Q: not only is the iPhone 6 unlocked, but the t-mobile phones work on verizon!

I Had to change the bandwidth in the wifi setting in the router from40Mhz to 20mhz and this stopped the constant wifi disconnects.

As far as I know this only affected the 5ghz wifi routers, the wireless N on 2.4 I think was o.k.

i Don't own an AC to test with and think AC is still to much of draft status so I don't want to invest in one yet.

I wanted to throw my experience into this thread as well.

I originally purchased a T-Mobile unlocked iPhone 6 from the apple store to try out cricket wireless.  It worked great and came right up on cricket, but my problem with them was that I could not roam at all.  So, as soon as I left Cricket (AT&T GSM) coverage I had an expensive paper weight and that just wasn't going to work.

So, I decided to switch back to Verizon with my unlocked phone and ran into a few hickups.

First off, because my phone wasn't a "Verizon phone" it wasn't in their system and Verizon would not let me activate it directly.  So, I had to activate my service and port my number to Verizon on a different device with a micro SIM and once it was completed I moved the SIM card over to my iPhone and it worked like a champ.  I tested calling with and without LTE voice and both worked just fine.

The only issue was with visual voice mail.  Every time I'd hit the voice mail button it would just call my voicemail.  Also whenever I'd leave a test voicemail I'd get a handful of cryptic SMS messages from Verizon which were obviously meant to signal the visual voicemail app.  I was a little confused because there was the free basic visual voicemail option as well as the $2.99 visual voicemail option.  I switched back and forth between them and reset my network settings and nothing worked.

I finally called Verizon and got through to a great tech support dude who said he knew exactly what the problem was.

Due to my phone not being a "Verizon Phone" it comes up as an unknown phone type in their system.  With the iPhone there's a special type of iPhone visual voicemail that is different than all the standard ones that I could select.  Due to their system not being able to identify my phone type I am not given the option to select iPhone visual voicemail.  So, after he manually enabled it for me I reset the network settings and rebooted the phone for it to take effect.  It initially didn't work until I left a voicemail.  After I left a voicemail then it worked perfectly as others have mentioned in this thread.

So, to get visual voicemail working; yes you have to reset network settings and yes you have to leave a voicemail but the most important key is you have to call Verizon tech support to have them enable the iPhone visual voicemail because you can't do it yourself with an "unknown phone type".

Thanks to this thread, i found out that it was better to buy a verizon model instead of ATT (which i did unfortunately when i bought the Ip6 on day 2 for my wife) since we wanted to use it on Tmobile. So after waiting in vain for the phone to be in stock at the local Apple & Verizon stores, i ordered a Verizon Ip6 on-contract from Apple Store Online. Received the phone 4 days ago and this is where the twist begins.

Even before i received the phone i received an email from Apple stating that my phone is on its way but if do trouble activating the phone upon receiving, then i should call the helpline no. So i called Apple customer service to ask what that was about and they said i should not have any problem activating but in case i do, then i should call the helpline.

So when i received the phone, i tried to start it up by going thru the steps but sure enough i couldnt activate the phone (states phone not activated, pls call 1800XXX). So i called Verizon cust service but the rep wasnt able to help as she couldnt locate the new Verizon no that was assigned to my phone nor could she pull any account info using my SSN. She said she's never seen anything like that before so she told me to go to a verizon store for help as they could check the device as well.

In the meantime, i wanted to see if the phone was indeed unlocked as that was crucial to me. I popped in my colleague's ATT sim and it worked. Didnt try much other than making a phone call so i know that it works.

Yesterday i went to the Verizon store and explained my situation. However even the staff at the store were perplexed as they too couldnt find any record of my account via the tel no, SSN or ID. Basically my account didnt exist in their system ! She asked if i paid full price but i told her no, it was on contract. She also verified that it was a verizon model. At this point i noticed she was clueless on what else to do, so i asked if should take it to the Apple store and see what they have to say and she agreed (as expected).

I then got my current Tmobile micro sim card replaced with a nano sim (went to the Tmobile store right after the verizon store visit) and popped in to the Iphone 6 and it showed 'Iphone is activated'. Was able to make calls and data works perfect and it had LTE signal. Only thing havent tried wifi calling.

So question now is - what do i do witht my Verizon account that apparently does not exist? I'm wondering if this is a rare case of Apple selling a 'device only' phone on a contract price since there is no evidence that i'm a Verizon customer at this stage. My initial plan was to buy a verizon model on contract and then switch to T-mobile after 1 mth but now looks like there's nothing for me to switch.

Keen to hear if anyone else has experienced this or if i am missing something here. Note that i have yet to sign in to Itunes.

Also would like to get confirmation from those who purchased verizon Iphone on contract, whether their phones came unlocked.

