LTE cards are basically next gen GSM sim cards, right?
Will a Verizon (cdma) phone that is LTE capable like the droid bionic work outside the USA?
Since LTE needs an LTE sim card, would an LTE device work outside the USA simply by removing the LTE card and inserting a local country sim card?
Thanks!
No the radio frequency is different.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
If your device has an antenna that supports GSm then yes it will work. You wont get LTE of course.
Ala my Tbolt works in Europe.
I didnt' think the Tbolt had any GSM capability, where in Europe does it work az?
I have seen conflicting information on whether or not the Bionic has a GSM radio in it. On GSM Arena, they have the specs up now, and emphasize that it doesn't have a GSM radio, but when the phone went through the FCC, there are articles talking about how it will be a 'world phone'.
Does anyone work for Verizon, or actually know the situation? It baffles me that there are no LTE devices that are also usable in Europe.
Verizon piggy backs on Vodaphone's network in Eruope.
Check out http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Global_Phone/Europe/Germany.html for proof.
It isn't cheap though
azwildfire said:
Verizon piggy backs on Vodaphone's network in Eruope.
Check out http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Global_Phone/Europe/Germany.html for proof.
It isn't cheap though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that page. I see that Verizon uses that network overseas, but it doesn't appear as though the Bionic has a GSM chip in it, does it?
There is almost zero CDMA in Europe.
Yeah, you won't get 3g speeds - but you will have basic voice and sms service.
My phone stayed at 1x the whole trip - but the vast aray of free hotspots in Munich kept me well connected.
Bionic is supposed to be a world phone with 3G service on European frequencies:
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Motorola-DROID-BIONIC_id5306
Superguy said:
Bionic is supposed to be a world phone with 3G service on European frequencies:
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Motorola-DROID-BIONIC_id5306
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for that link. It seems that for every link that I find that says that the Bionic has a GSM chip in it, there is another link that says that it doesn't. Phonearena is a good site, so this keeps me being hopeful, but then I find sites like this: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_bionic-3710.php
They don't have a GSM chip listed, and specifically say that, "it will not work on any GSM network worldwide."
I guess that we will not know until after it is released and Verizon is finally allowed to talk about it? I tried talking to Motorola about it, and I have e-mails out to Verizon, but I'm not getting any information back that is relevant.
Check the FCC page for the Bionic here.
It's referred to in the user manual.
Though I will say, I couldn't find the GSM stuff in the tests, so it may not have made the final cut. I guess we'll see for sure on Thursday.
The link you had was for the original Bionic (the Etna). It got canned and reworked. The code name for this version was the Targa. This also has a model number of XT875 vs. the original's XT865.
I am currently living and working overseas. I can confirm that 4G LTE does not work in China. Actually, neither does verizon's 3G, which i believe is evdo (?).
No dice on it being a world phone it looks like it.
Phone Arena posted the user manual from Verizon's site. The manual's been updated from what Moto submitted to the FCC. It looks like GSM/UMTS was dropped from the final version. Makes sense considering it wasn't mentioned in the FCC test reports.
Bummer.
I would like to make a note that this phone can work in specific countries. Yes GSM is used throughout the world as the primary network (freq. band) which this phone does not provide but, it can still work in countries that has the CDMA network capabilities.
If you look in the "Getting Started" guide which came with the phone, there are Three sections about the "Go Global", "International Calling", "International Romaning" service provided by Verizon.
What I find odd is why mention this service if this phone is not a world/global/international phone..
HERE is an Example of some Countries that this phone should work in.
Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Bahamas, Canada, Mexico, India, etc....
for a full list you can find it on Verizon's Wireless Site.
I also called Verizon to verify if this phone will work in Japan specifically as it is a primary destination of mine. They told me that in their records, The Motorola Droid Bionic phone will work in Japan. There is though, supposedly, an issue in texting where you can receive but not send
Even if its on the list, call them to verify to be safe before making a trip with the phone.
I did also ask about Europe to verify since they use GSM and they said that it would not work there. I was testing to see if they would say something opposite to what was mentioned publicly... something possibly hidden lol
Note: The primary focus was, does this phone will work in a specific country that I might travel to while still using the Verizon's plan.
