What model is my iphone 5, GSM or CDMA?

If it has a SIM slot (right-hand side) then you can use the GSM network. Whether or not the phone is unlocked is an entirely different story. Ask the carrier/store you bought it from.

Also, are you wanting to visit America using your new iPhone? Is that your question?

If so, go with T-mobile, not Verizon/Sprint for a prepaid service.

Model 1429 is not sold by Apple outside the USA.

Don't. Restore it by letting iTunes download the correct version. There is no legitimate reason to do it any other way.

Exactly what "main phone supplier" did you buy it from? The A1429 is NOT sold outside of the US and some very small markets in places like South Korea that use CDMA.

Modular747 you must be mis-informed as my phone is a UK phone bought from a main phone supplier and is A1429. And as above, both models are listed in the UK tech specs

YOU did not read my post which says that APPLE does not sell the 1428 model outside the USA, as there are no CDMA carriers elsewhere. All iPhone 5 models show in the tech specs including the USA-AT&T only 1428, which is not sold by Apple outside the USA

Note that the CDMA section of the phone is permanently locked to a specific CDMA carrier, and all CDMA models are sold by Apple as specific to that carrier. The phone you bought has to be a re-sale of a USA phone, regardless of the claims of the "main phone supplier." (If that supplier was Carephonewarehouse, it's typical of their dodgy sleaze tactics)

These phones are covered by apple's warranty, if they were dodgy I'd assume apple would not cover them?

The warranty will be valid only in the USA, if originated there.

Did you verify that here?

https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

BTW, if you hack the phone to downgrade, the warranty is voided

No, that only means that you were on the UK section of the Apple web site.

There are 2 versions of 1429 - GSM only and CDMA+GSM. The CDMA version is sold only in the USA

If it's a USA only model the warranty is USA only. Apple in the UK does not stock the CDMA version for warranty replacement.

Message was edited by: modular747

I don't quite understand how or why you were sold a CDMA phone in the UK because there are no CDMA networks that exist in the UK. All UK networks require that you insert a sim card into your phone to be able to use it.

Normally, if you purchase an iPhone in the UK, you should probably go direct to the Apple store or if you have a phone company in mind, then go to one of their shops and purchase from there, but not somewhere like CarephoneWarehouse.

snerkler1 wrote:

My iphone is model number A1429 and according to this site my phone is GSM & CDMA.

I never said I had a CDMA phone, just that I had an A1429

What was that you never said???

and as soon as I entered my serial number it took me to the UK site, if it was a US surely I would have stayed on the US site?

If your phone is actually the European 1429 (without CDMA), the warranty is valid in the EU.