That is an interesting story skodeng.  I wonder if it's something that will get figured out a few months down the line and you start getting a bill.

I guess if I were in your shoes and you were planning to switch it to T-mobile anyways I'd just let it ride and see if you get lucky.  I don't think anyone can fault you for not trying your best with Verizon and Apple to let them know what was going on.

Verizon, tmo, and att are all unlocked when purchased at full price And all of those models have the same hardware. I purchased an att 6 plus and plugged it in to my computer for a factory restore and viola. Plugged in my buddies Verizon card and everything worked flawlessly. it seems that apple and the carriers a being very misleading on this subject.

It's the truth - the Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile iPhone 6 and 6+ are all unlocked when purchased at full price from the Apple Store directly. They all have the same internal components and will function with any of the aforementioned carriers' SIMs.

I have personally tested and verified the following:

• iPhone 6+, T-Mobile edition
  • Works with a Verizon post-paid SIM (previously activated on an iPhone 5); everything functioned, including VOLTE and visual voicemail
• iPhone 6, Verizon edition
  • Works with post-paid, pre-activated Verizon SIM (obvi)
  • Works with pre-activated T-MOBILE SIM that was previously used on a Moto X (never used on an iPhone before)

Don't worry about conflicting information from carriers or Apple store employees who are confused. All iPhone 6/6+ phones (except for Sprint) are unlocked when purchased at full price from Apple directly. The only catch is that for anything other than a T-Mobile phone, you have to buy it in person at an Apple store (and they are still often sold out). The T-Mobile version you can order without a contract online directly from Apple.

I think the more important question is can a LOCKED Verizon iPhone 6 and 6 Plus be used on other networks PROVIDED they have never been activated with Verizon? It seems that activating the phone with Verizon locks it to their service. Removing the SIM on a new Verizon phone bought directly from Apple (not Verizon) under contract may, in fact, be an unlocked phone that can be used on AT&T or T-Mobile, etc. You would have to be sure to remove the SIM before turning it on. You would just have to get a micro SIM from the carrier or from an existing phone with that carrier. Not quite the same as an unlocked phone but if you can buy a contract phone on a family plan with Verizon and use it on another carrier, then you'd get the benfit of an unlocked phone but at the contract price.

The part I can't figure out is the CDMA functionality (if any) on the T-Mobile phone.

I ordered the unlocked T-Mobile iPhone 6 A1549 and it works fine on Verizon.  However, when I try to figure out if it's a A1549 (GSM) or A1549 (CDMA) it's really confusing.  On the Apple site it says that it's marked with (GSM) or (CDMA) on the back of the phone, but mine only has A1549 on the back.  It's probably not a big deal because Verizon has GSM coverage pretty much everywhere now, but I am curious.

tuwood wrote:

 

The part I can't figure out is the CDMA functionality (if any) on the T-Mobile phone.

 

I ordered the unlocked T-Mobile iPhone 6 A1549 and it works fine on Verizon.  However, when I try to figure out if it's a A1549 (GSM) or A1549 (CDMA) it's really confusing.  On the Apple site it says that it's marked with (GSM) or (CDMA) on the back of the phone, but mine only has A1549 on the back.  ...

I've never seen that about what's on the back of the phone on an Apple site; link? My full-price "Verizon" iPhone 6 from an Apple Store says "Model A1549" on the back with no modifier. I removed the Verizon-logo SIM before powering it on, then took it to a T-Mobile store for a SIM and activation.

See my answer above. The T-Mobile phone has CDMA functionality because it has the SAME internal radios as the Verizon phone. The GSM and CDMA designations are rather misleading, since each phone has the same components and capabilities.

The phones are only CDMA or GSM if they are locked to a carrier. From a hardware perspective, they are identical. They only become CDMA or GSM via software locks placed on the phone by carriers IF you buy a subsidized phone from a carrier.

If you pay full price and buy from Apple directly, you're not locked into any carrier, and your phone should be UNLOCKED and work with any SIM (except maybe Sprint), on CDMA and GSM networks.

skodeng,

thats is interesting. So you bought the phone with the subsidized discount contract price but Verizon has no record. Wow, you may have got very luck?

the box will say model A1549, but the description on the top of that paragraph will have another number like MG602LL/A and this number is more specific to what carrier it was intended to be sold for. Plus mine came with a Verizon micro sim in the tray.

so the way I see it is as long as the other number matches Verizon and the receipt say Verizon you shouldn't have any issues putting it in Verizon at a later date.

If Verizon never send you a bill even after applying for the Verizon moddle online when buying it then I guess you will never have to pay the early termination fee To move it over to T-Mobile.