If you are looking to try and get this phone moved to another service provider in that country on the other hand, I cant guarantee that it would work or is even possible. This was not a question that I brought up to Verizon.
Also I did not ask about the 4G/3G Data plan overseas.
Bionic in Japan and China
I went to China in 2005, my CDMA phone worked fine, however it was an old phone. No smart phones in 2005. I went to Japan last year with my Droid x. Everything worked well, Navigation text, phone calls. However the entire time you are in 1x mode. No 3G service in Japan, for Verizon customers. However ATT customers often had no service. I only had no service in once place. Not in a big city.
Since Japan is moving towards LTE there is no support for 3G on the CDMA network.
I do not think an LTE World phone is ready yet, for the difference band Frequency LTE operates on in different regions of the world. I would be happy if my phone worked in Japan, and it will but you will not get fast speeds and Data is very expensive on the network. When I went it was unlimited data for $64. Now Verizon has international plans. That will give you up to 250 Mb for $100. THe good thing is at 1x, how much data can you use.
not sure why this thread is spanning more than two posts.
it's cdma. no gsm chip.
there are about a dozen countries that support cdma. google it.
well the thing is the 4g chip for LTE uses a GSM network, thus the sim card... but the GSM chip works for 700 mhz OMLY, which is a LTE network frequency ONLY, so if you roam out of country, to do texts and calls, it would have to use CDMA. Not only that, but atm verizon is the only LTE carrier to use 700mhz. (correct me if I am wrong about that) so unless verizon has LTE tours out of country (vodafone?) you only will get 4G here, and if you do get 4G out of country, not only would it cost you a arm and a leg, but if there is no CDMA in the area, you would have data only. no calls, texts, or such.
Related
hi really want the new droid 4 coming out but im going to uk in a couple of weeks and just want to know if it will be realeased in the UK or Australia and will the U S version work in Australia
I think the title sure is..
will motorola droid 4 work in uk or aus?
will motorola droid 4 also work in hk??
tangbin said:
I think the title sure is..
will motorola droid 4 work in uk or aus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that better or is there a problem
GSMArena have it listed as supporting 900/2100MHz UMTS 3G. That means Optus/Voafone/Virgin in Australia, all UK networks, and any UMTS provider in Hong Kong except NTT DoCoMo.
In my experience, GSMArena usually f*ck up their frequency listings a lot.
It would be a huge departure for Verizon to make their new world phones 900/2100MHz when ALL the other world phones they've released are 850/1900/2100. Plus it would make the majority of their roaming agreements with partners useless.
I think it's pretty safe to say it will be at least 850/1900, perhaps 850/1900/2100. That means if your network uses 900MHz you're out of luck.
EDIT: Old thread, sorry. Have no idea why this one popped up!
plktom123 said:
will motorola droid 4 also work in hk??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are from hk?? me too.
Droid 4 can be working in hk because it is a cdma/gsm device, BUT verizon has locked down the gsm.
so basically, it wont work
DROID 4 is not a GLOBAL phone. It will only work on Verizon network.
ifixit's teardown has a chip identification:
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Motorola-Droid-4-Teardown/7759/2
Has a Qualcomm MDM6600 chip:
from wikipedia:
MDM6600™:
Multi-mode modem
HSPA+ with data rates of up to 14.4 Mbit/s
CDMA2000® 1xEV-DO Rev. A/Rev. B support
GPS functionality, including support for Assisted GPS
I'm out of my element here, but that suggests global capability....as to whether it can actually be used, I haven't a clue.
Found some info here http://www.gobi.com/resources#Documentation
Specifically the Gobi3000 product sheet http://www.gobi.com/sites/default/files/Gobi3000r4.pdf
It seems like the chipset can support everything, but CDMA and GSM support are in two separate firmware images. Also even if the chipset has support, there's no guarantee that the requisite antennas and such are connected. But I've already read a few places that Motorola/Verizon plans to enable global roaming with a firmware update in the future, so I'd guess the hardware support is already in place.
The doc doesn't list support for 1700MHz AWS in the frequency list, but it does say "Prepared for UMTS-AWS" which implies that it could be supported with additional tweaks. So probably no US T-Mobile 3G support out of the box, dunno.
