me: And will unlocked iPhones be available for sale at launch?

    David: Yes sir they will be.
Click to expand...
And with our friends at AT&T:

Bradley: So meaning, if I buy a FULL PRICE AT&T model from Apple, I won't need to be logged in or give any AT&T wireless account info?

Joshua M: That is correct. :) You will just buy an iPhone at full price and then switch the SIM card to the new phone and that's it.
 
As someone who is currently on T-mobile, but like to be able to switch carriers without purchasing new hardware. I think it will make the most sense to buy the Verizon full price model to ensure that I get the EVDO radios. Band 30 is of no interest to me as AT&T is crap in my town.

The downside of doing this is it will require pre-ordering through the website which usually goes down, where the apple store app does not.
 
ftaok said:
No one outside of Apple really knows which models will have which bands and when they'll be available. Prior to last year, the SIM-free model (in the US) was the same as the AT&T/T-Mobile one. Then they switched it by not releasing the SIM-free model until January, and used the Sprint model to boot.

This year, who knows what they're going to do. I suspect that Apple would like to produce only one model for the US, with all of the radios and LTE bands, but they have to deal with what the carriers want too.

Maybe with the US carriers phasing out subsidies, this will allow Apple to go with a single model for the US market and hopefully it's available on day 1, but I doubt it. I suspect the best we can hope for is that the SIM-free model would be available around Thanksgiving.

But if you really want to know, send a message to that Nouveau fellow in these forums. He was the one who called the SIM-free model being the true world phone. ;)
Click to expand...

Didn't they announce this at the keynote. One model, "the best world phone ever", unlocked, pick your carrier at launch? Sounds pretty simple and clear to me...
 
I'm from Canada, would i be able to go to the States, buy an unlocked iph6s (let's say from T-mobile) at the apple store and get it to work with any carrier in Canada using my own sim card??
 
AppleFan91 said:
It definitely does. Basically the iPhone model that will work on all 4 carriers is the A1687/A1688 model. The only thing now is what model is the T-Mobile full retail version...
Click to expand...
Yup, I am on ATT, but want to keep my UDP. So I am planning on paying full price, but if I am doing that, I just want the most for my money, therefore a device that will work with most carriers. Not just ATT and TMO.

They should just have the unlocked units from the jump. Would make things so much easier.
 
FtrV8 said:
Yup, I am on ATT, but want to keep my UDP. So I am planning on paying full price, but if I am doing that, I just want the most for my money, therefore a device that will work with most carriers. Not just ATT and TMO.

They should just have the unlocked units from the jump. Would make things so much easier.
Click to expand...

It really would. I'm on a business account and I can't preorder the phone from Apple because of that. I just want to drop $750 on the 64GB 6S and be able to toss my Verizon SIM in. But it wants my account info. Last year I was able to buy the T-Mobile version without an account but this year idk if that version is compatible with Verizon.
 
FtrV8 said:
Not sure if this will help explain it or add more confusion.

Hope it helps.

http://bit.ly/1Kagd9x
Click to expand...

Darn it. I thought A1688 was pointless since it dropped CDMA EV-DO Rev. B (which is the faster version of Rev. A) from iphone 6 and had only the minimum (slowest) EV-DO 3G support, but it looks like still having that is important as it is needed for voice calling for Verizon/Sprint and CDMA carriers in the U.S. at least.

Now then I will have to agonize over LTE 30 (future AT&T band, but probably soon in my area) but no verizon/sprint call option vs all four carriers but no LTE 30. Why not just include everything and release one model instead of leaving one measly band out and create two models? Unlike the iphone 6 (AT&T,Verizon,T-mobile vs SIM-Free/Sprint), two iphone 6s models are pretty much the same except for one band. The business politics as usual.

Anyway does anybody know if LTE 30 is just the U.S. thing or if it will be used overseas as well in the future? I tried to search for it, but nothing comes up on overseas part. And how faster does having LTE 30 potentially? Is it like a 3-4 MB/s speed bump or more like 30-40 MB/s? I'm leaning towards A1688 so need some convincing on giving up on LTE 30.
 
Let's assume I go to try t-mo and they give me 1687/1688 iphone 6s/6s+. I don't like network, they unlock and I go to Att, but without LTE 30. If T-mo gives me 1633/1634 I can go only Att after thet. So no phone is 100% inchangable or either partialy or not at all. It means J.L statement was false. After that he wants we beleive in his network.

I twitted t-mo and contacted Apple, got no answer what model is t-mobile. You have to buy cat in a bag
 
brad08s said:
And with our friends at AT&T:

Bradley: So meaning, if I buy a FULL PRICE AT&T model from Apple, I won't need to be logged in or give any AT&T wireless account info?

Joshua M: That is correct. :) You will just buy an iPhone at full price and then switch the SIM card to the new phone and that's it.
Click to expand...
this applies to the version of the T-Mobile?

if I buy the pay in full T-Mobile will be able to use with another sim card?
 
Gr81MB said:
It is still there on the app just checked, says contract free, "T-Mobile" full price
Click to expand...

I checked the app and it is still there. But it is gone on the website.

I plan on buying a full price Verizon version so it is unlocked and will work on all carriers. I'm unsure if I can preorder a Verizon model device only on Apple's or Verizon's website.
 
this is what I found:
http://www.techwalls.com/iphone-6s-plus-models-differences/
But if I go with t-mo, don't like it I can go with Att only? This is the J.L.'s answer to Verizon :) Remember that J.L. worked for Att many years. We have conspiracy here :)

What we know so far
1633/1634 - Att for sure, since only they have LTE 30
1687/1688- CDMA - VZW and Sprint
?- T-mobile. It can be any model.
 
I'm thinking of paying full value of T-Mobile for the web, but I am in doubt whether it will come unlocked
 
Coleman2010 said:
I checked the app and it is still there. But it is gone on the website.

I plan on buying a full price Verizon version so it is unlocked and will work on all carriers. I'm unsure if I can preorder a Verizon model device only on Apple's or Verizon's website.
Click to expand...


I think we might be able to do this this year. When I select a Verizon phone on the current website, I have the option of "pay in full". Now, I can't click past that until the 12th, but I am hoping I do NOT have to enter any carrier information in to complete that transaction.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back