The only way your going to find out if a Verizon "locked" phone works with other domestic SIM cards from Att or T-Mobile is if you find a Verizon customer with the iPhone 6 that had the phone turned on the first time with the Verizon sim in the tray. Then maybe ask if you can try your Att or T-Mobile sim in it and see if it works. But this thread is not going to tell you that since we are all buying them, removing the Verizon sim and turning them on for the first time with a different sim.

I Know I'm not willing to try this or risk locking mine to find out since it works great with my Att sim, and I would be surprised if anyone else on this thread would be willing to try it Unless they were able to return the phone if it locks. But considering the shortage in stock I doubt anyone will.

i Just thought of an idea. Take your micro sim from Att or T-Mobile and go to a Verizon store. Pop out the Verizon sim on the demo phone and put your in. Reboot the phone and report back if it worked or not. I would say do a earase all and reboot but the demo phone most likely will have a password on it and will stop you from erasing or resetting the network setting.

brec wrote:

 

tuwood wrote:

 

The part I can't figure out is the CDMA functionality (if any) on the T-Mobile phone.

 

I ordered the unlocked T-Mobile iPhone 6 A1549 and it works fine on Verizon.  However, when I try to figure out if it's a A1549 (GSM) or A1549 (CDMA) it's really confusing.  On the Apple site it says that it's marked with (GSM) or (CDMA) on the back of the phone, but mine only has A1549 on the back.  ...

I've never seen that about what's on the back of the phone on an Apple site; link? My full-price "Verizon" iPhone 6 from an Apple Store says "Model A1549" on the back with no modifier. I removed the Verizon-logo SIM before powering it on, then took it to a T-Mobile store for a SIM and activation.

Here's what I was referring too for identifying which phone model you have:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3939

Model number on the back cover:

• Model A1549 (GSM model)
• Model A1549 (CDMA model)
• Model A1586

Then searching around the web I found numerous sites that listed the bands the GSM model worked on and the bands the CDMA model worked on.  Hence my confusion because everybody is talking as though there are two completely separate A1549 models.
(borrowed from: http://www.techwalls.com/differences-between-iphone-6-6-plus-models/)

A1549 (GSM): This model is compatible with 4G LTE networks on some major carriers in the US and Canada like AT&T, T-Mobile, Rogers (Fido). It supports following LTE bands: 1 (2100 MHz), 2 (1900 MHz), 3 (1800 MHz), 4 (AWS), 5 (850 MHz), 7 (2600 MHz), 8 (900 MHz), 13 (700c MHz), 17 (700b MHz), 18 (800 MHz), 19 (800 MHz), 20 (800 DD), 25 (1900 MHz), 26 (800 MHz), 28 (700 APT MHz) and 29 (700 de MHz). Besides, the GSM version also works on UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz).

A1549 (CDMA): This is considered as the world phone version. It supports all the same spectrum frequencies as the A1549 (GSM) and also includes CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (with 800, 1700/2100, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands). Besides, it works on UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) and 4G LTE bands include bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29. The model is compatible with Verizon and Cricket in the US. However, if you buy an unlocked Verizon phone, you will be able to use it on any other GSM networks like T-Mobile and AT&T as well.

Yes the model number on the box shows A1549 and the part number is MG632LL/A, an indication that its a verizon model. Mine came pre-loaded with the verizon sim in it and i actually tried to activate on Verizon first. Maybe because i didnt activate, thats why i was able to have it working on ATT and T-mobile, x know for sure.

I did read at the beginning of the thread that verizon phone with or without contract, comes unlocked.  Mine is one example (though not a normal one) where verizon iphone purchased under contract comes unlocked out of the box.

Sounds like for now, i should just use the phone with Tmobile sim and wait and see if Verizon does eventually send me a bill.  Also is there anything that i be wary of or look out for when connecting to Itunes?

skodeng wrote:

 

Yes the model number on the box shows A1549 and the part number is MG632LL/A, an indication that its a verizon model. Mine came pre-loaded with the verizon sim in it and i actually tried to activate on Verizon first. Maybe because i didnt activate, thats why i was able to have it working on ATT and T-mobile, x know for sure.

 

I did read at the beginning of the thread that verizon phone with or without contract, comes unlocked.  Mine is one example (though not a normal one) where verizon iphone purchased under contract comes unlocked out of the box.

 

Sounds like for now, i should just use the phone with Tmobile sim and wait and see if Verizon does eventually send me a bill.  Also is there anything that i be wary of or look out for when connecting to Itunes?

I'm the furthest form an expert on iTunes but I had zero issues with mine.  The iTunes seems to be completely independent of the carrier in use because I've gone from Verizon to Cricket, and back to Verizon without iTunes appearing to care.