Hi,
i'm from italy, anyone know if motorola & verizon release Droid 4 for Europe ( milestone 4 ) with all gsm band? same the droid 1 and 2 released for EU with name milestone 1 and 2.
i read some rumors about a possible declaration of milestone 4 on Mobile World Congress 2012.
thnx
crazyman321 said:
hi really want the new droid 4 coming out but im going to uk in a couple of weeks and just want to know if it will be realeased in the UK or Australia and will the U S version work in Australia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure, but the Droid 4 does use a GSM Sim, and that would make me think that you could pic up a Sim in country and put it in your phone. I mean if you don't have to unlock your phone first.
I'm interested in this one too!
My carrier uses 900 and 2100mhz for hsdpa...
Apparently, the Droid 4 will have GSM roaming eventually.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/12/2...-and-lg-spectrum-will-have-global-gsm-roaming
There are a lot of possible show stoppers.
First, I don't think that this was an official VZW statement.
And, even if they will make GSM/HSPA work, it's unclear if and how SIM unlocking will work.
Let's see how it will work out with the xyboard tablets ...
The problem is D4 has dedicated LTE radio now which requires SIM card. My guess ia the Verizon's SIM is only compatible with their own network and can't do roaming just yet. Issue could not be technical at all. To be safe they decided to lock down GSM/HSPA radio for now. Once they figure out how their SIM cards can roam properly on other providers, they will likely push OTA update to enable the HSPA settings.
Verizon doesn't care if we want to use another sim card. Will likely make everything possible to prevent us from doing so. They however want their clients to pay for roaming badly. I am sure the matter will be resolved as this is a big revenue point for them.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Yeah, LTE uses GSM... there is no CDMA LTE connection which is why all the 4g phones have GSM frequency capability, but Verizon has them on a tight lock. It is possible for them to allow you to use in certain GSM areas but I don't think they would unlock it to be used with any other service.
thomaslau said:
Droid 4 can be working in hk because it is a cdma/gsm device, BUT verizon has locked down the gsm.
so basically, it wont work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The challenge isn't the hardware, but rather that the Droid 4 is a Verizon exclusive currently.
Thomas is correct; the radios have more flexibility than Verizon has allowed it. They have announced that sometime this year they will enable global roaming for the phone via their networks, which to me says firmware push.
I am hopeful that Moto will eventually release a GSM-friendly unlocked version, a la the Milestone vs the original Droid.
I have an Ekit SIM card that we have used successfully for international calling when we're traveling (we're based in the US). I have used it in my old HTC Touch Pro 2 (one of Verizon's 'world phones') - put in the card, then the pin, and it connects to available GSM signals. Testing it out at my home in NC, it quickly connects to TMobile.
I have SIM unlocked my wife's Motorola Droid 3, another Verizon 'world phone' - I install the SIM, boot it up, type in the PIN which is accepted, but when it tries to connect, I get the following:
Network Error
No GSM/UMTS networks were found. Would you like to switch to the Global mode?
Is there something different about the signal bands between these 2 phones, such that my Touch Pro 2 has no problem connecting to TMobile GSM here in the US, while the Droid 3 won't? Now that I write this, I do kind of remember reading somewhere that the Droid 3 is not compatible with US GSM bands, so that might explain it.
The bigger question is will it still work outside the US? Specifically, we're going to Tanzania, by way of Amsterdam, and would like to have the option of calling home, or receiving calls from home, with my wife's Droid 3 (I retired my Touch Pro 2, and am now using the Samsung Galaxy Nexus).
We want to travel as light as possible, so would prefer not to bring an extra phone if the Droid 3 will in fact work with this SIM card when overseas.
Thanks!
Being that you have a U.S. branded DROID 3, you need to do some modifications to get it to work on GSM carriers.
Everything you need is here
Sent from my XT862 using Tapatalk 2
KayxGee1 said:
Being that you have a U.S. branded DROID 3, you need to do some modifications to get it to work on GSM carriers.
Everything you need is here
Sent from my XT862 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply - interesting link!
