czvet

Q: CDMA & GSM Capability.

If I purchase an iPhone 6, 6 Plus or SE, with say, Verizon service which is CDMA, can I later switch to a GSM Network on the same phone. In other words are the phones fully compatible with both systems and not dedicated to the one used at time of purchase.

iPhone SE, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Apr 4, 2016 9:01 AM

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Q: CDMA & GSM Capability.

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  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Apr 4, 2016 9:19 AM in response to czvet
    Level 7 (27,012 points)
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    Apr 4, 2016 9:19 AM in response to czvet

    Yes, and No.

     

    A little explanation:

    While all iPhones since the 4s have included both CDMA and GSM hardware which would allow them to be used on any carrier either GSM or CDMA based,

     

    It's a regular practice of CDMA carriers to not activate iPhones not sold specifically for them on their networks.

     

    So if you were to buy say an AT&T iPhone, Sprint and Verizon would in the past not activate it on their service at all.

     

    Recently new legislation has made it so Verizon now will activate iPhone 6s and 6s Plus on their networks even if not sold specifically for them.

     

    Not sure whether Sprint does this too.


    Another issue to consider, is when buying an iPhone for a specific carrier or from a specific carrier store, the iPhone is locked to that carrier, and requires unlocking if you want to be able to use it with other GSM carriers.  (CDMA is not unlockable, and a Verizon based iPhone can never be used with Sprint's CDMA service and vice versa) .


    Unlocking can only ever be authorized by the carrier to which the iPhone is locked.  So an AT&T locked iPhone can only be unlocked by AT&T.


    In the U.S. the only source of unlocked iPhones is Apple themselves. If you buy an iPhone from them at full price, it will be unlocked, and can be used with any GSM carrier of your choice.


    Buying an iPhone at a reduced price with a 2 year contract with a particular carrier means the iPhone will be locked to that carrier, and only that carrier can unlock it for use with other carriers.

     

    Unlocked iPhones, either from Apple, or ones correctly unlocked by the carrier to which they were locked to , will never lock to another carrier.

     

    If you buy a Verizon iPhone at full price from Apple it will be unlocked and usable with any GSM carrier. If you buy it at a reduced price from Verizon or Apple with a 2 year contract it may be locked to Verizon, and you will need to fulfill Verizon's requirements for unlocking.

  • by Meg St._Clair,Helpful

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 4, 2016 9:19 AM in response to czvet
    Level 9 (58,522 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 9:19 AM in response to czvet

    czvet wrote:

     

    If I purchase an iPhone 6, 6 Plus or SE, with say, Verizon service which is CDMA, can I later switch to a GSM Network on the same phone. In other words are the phones fully compatible with both systems and not dedicated to the one used at time of purchase.

    All Verizon iPhones are sold unlocked. They should be usable on any GSM/LTE network.

     

    Some of Phil's information is a bit out of date were Verizon is concerned. Verizon will activate any unlocked iPhone 6/6+ or 6S/6S+ except those intended for sale in China. This includes phones original intended for use on Sprint. The iPhone SE is not yet on the list but I expect it will be shortly.

  • by czvet,Helpful

    czvet czvet Apr 4, 2016 9:19 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 1 (10 points)
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    Apr 4, 2016 9:19 AM in response to Phil0124

    Thanks for your reply. I will likely buy an unlocked phone at full price from the Apple Store. I want complete control over my purchase and do not like the idea of having to bow to the wishes of any one carrier.

  • by czvet,

    czvet czvet Apr 4, 2016 9:21 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (10 points)
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    Apr 4, 2016 9:21 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Thanks. They sure make it a chore to have things your OWN WAY especially when it's your money.

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Apr 4, 2016 9:22 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 7 (27,012 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 9:22 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Ahh, thanks. I was not aware of that.

     

    Will Verizon activate a Sprint iPhone 6s and 6s plus on their CDMA service? I do not believe this is the case.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 4, 2016 9:34 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 9 (58,522 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 9:34 AM in response to Phil0124

    Phil0124 wrote:

     

     

    Will Verizon activate a Sprint iPhone 6s and 6s plus on their CDMA service?

    Yes.

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Apr 4, 2016 9:35 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 7 (27,012 points)
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    Apr 4, 2016 9:35 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Ahh, good to know. Thanks.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 4, 2016 9:39 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 9 (58,522 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 9:39 AM in response to Phil0124

    Phil0124 wrote:

     

    Ahh, good to know. Thanks.

    They kind of snuck it in. I believe the only other phone on the list is a Nexxus.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Apr 4, 2016 10:03 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 8 (37,905 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 4, 2016 10:03 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Meg St._Clair wrote:

     

    Phil0124 wrote:

     

     

    Will Verizon activate a Sprint iPhone 6s and 6s plus on their CDMA service?

    Yes.

    IF you can get Sprint to unlock it. Which they avoid doing if they can get away with it by throwing up as many roadblocks as they can think of.

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Apr 4, 2016 10:34 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 7 (27,012 points)
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    Apr 4, 2016 10:34 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    So what you are saying, is Sprint needs to unlock the GSM portion before Verizon will activate the CDMA portion on their network. Seems a little convoluted.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Apr 4, 2016 10:40 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 8 (37,905 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 4, 2016 10:40 AM in response to Phil0124

    Yes, because most of Verizon's network is now LTE. CDMA is legacy technology that is being phased out. Having a phone that will only work on Verizon's CDMA network is very limiting, and will not make a happy user.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 4, 2016 11:29 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 9 (58,522 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 11:29 AM in response to Phil0124

    Phil0124 wrote:

     

    So what you are saying, is Sprint needs to unlock the GSM portion before Verizon will activate the CDMA portion on their network. Seems a little convoluted.

    I think, more accurately, Sprint needs to unlock the LTE part of the device. Larry will correct me if I've got that wrong.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Apr 4, 2016 11:33 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 8 (37,905 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 4, 2016 11:33 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Meg St._Clair wrote:

     

    Phil0124 wrote:

     

    So what you are saying, is Sprint needs to unlock the GSM portion before Verizon will activate the CDMA portion on their network. Seems a little convoluted.

    I think, more accurately, Sprint needs to unlock the LTE part of the device. Larry will correct me if I've got that wrong.

    Correct, but also because Verizon will not accept a CDMA-only iPhone 6 or later.

  • by czvet,

    czvet czvet Apr 4, 2016 11:43 AM in response to czvet
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iPad
    Apr 4, 2016 11:43 AM in response to czvet

    Bottom line, I want to totally control the phone I pay for in full with the freedom to make any carrier change I see fit any time I want, without having ANY carrier lock my phone so I have to go running back begging them to unlock it. So what is the BEST thing to do.

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