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simple question; but yet even Googling this yields no real answers to the question--just conjecture by fake "news" sites that regurgitate facts from Endgadget. If the iPhone 4S truly works with either/or; why can you not use it with either/or?
Sprint and Verizon operate on the CDMA format. Unlocked iPhone 4S operate only with GSM format carriers. For the iPhone 4S to operate on a CDMA carrier, it has to be configured that way at the factory.
I don't wish to be contary or argumentative, but.... the iPhone 4S has hardware in it that allows it to work with GSM and CDMA carriers; is it that the iPhone lacks an interface/UI option to "switch" between networks or .?
I really thought the unified hardware was meant to allow people carrier choice...
julienpdx wrote:
I really thought the unified hardware was meant to allow people carrier choice...
You thought wrong. The ONLY officially unlocked iPhone is the GSM iPhone, and it will not work on any CDMA network. If you want to use iPhone on a CDMA network, then you must purchase a CDMA iPhone.
Unlocked iPhones operate on GSM networks ONLY. This is clearly documented by Apple. The CDMA portion of unlocked phones is disabled.
Even if it were not, Sprint and Verizon will not allow you to bring your own iPhone to their system, so the discussion is pointless.
The unified hardware is to allow people who choose to use a CDMA network as their primary network to use standard networks when travelling around the world.
CDMA is a dying technology. There are only a handful of carriers on the planet who use it and most are in the process of phasing it out in favor of more widely accepted standards.
The "unified hardware" means that there is only one chip configuration from the manufacturing standpoint. "World Phone" means that the CDMA configured phones can also receive GSM AS A SECONDARY METHOD when traveling, and remain locked to the CDMA carrier. There is no way to have an unlocked CDMA iPhone 4S, in part due to carrier enforced restrictions.
if the iPhone 4S is one unified device, then what is it that "tells' the phone its supposed to look for service on CDMA versus GSM? (wjosten's reply implies that there are still two separate versions; which there are not). And yes, I see that the unlocked iPhone doesn't work officially on CDMA networks but again, with the phone being capable of speaking to either network, that is what is prompting me to ask why. I'm thinking no one actually knows, which is why you can't find the answer on Google at all.
and yes, i'm asking because one device that would allow you to be on AT&T for a year or two and then "Switch" to Verizon later on (without changing devices) would seem to be in Apple's best interest, as well as the consumer's.
Wishful thinking will get you nowhere.... The "technical" reason is that Apple did not design it to do that. The practical reason is that neither Sprint or Verizon will accept and "unlocked" CDMA phone in their system (one of the downsides of having no SIM card).
"CDMA available only if iPhone 4S is sold and activated for use on a CDMA network"
This must mean that some sort of "provisioning" takes place when the phone is activated the first time that tells it to always operate on CDMA from then on.
There doesn't seem to be a UI within iOS that would allow you to "switch" between operating on either network. What a shame.
julienpdx wrote:
(wjosten's reply implies that there are still two separate versions; which there are not).
Actually, you are wrong again. There are hardware differences between the two models..slight, but they are in fact different.
I think you need to do a little research into how CDMA phones and phone systems work.
There doesn't seem to be a UI within iOS that would allow you to "switch" between operating on either network. What a shame.
Gee, there isn't even a "UI within the iOS" that allows you to unlock a GSM phone. This is done at the baseband level.
So, if there were such an option, EXACTLY what would you do with this "unlocked" CDMA phone? Stated here for the 3rd time, niether Sprint or Verizon would accept it - they are provisioned only for locked phones they sell.
why is there one "tech specs" then? The iPhone 4 tech spec sheet makes it clear that two different versions were manufacturered; the iPhone 4S tech specs sheet states that only one hardware device was manufactured for this version. In fact, all the hype when this phone was announced clearly states that this was the first iPhone that DIDN'T have more than one hardware profile.
Tell ya what you do...purchase both...tear them down side-by-side...see for yourself. Better yet, purchase a CDMA iPhone at full price, take it to an AT&T store and ask them to activate it on their network. Or purchase an unlocked GSM iPhone and go to a Verizon store. You don't want to believe anyone here...makes me wonder why you posted in the first place...so do your own research.
You are talking in circles. The limited consumer tech specs sheet doesn't prove anything. The chip specs are the same.
You're wasting your time trying to rationalize your uninformed expectations. Your technical naivete has made you yearn for something that won't even do what you want. Live with it.
Why doesn't the unlocked iPhone 4S work with Sprint or Verizon?