In my case, I don't need it work on GSM carriers in the U.S. - I just want to be confident it will work when I'm overseas.
I did a little more checking, and confirmed that (without the steps in your link) the Droid 3 would not work with US GSM carriers, so I'm reasonably confident I'll be okay when I get overseas.
Thanks again.
DLCPhoto said:
Thanks for the reply - interesting link!
In my case, I don't need it work on GSM carriers in the U.S. - I just want to be confident it will work when I'm overseas.
I did a little more checking, and confirmed that (without the steps in your link) the Droid 3 would not work with US GSM carriers, so I'm reasonably confident I'll be okay when I get overseas.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just need the unlock code, either by contacting Verizon with an account in good standing (or a friend with one) or purchasing one by a well known code dealer (I've heard several people recommend unlock4moto). Although you did mention you already unlocked it. Just putting that there for drifters reading the thread.
After unlock, the D3 should work flawless with foreign GSM carriers, you just need to make sure to input the APNs for data if they are not provided already on the SIM. Otherwise, the phone will not connect to US GSM networks (such as T-Mobile, which is 2g only, D3 lacks the 1700MHz band for Tmo 3g), it would require a flash of the XT883 radio + build.prop... Which is actually quite quick, painless, and simple once you do it a couple times. I keep a copy of both build.props in my /system folder.
For informational purposes; the D3 supports these bands to compare to carriers;
UMTS on 850Mhz, 1900Mhz, and 2100Mhz. (Supports HSPA+ 14.4Mbps)
GSM/EDGE on 850Mhz, 900Mhz, 1800Mhz, and 1900MHz.
CDMA on 800Mhz and 1900Mhz
Stock radio gets you; Verizon in the US, unlocked for any foreign GSM network
XT883 radio gets you; No CDMA (Might work with RUIM card, SIM equiv for foreign CDMA networks/4g LTE networks) GSM anywhere, including the US.
Skreelink said:
You just need the unlock code, either by contacting Verizon with an account in good standing (or a friend with one) or purchasing one by a well known code dealer (I've heard several people recommend unlock4moto). Although you did mention you already unlocked it. Just putting that there for drifters reading the thread.
After unlock, the D3 should work flawless with foreign GSM carriers, you just need to make sure to input the APNs for data if they are not provided already on the SIM. Otherwise, the phone will not connect to US GSM networks (such as T-Mobile, which is 2g only, D3 lacks the 1700MHz band for Tmo 3g), it would require a flash of the XT883 radio + build.prop... Which is actually quite quick, painless, and simple once you do it a couple times. I keep a copy of both build.props in my /system folder.
For informational purposes; the D3 supports these bands to compare to carriers;
UMTS on 850Mhz, 1900Mhz, and 2100Mhz. (Supports HSPA+ 14.4Mbps)
GSM/EDGE on 850Mhz, 900Mhz, 1800Mhz, and 1900MHz.
CDMA on 800Mhz and 1900Mhz
Stock radio gets you; Verizon in the US, unlocked for any foreign GSM network
XT883 radio gets you; No CDMA (Might work with RUIM card, SIM equiv for foreign CDMA networks/4g LTE networks) GSM anywhere, including the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I've already unlocked the SIM - got that through Verizon with no difficulty. Appreciate the other details!
Based on what I've read, and the posts here, I'll be happy to leave my Touch Pro 2 home, and the D3 should do what I need to on my trip. I actually don't need/want data on my phone out there - just wanted another option to call home when WiFi isn't available (I'll be using Skype when it is).
Thanks for the replies - told me what I needed to know!
DLCPhoto said:
Yes, I've already unlocked the SIM - got that through Verizon with no difficulty. Appreciate the other details!
Based on what I've read, and the posts here, I'll be happy to leave my Touch Pro 2 home, and the D3 should do what I need to on my trip. I actually don't need/want data on my phone out there - just wanted another option to call home when WiFi isn't available (I'll be using Skype when it is).
Thanks for the replies - told me what I needed to know!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you enjoy your romp around the globe!
Hello everyone,
I have a question I am hoping can be answered.
I used to own an HTC Dinc with that device I was able to watch YouTube no problem, however I can't watch any videos at all with this new phone.
