I just purchased a new iphone 5c from Verizon in the US, but I am currently living in the UK and have the intent to use it here with a local carrier. I was wondering if there is any reason to "activate" the phone in the US, since I will only be using it abroad. I know that the Verizon iphone 5c comes unlocked- will activating it in the US affect my ability to use a different SIM/carrier in the UK?
Thanks for any help!
iPhone 5c
Then why in the world did you purchase a U.S. iPhone on a CDMA carrier?
I strongly recommend you return the phone while you can. Get your money back, then purchase a phone in the country where you intend to use it.
There is no gaurantee that it will work on an LTE network outside of The US, even if the carrier uses bands that are supported on the phone. In addition, you will not be able to get it serviced either in or out of warranty without physically bringing it back to the US.
The issue is that I am still bound to a contract with Verizon, which has been put on hiatus for now and will resume when I move back to the US (in only a few months time). And the phone I've just received is a replacement for one lost in travel, so the price was subsidized through verizon because of my insurance policy with them...
Then I don't understand the question. You seem to be fully aware that the SIM slot is unlocked. You are currently under contract with, and paying for service from Verizon. Why would you not go ahead and activate the phone? Then, when you get to your destination, buy a Nano-SIM from a carrier where you'll be, replace the Verizon SIM with it and go on your way.
When you come back to the US, put the Verizon SIM in the phone, and off you go.
What I wasn't sure about was the relationship between a phone being "unlocked" <=> "activated" and whether activating it to a US network would then lock it from use otherwise. From what you said, it sounds like they're completely independent and there's no reason not to activate it in the US. Thanks.
Activating it on Verizon will not prevent you from using it on any GSM carrier, either in the US, UK, or anywhere else.
NOT activating it on Verizon before you leave may make it difficult to activate it at all if you don't do so before leaving the US where it can physically communicate with Verizon's network.
Activate new Verizon factory iphone 5c or not (overseas use)?
