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Why doesn’t Apple release an iPhone that has bands included to support Verizon/T-Mobile/Sprint/AT&T

D

DBZmusicboy01

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 30, 2011
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It makes no sense having to buy another phone in order to use the other carrier.
It’s 2017 and phones should have enough space to include all the bands.
 
Nice of everyone to answer... LOL

They do not because of cost and diversifiction. Paying for a chip and bands that will never be used isn’t that smart, no matter the tiny amount. And this way they can diversify between Intel and Qualcomm. Relying on one supplier is more risky.
 
Apple is buying Intel modems to diversify away from qualcomm and those have issues with verizon and sprint
 
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Why? The same reason Apple does anything - money.
They’re creating competition among their suppliers, and unfortunately that means some customers will get stuck with the ****** Intel modem.
 
First, the chip may only be designed to allow so many bands to be used. Then, we have something called duopoly or monopoly. I am not sure which one. But “exclusive” is still a good feeling for many many people, even though this “exclusivity” probably hurts them more than benefits them.
To solve this problem, Apple, Intel and Qualcomm might need to negotiate so that there is a chip useable across all available bands while not hurting their revenue or whatever they want. The thing is, I doubt this will ever happen.
 
We still require a CDMA/GSM handset for the few CDMA carriers left in the world (hurry the hell up and shut it down, would you Sprint/Verizon!!!) :) Otherwise you could have SKU's just for colour and storage capacity.

Believe Verizon will finally have their old CDMA network shut down by the end of 2019. That will be the end of it.

Qualcomm OWNS the CDMA protocol....so anyone that makes modems for CDMA, they're paying licensing to Qualcomm, so it's cheaper to just buy them from the source.
The Intel modems are used in the GSM phones ever since the legal wrangling began between Qualcomm and Apple. The way things are going Intel will eventually likely be their sole supplier (unless someone else, other than Qualcomm steps up).
 
Like already posted. Money.

Apple has to pay royalties to Qualcomm on every single iPhone sold with Qualcomm modem. About $15
 
Anybody know why or have a theory as to why Apple has an "AT&T" and a "Verizon" model of the X? The "Verizon" model works on AT&T and Verizon type cellular networks, but the "AT&T" model only works on AT&T type cellular networks. Seems it would be easier and more cost effective for Apple to make just one model for everybody. Perhaps Apple has to pay a relatively high licensing fee to manufacture the "Verizon" model, so it's worth to them to manufacture two versions of iPhone X?
 
I am sure that it has to do with some contractual obligation that Apple has or sourcing issues for parts.

If it's not that, then I sure as heck don't know why, but it is what it is.
 
Luba said:
Anybody know why or have a theory as to why Apple has an "AT&T" and a "Verizon" model of the X? The "Verizon" model works on AT&T and Verizon type cellular networks, but the "AT&T" model only works on AT&T type cellular networks. Seems it would be easier and more cost effective for Apple to make just one model for everybody. Perhaps Apple has to pay a relatively high licensing fee to manufacture the "Verizon" model, so it's worth to them to manufacture two versions of iPhone X?
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Same reason they did this for the 7/7+ and 8/8+.

Cost effective to produce only what each carrier needs.
 
AT&T uses GSM. Verizon uses CDMA. That is why you cannot take an AT&T phone and use it on the Verizon network (and vise verse). Thus, Apple must manufacturer two different models for each network type. T-Mobile is GSM and Sprint is CDMA.
 
WolfSnap said:
Apple and Qualcomm are suing each other.

Apple and intel aren’t.

Apple would prefer to use intel modems only, but, they don’t have a cdma modem. Hence, they use Qualcomm where needed, and intel everywhere else.
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Ah, for every Verizon model Apple makes, Qualcom makes money. So, in a way, Apple is doing this to spite Qualcom?

But for us users, we would want the Verizon model for better resale value. And I forget which countries use mostly CDMA.
 
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Hankster said:
AT&T uses GSM. Verizon uses CDMA. That is why you cannot take an AT&T phone and use it on the Verizon network (and vise verse). Thus, Apple must manufacturer two different models for each network type. T-Mobile is GSM and Sprint is CDMA.
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But you can use a Verizon model on AT&T. That's why I would think it's beneficial for Apple to just make the "Verizon" version.
 
Hankster said:
AT&T uses GSM. Verizon uses CDMA. That is why you cannot take an AT&T phone and use it on the Verizon network (and vise verse). Thus, Apple must manufacturer two different models for each network type. T-Mobile is GSM and Sprint is CDMA.
Click to expand...

That is partially incorrect. GSM only phones cannot work on CDMA networks.

The phones that you purchase that are CDMA capable (Verizon for example) work on both.
 
Qualcomm wants too much money for their modems. Apple is trying to create competition by sourcing from a competitor.
 
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