Buy iPhone 5 A1429 CDMA unlocked without contract

CDMA iPhone 5 from Walmart for Straight Talk uses Verizon's network without a contract: $45/month.

http://answers.walmart.com/answers/1336/product/22401226/questions.htm?expandque stion=1021409

Not really germane to this discussion and for anyone going that route be sure to read the fine print.

Why not germane? On the contrary, it directly answers the question "Where I can buy iPhone 5 CDMA A1429 unlocked without contract?."

It is also available from Verizon without contract. But not from Apple online.

The link you provided is an answer from a customer. Will have to try to find someone who has tried the GSM side of the ST phone and tried to transfer to Verizon with it. But since you can buy it with no contract directly from Verizon why bother with ST?

ST costs less. (Also has limitations; for some, lower cost balances them.)

How can it cost less? You pay full price for a no contract phone wherever you get it in the US.

The ST service costs less than the minimum month-by-month plan or contract for iPhone at Verizon.

I don't believe the OP had any intention of using it with Verizon so that wouldn't matter. ST is cheaper per month but has som pretty severe limitations that would impact some customers. As I said, read the fine print.

Hi. Is the new iPhone 5 from Verizon CDMA only? I don't know much about this topic, but, here is what I found at the T-Mobile FAQ that may be of interest. The FAQ states that any new Verizon and Sprint iPhone 5 are compatible with the T-Mobile network. I thought T-Mobile is GSM only. Does this mean that T-Mobile may use a CDMA iPhone 5? Or is the Verizon iPhone 5 CDMA & GSM compatible? What does this T-Mobile FAQ answer mean? I'm looking at purchasing my own iPhone 5 and then select the carrier with the best deal which meets my needs (no contract / preferably CDMA / multiple devices).

Bring your own phone to T-Mobile.

http://explore.t-mobile.com/phone-sim-card

Click on the FAQ tab.

http://explore.t-mobile.com/phone-sim-card#faq

Scroll to question below and note the Verizon and Sprint iPhone 5 answer.

Is it true other carriers are unlocking the iPhone?

A: Yes, AT&T will unlock the iPhones of any off-contract customers in good standing who request such. Once unlocked, aT-Mobile SIM can be ordered, a plan selected, and the the AT&T iPhone will work on the T-Mobile network. To check which type of SIM you need, click here.

Verizon and Sprint iPhone 5 devices are compatible with our network. Previous iPhone models from Verizon and Sprint are not compatible with T-Mobile's network.

You may also visit a smartphone unlocking website, like http://www.releasemycode.com. Before unlocking any device, check your warranty and contract with your carrier to see what conditions apply to unlocking your device.

-- End FAQ --

Thanks

The Verizon and Sprint iPhone are CDMA/GSM "world phones".

The SIM slot on the Verizon iPhone 5 is unlocked per FCC regulations in exchange for winning a bandwidth auction. It can be used on any GSM network. The Sprint iPhone 5 can only be unlocked for international roaming. It can not be used with any US carrier other than Sprint.

The Verizon iPhone 5 will not be compatible with the T-Mobile LTE network so far as I know.

If you want to use a CDMA carrier, you must purchase a phone designed explicitly for that carrier. You can not use a CDMA iPhone on any CDMA carrier other than the one it was sold for.

KiltedTim - Thank you. Your response is very informative and has me moving down a different path. I'm now noticing there are even differences in the new iPad 3 and iPad Mini service compatability. I now may prefer a new iPad 3.

Which network is best for the iPad 3 Data? CDMA vs. GSM? Locked (dedicated) or Unlocked?

Thanks.

There is no such thing as an "unlocked" CDMA device. If you want to use a CDMA carrier, your ONLY choice is to purchase a device sold specifically for that carrier. iPhones (and iPads) are not portable between CDMA carriers.

There are a total of 2 supported GSM carriers in the US. AT&T and T-Mobile.

There are a ton of regional CDMA carriers with low service prices, but they do not subsidise the price of the phone at all.

The benefit of locked vs unlocked depend largely on whether you realistically intend to leave the US in the next few years for any period of time long enough to want to be able to use your phone on a foreign network without paying roaming charges.

Really, it's going to come down to 2 factors: Coverage, and price (both the initial price of the phone and the cost of service over time).

CDMA phones not using SIMs is specific to mainly Canada and USA. In Asia and Africa almost all CDMA operators provide SIM cards for use in SIM slot enabled CDMA phones. And a CDMA network SIM is technically called a R-UIM/CSIM.

And there is a CDMA iPhone 5 available in China that takes R-UIMs but is MIN locked to the China Telecom network. The model number is A1442

Can anybody here help me in unlocking this phone ?

Yes there are such things as fully unlocked CDMA phones. They are known as OMH (Open Market Handsets) and are available aplenty in India, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea South, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand etc.

These OMH CDMA phones all have SIM slots for CDMA SIMs which are called R-UIMs. And can be used with any compatible CDMA network by inserting an R-UIM from that network operator.