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Microsoft now lists the Verizon LTE band as supported on the 950

If you go to Microsoft Lumia 950 Specifications - Microsoft - USA on microsoft.com, it now lists Band 13 (700 MHz) as supported. This is the band that requires Verizon to allow the phone on it's system per FCC regulations and pending network certification. We need to start hitting up Verizon and Microsoft to see what's up.

I would point out that if you look at the specs listed at the Microsoft Store webpage, Band 13 is not listed. Is it a typo?

Current listed frequencies:

Cellular connectivity²
- GSM network: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz
- GSM max data speed DL: EGPRS 236.8 kbps
- GSM max data speed UL: EGPRS 118.4 kbps
- WCDMA network: Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz)
- WCDMA max data speed DL: 42.2 Mbps (Cat 24)
- WCDMA max data speed UL: 5.76 Mbps (Cat 6)
- LTE FDD network: Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz), Band 5 (850MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 8 (900MHz), Band 12 (700 MHz), Band 13 (700MHz), Band 20 (800MHz), Band 28 (700 MHz)
- LTE max data speed DL: 450 Mbps (Cat 9)
- LTE max data speed UL: 50 Mbps (Cat 6)

Comments

primortal

Umm you're forgetting the most important bands, CDMA. The device is still DOA on VZW network without it.

Luckyshot

Not true. CDMA is not the most important band(s). CDMA is a dying technology that Verizon is moving away from. A phone can connect to the Verizon network using LTE only. The phone does need to be VoLTE (voice over LTE) capable and support LTE bands 2, 4, and/or 13. The 950 does appear to support VoLTE and definitely has Band 2 & 4. Band 13 is the one that is the most important, however. Per the FCC, any device supporting Band 13 must be allowed on the VZW network if it passes third-party network certification.

Now, it is true there are some CDMA only areas remaining in more rural areas, but Verizon is moving to LTE only and most metro areas are going to be covered by their LTE network.

primortal

I beg to differ... I still think it's a requirement till VZW is 100% LTE.

Are there other devices that are on VZW network that doesn't have the CDMA bands?

Luckyshot

Currently, no. But the HTC One A9 is supposed to be coming to Verizon in the near future and it has no CDMA capabilities. Until Verizon is nearly 100% LTE only, they won't be pushing for CDMA-less phones but that doesn't mean you must have CDMA. You won't be able to connect via the entire tower network though.

http://www.htc.com/us/go/htc-one-a9-unlocked/

Luckyshot

Tidbits, it's not our place to file an FCC complaint. Microsoft is the only one that can do that and only if they pass certification (which I have no reason to believe they have even attempted) and Verizon denies the phone on it's network.

If you look at the page that I posted in the original post (before this got way out of hand) you will see that Microsoft has Band 13 listed as supported. That was the point of the original post. Then it descended into an argument as to CDMA being required. My position is that it isn't required. Sure, the phone won't work outside of the LTE network but that isn't brought up in the FCC requirements. Any phone that supports Band 13 and doesn't disrupt the network (passed 3rd party certification) must be allowed on by Verizon.

Everything I stated is true. I don't even know that it does support Band 13, only that it is listed as supported on ONE Microsoft webpage.

Also, Band 13 isn't required for block C, Band 13 IS block C in the 700 Mhz band.

Just look at this Microsoft page and tell me it's not listed - Microsoft Lumia 950 Specifications - Microsoft - USA

It was just a question as to which spec pages are actually accurate.

Has anyone actually looked at the page in question and willing to discuss the original issue that was posted?

Tidbits

Luckyshot wrote:

Tidbits, it's not our place to file an FCC complaint. Microsoft is the only one that can do that and only if they pass certification (which I have no reason to believe they have even attempted) and Verizon denies the phone on it's network.

Yes you can complain the the FCC. If you couldn't then why does it say potential customers, and also why did the complaints from consumers about tethering were looked into?

If you look at the page that I posted in the original post (before this got way out of hand) you will see that Microsoft has Band 13 listed as supported. That was the point of the original post. Then it descended into an argument as to CDMA being required. My position is that it isn't required. Sure, the phone won't work outside of the LTE network but that isn't brought up in the FCC requirements. Any phone that supports Band 13 and doesn't disrupt the network (passed 3rd party certification) must be allowed on by Verizon.