I am thinking it's just slow connectivity*this is prolly it* but what's so different with my old phone to this?
My local carrier sells this particular model so I bought it second hand, it's a great device don't get me wrong but this one thing is killing it for me.
Is there a way to bring it back to the carrier and have them set it up to use the data like on my Dinc or am I just stuck with crappy connection?
Now with that all said, my local carrier markets 4G LTE but it has only one device which is an LG AS840, I actually asked if I can implement this to my One. They said they can't, I am wondering why wouldn't it work? Is it because the frequencies don't correspond with each other? Or am I missing something entirely?
All I want to do is be able to watch videos when I am not using WiFi*no internet at home atm, I have WiFi at work though*.
Another thing to add as well is, my girlfriend has an S3 which is AT&T branded, well to say it frankly her phone has much better connection than my One. I am also wondering about SIM unlocking, if I SIM unlock will I be able to use a SIM card from her carrier? Currently the carrier she uses is DoCoMo Pacific which uses AT&T branded devices while mine uses Sprint.
If anyone can enlighten me on this subject or even shoot down all my hopes I would appreciate it!!
v1ral said:
Hello everyone,
I have a question I am hoping can be answered.
I used to own an HTC Dinc with that device I was able to watch YouTube no problem, however I can't watch any videos at all with this new phone.
I am thinking it's just slow connectivity*this is prolly it* but what's so different with my old phone to this?
My local carrier sells this particular model so I bought it second hand, it's a great device don't get me wrong but this one thing is killing it for me.
Is there a way to bring it back to the carrier and have them set it up to use the data like on my Dinc or am I just stuck with crappy connection?
Now with that all said, my local carrier markets 4G LTE but it has only one device which is an LG AS840, I actually asked if I can implement this to my One. They said they can't, I am wondering why wouldn't it work? Is it because the frequencies don't correspond with each other? Or am I missing something entirely?
All I want to do is be able to watch videos when I am not using WiFi*no internet at home atm, I have WiFi at work though*.
Another thing to add as well is, my girlfriend has an S3 which is AT&T branded, well to say it frankly her phone has much better connection than my One. I am also wondering about SIM unlocking, if I SIM unlock will I be able to use a SIM card from her carrier? Currently the carrier she uses is DoCoMo Pacific which uses AT&T branded devices while mine uses Sprint.
If anyone can enlighten me on this subject or even shoot down all my hopes I would appreciate it!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who is your carrier, specifically? If your girlfriend is on DoCoMo Pacific, I’m guessing you live in Guam. The Sprint One can only use LTE on the 1900 MHz G-block (Band 25). Currently, I believe that Sprint is the only carrier in the world that uses that frequency/block, meaning the Sprint One will only be able to use Sprint’s LTE network. Since this is part of the physical design of the radio/antenna, it cannot be changed.
Here is the full list of frequencies that the Sprint One can access:
2G/2.5G - GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
3G - UMTS/HSPA: 1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 14.4 Mbps
3G - CDMA: 800/1900 MHz for Sprint
4G - LTE: Sprint: 1900 MHz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(Source)
In order to access the UMTS/HSPA bands, you would have to SIM-unlock. You would have to find out if there’s a carrier in Guam that transmits on those 3G frequencies (1900/2100 MHz) if you want to do things like stream video because the 2G/2.5G is very likely not fast enough.
subhumanderelict said:
Who is your carrier, specifically? If your girlfriend is on DoCoMo Pacific, I’m guessing you live in Guam. The Sprint One can only use LTE on the 1900 MHz G-block (Band 25). Currently, I believe that Sprint is the only carrier in the world that uses that frequency/block, meaning the Sprint One will only be able to use Sprint’s LTE network. Since this is part of the physical design of the radio/antenna, it cannot be changed.
Here is the full list of frequencies that the Sprint One can access:
(Source)
In order to access the UMTS/HSPA bands, you would have to SIM-unlock. You would have to find out if there’s a carrier in Guam that transmits on those 3G frequencies (1900/2100 MHz) if you want to do things like stream video because the 2G/2.5G is very likely not fast enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My carrier is IT&E.
So doing a SIM unlock will help me at least switch to a different carrier, I was actually thinking about doing it just to switch. But as I was reading the various SIM unlock threads here, it's still pretty sketchy.
How about that LG AS840 using LTE on my carrier, or should I throw that thought out the window?
I will look around and see what kind of prices the carrier's offer, I dont want to be on contract so maybe prepaid is the way to go*I'm actually off contract but still pay my contracted amount.
This device is exceptional but the data speeds here locally suck.
I'll be going to the UK for a couple of weeks and want to buy a "pay as you go" sim card when I get to heathrow to get a UK phone number and make local calls.
Can I just buy the nano sim from the provider into my verizon phone and it will work or do I have to "convert" my phone with the t-mobile software before I go to activate GSM? I don't care about LTE, data over cellular is just fine for emails and msgs. My moto x is the unlocked Verizon dev edition.
ghstudio said:
I'll be going to the UK for a couple of weeks and want to buy a "pay as you go" sim card when I get to heathrow to get a UK phone number and make local calls.
Can I just buy the nano sim from the provider into my verizon phone and it will work or do I have to "convert" my phone with the t-mobile software before I go to activate GSM? I don't care about LTE, data over cellular is just fine for emails and msgs. My moto x is the unlocked Verizon dev edition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should work fine as is. VZW devices are already sim-unlocked.
Keep in mind, that the VZW version does not support the LTE frequencies used in the UK. It also doesn't support the 1800mhz UMTS band that is used by some carriers in Europe....so you MIGHT not even get HSPA+ if your carrier happens to use that band...
There is nothing you can do about either of the above 2 issues, since the radio hardware on the VZW variant doesn't support these bands. Phone calls & texts will not be an issue, since it DOES support all the GSM bands.
Good Luck
samwathegreat said:
It should work fine as is. VZW devices are already sim-unlocked.
Keep in mind, that the VZW version does not support the LTE frequencies used in the UK. It also doesn't support the 1800mhz UMTS band that is used by some carriers in Europe....so you MIGHT not even get HSPA+ if your carrier happens to use that band...
There is nothing you can do about either of the above 2 issues, since the radio hardware on the VZW variant doesn't support these bands. Phone calls & texts will not be an issue, since it DOES support all the GSM bands.
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to the specs, my phone has exactly the same bands/frequencies as the AT&T phone, except for lte. I guess I have to see if anyone in the uk uses 1800 utms and avoid them, I guess. But per your post, if I put a gsm sim in the phone it will just start to work on gsm in the uk. That's great news.
ghstudio said:
According to the specs, my phone has exactly the same bands/frequencies as the AT&T phone, except for lte. I guess I have to see if anyone in the uk uses 1800 utms and avoid them, I guess. But per your post, if I put a gsm sim in the phone it will just start to work on gsm in the uk. That's great news.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know where you saw those "specs" but they are wrong.EDIT: I now see that you said "except for LTE" - this is correct.
Everything I said previously still applies...
The attachment should clear everything up for you.
The VZW unit does support all the same UMTS frequencies as the AT&T unit, but NOT the European model.
And finally: It probably won't "just start to work" on GSM. You WILL need to go to Settings > More > Mobile Networks --- and then select "GSM/UMTS". Then it will "just start to work"
samwathegreat said:
I don't know where you saw those "specs" but they are wrong.EDIT: I now see that you said "except for LTE" - this is correct.
Everything I said previously still applies...
The attachment should clear everything up for you.
The VZW unit does support all the same UMTS frequencies as the AT&T unit, but NOT the European model.
And finally: It probably won't "just start to work" on GSM. You WILL need to go to Settings > More > Mobile Networks --- and then select "GSM/UMTS". Then it will "just start to work"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks....especially for that last step. I kind of figured there was something that I had to change on the phone
You may also have to manually input the correct APN info for the carrier you choose, but there should be directions with the Sim. It may just work, but it didn't for me in Australia. I had to manually do it.
Sent from my Dev Edition Moto X
^ The above is correct, but ONLY applies to DATA & MMS. Talk/text will work even without an APN. Most times, the appropriate APN is added automatically from the SIM.
My son's AT&T S5 got stolen and my wife bought a US Cellular S5 off of Craigslist. My 1st thought was she got ripped off, but I took it in to US Cellular and they unlocked it for me. The phone doesn't have the option to switch to GSM network, so my AT&T Sim still doesn't work, but it doesn't say invalid Sim now. My question is this: is the modem GSM capable, but not listed? And if I root and flash another rom, will that enable the settings for GSM ?
I did notice the unlocked bootloader. I just rooted it very easily. Now if I can just get it to work on ATT.
sizemore2000 said:
My son's AT&T S5 got stolen and my wife bought a US Cellular S5 off of Craigslist. My 1st thought was she got ripped off, but I took it in to US Cellular and they unlocked it for me. The phone doesn't have the option to switch to GSM network, so my AT&T Sim still doesn't work, but it doesn't say invalid Sim now. My question is this: is the modem GSM capable, but not listed? And if I root and flash another rom, will that enable the settings for GSM ?
I did notice the unlocked bootloader. I just rooted it very easily. Now if I can just get it to work on ATT.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the unfortunate answer is no, CDMA devices do not work on GSM networks.
Thank you sir. Guess I'll put this one up for sale for a Sprint, Verizon, or US Cellular customer.
sizemore2000 said:
My son's AT&T S5 got stolen and my wife bought a US Cellular S5 off of Craigslist. My 1st thought was she got ripped off, but I took it in to US Cellular and they unlocked it for me. The phone doesn't have the option to switch to GSM network, so my AT&T Sim still doesn't work, but it doesn't say invalid Sim now. My question is this: is the modem GSM capable, but not listed? And if I root and flash another rom, will that enable the settings for GSM ?
I did notice the unlocked bootloader. I just rooted it very easily. Now if I can just get it to work on ATT.
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Usually CDMA Phones wont work on GSM Network. But Verizon CDMA Phones does work on GSM too when unlocked as they have GSM Frequency.
I looked at Spec of US Cellular S5 and looks they don't have GSM Frequency. Its more like a strip down version and no GSM Frequency.
Here are the spec for
US Cellular
FREQUENCIES AND DATA TYPE
LTE: Bands 2/4/5/12/17; CDMA 1x/EVDO Rev.A: 800/1900MHz
Verizon S5
FREQUENCIES AND DATA TYPE
LTE: Bands 4/13; CDMA 1x/EVDO Rev.A: 800/1900MHz; GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz; HSPA+/UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100MHz
ATT
FREQUENCIES AND DATA TYPE
LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/17; HSPA+/UMTS: 850/1900/2100MHz; GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz;
sakdroid said:
Usually CDMA Phones wont work on GSM Network. But Verizon CDMA Phones does work on GSM too when unlocked as they have GSM Frequency.
I looked at Spec of US Cellular S5 and looks they don't have GSM Frequency. Its more like a strip down version and no GSM Frequency.
Here are the spec for
US Cellular
FREQUENCIES AND DATA TYPE
LTE: Bands 2/4/5/12/17; CDMA 1x/EVDO Rev.A: 800/1900MHz
Verizon S5
FREQUENCIES AND DATA TYPE
LTE: Bands 4/13; CDMA 1x/EVDO Rev.A: 800/1900MHz; GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz; HSPA+/UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100MHz
ATT
FREQUENCIES AND DATA TYPE
LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/17; HSPA+/UMTS: 850/1900/2100MHz; GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz;
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Verizon switched to GSM thats why there devices will ocasionally work as long as the freqs are the same (some arent)
they still also have CDMA/EVDO configs as well since their network is still supporting both once they complete the switch over (from what ive been told mid to late 2016) they will no longer support any CDMA devices.
cstayton said:
Verizon switched to GSM thats why there devices will ocasionally work as long as the freqs are the same (some arent)
they still also have CDMA/EVDO configs as well since their network is still supporting both once they complete the switch over (from what ive been told mid to late 2016) they will no longer support any CDMA devices.
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Sorry to sound harsh but what you're saying is complete nonsense. Verizon did not (and is not planning on a) switch to GSM. They were, and still are a CDMA carrier.
The reason Verizon devices support GSM is so that their customers can roam in countries outside the US, some of which happen to use the same GSM frequencies as AT&T and T-Mobile do in the US (and therefore, by extension, support these two carriers domestically). And since all Verizon devices which include support for LTE are completely unlocked, in most instances you can take the phone and use it on AT&T or T-Mobile US. That said, when it comes to LTE specifically, these devices often do not have all of the LTE bands supported by T-Mobile and AT&T so on them they will often only work on GSM (2G) or UMTS (3G).
The reason the US Cellular variant won't work on AT&T or T-Mobile is because it looks like US Cellular didn't care about giving their customers the capability to roam internationally with their variant of the S5 - meaning they had the phone made in such a way that it doesn't support any GSM or UMTS bands at all.
myphone12345 said:
Sorry to sound harsh but what you're saying is complete nonsense. Verizon did not (and is not planning on a) switch to GSM. They were, and still are a CDMA carrier.
The reason Verizon devices support GSM is so that their customers can roam in countries outside the US, some of which happen to use the same GSM frequencies as AT&T and T-Mobile do in the US (and therefore, by extension, support these two carriers domestically). And since all Verizon devices which include support for LTE are completely unlocked, in most instances you can take the phone and use it on AT&T or T-Mobile US. That said, when it comes to LTE specifically, these devices often do not have all of the LTE bands supported by T-Mobile and AT&T so on them they will often only work on GSM (2G) or UMTS (3G).
The reason the US Cellular variant won't work on AT&T or T-Mobile is because it looks like US Cellular didn't care about giving their customers the capability to roam internationally with their variant of the S5 - meaning they had the phone made in such a way that it doesn't support any GSM or UMTS bands at all.
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calm down dude, i'm only passing on information that was provided to me by the local verizon store manager and unless your a verizon employee im gonna go with what im told by a verizon employee
cstayton said:
calm down dude, i'm only passing on information that was provided to me by the local verizon store manager and unless your a verizon employee im gonna go with what im told by a verizon employee
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I can tell you with 100% certainty that the person you talked to has no clue whatsoever (and Lord help Verizon if that is the level of technical understanding of their store managers ).
My suspicion as to where the confusion is coming from is that at some point in the future Verizon will stop putting CDMA radios in their devices and rely solely on VoLTE (voice over LTE) technology to provide voice services (currently most voice calls on Verizon are carried on their CDMA network). However, that certainly doesn't mean that they will be shutting off their CDMA service anytime in the foreseeable future .since they will still have a lot of legacy devices whose voice support will only be on CDMA. Nor does it mean that they are switching over to GSM, which is certainly not something they are planning on doing.
myphone12345 said:
I can tell you with 100% certainty that the person you talked to has no clue whatsoever (and Lord help Verizon if that is the level of technical understanding of their store managers ).
My suspicion as to where the confusion is coming from is that at some point in the future Verizon will stop putting CDMA radios in their devices and rely solely on VoLTE (voice over LTE) technology to provide voice services (currently most voice calls on Verizon are carried on their CDMA network). However, that certainly doesn't mean that they will be shutting off their CDMA service anytime in the foreseeable future .since they will still have a lot of legacy devices whose voice support will only be on CDMA. Nor does it mean that they are switching over to GSM, which is certainly not something they are planning on doing.
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well like i said was info passed on by a verizon store manager so take that as you may im not a verizon customer nor will i be since they dont provide coverage where i need it.
Thanks for the info. I ended up selling the phone on ebay and now the guy wants to send it back claiming it's only unlocked for us cellular. I told him it should work on any cdma network, but they might have to flash it on their network. Oh well, if all else fails, I can use it to download movies and stream to the TV! Lol.
I'll install Kodi on it and use it as a media center.
Lol
cstayton said:
Verizon switched to GSM thats why there devices will ocasionally work as long as the freqs are the same (some arent)
they still also have CDMA/EVDO configs as well since their network is still supporting both once they complete the switch over (from what ive been told mid to late 2016) they will no longer support any CDMA devices.
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I'm just gonna LMAO to this reply. Lol. It's an old thread but I'm assuming you have done some research and realize your answer is wrong pertaining to Verizon and GSM. Have a great day.