47 CFR 27.16 - Network access requirements for Block C in the 746-757 and 776-787 MHz bands. | US Law | LII / Legal Info…

(d) Access requests.

(1) Licensees shall establish and publish clear and reasonable procedures for parties to seek approval to use devices or applications on the licensees' networks. A licensee must also provide to potential customers notice of the customers' rights to request the attachment of a device or application to the licensee's network, and notice of the licensee's process for customers to make such requests, including the relevant network criteria.

(2) If a licensee determines that a request for access would violate its technical standards or regulatory requirements, the licensee shall expeditiously provide a written response to the requester specifying the basis for denying access and providing an opportunity for the requester to modify its request to satisfy the licensee's concerns.

One of the requirements which is allowed in this section is technical issue that you need CDMA to do voice, text, and such. Since that is still required manufacturers much include CDMA radios. In the future this will change, but right now it is needed, and relevant network criteria. If you think your device is compatible you can actually put in a request on your own. It doesn't have to be the manufacturer that does it. I marked it in green.

Everything I stated is true. I don't even know that it does support Band 13, only that it is listed as supported on ONE Microsoft webpage.

Also, Band 13 isn't required for block C, Band 13 IS block C in the 700 Mhz band.

Just look at this Microsoft page and tell me it's not listed - Microsoft Lumia 950 Specifications - Microsoft - USA

It was just a question as to which spec pages are actually accurate.

Has anyone actually looked at the page in question and willing to discuss the original issue that was posted?

Yes I looked and here are 4 pages that show it doesn't and 2 of them are their sales pages. 1 link vs. 4 links from the same source. Seems like it's a technical error by MS putting it on their mobile pages, but not on their standard pages.

Microsoft Lumia 950 Specifications - Microsoft - Global

Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Specifications - Microsoft - Global

Buy Microsoft Lumia 950 – Unlocked - Microsoft Store

Buy Microsoft Lumia 950 XL – Unlocked - Microsoft Store

Straight off these pages has Band 12, 17, and 28. No band 13.

Cellular connectivity2

GSM network: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz

GSM max data speed DL: EGPRS 296.0 kbps

GSM max data speed UL: EGPRS 236.8 kbps

WCDMA network: Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz)

WCDMA max data speed DL: 42.2 Mbps (Cat 24)

WCDMA max data speed UL: 5.76 Mbps (Cat 6)

LTE FDD network: Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz), Band 5 (850MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 8 (900MHz), Band 12 (700 MHz), Band 17 (700MHz), Band 20 (800MHz), Band 28 (700 MHz)

TD-LTE network: Band 38 (2570-2620 MHz), Band 40 (2300-2400 MHz)

LTE max data speed DL: 300 Mbps (Cat 6)

LTE max data speed UL: 50 Mbps (Cat 6)

So in the end it doesn't even support the technical aspects to even work on the network.

Tidbits

want to add something to this.

Also, Band 13 isn't required for block C, Band 13 IS block C in the 700 Mhz band.

Band 13 on a device is required in order to invoke block c protection. make sense now?

Luckyshot

"One of the requirements which is allowed in this section is technical issue that you need CDMA to do voice, text, and such. Since that is still required manufacturers much include CDMA radios"

But you don't need CMDA to do voice, text or data on Verizon's LTE network. Verizon's LTE network supports VoLTE (Voice over LTE) so a phone that supports VoLTE (which the 950 and XL appear to do) does not require CDMA for voice. Again, and I have said this several times, even if Band 13 is supported and 3rd party certification did not indicate a disruption to normal service, the phones would only be able to connect to LTE enabled towers. That, in and of itself, probably wouldn't be enough for Verizon to block it as it isn't a disruption to their service. The customer bringing the phone to the network would have to understand the LTE only limitation.

Also, my only real question is if people think that Microsoft is purposely blocking Band 13 support. There is a big difference between can't support and won't support.

ilikeverizonwireless

Well looks like I found a good replacement for the 950. Hope verizon says yes to this, Verizon Wireless this is a upgrade question.

47seijar

The 950 isn't a good phone anyway. Tons of issues, as per the Microsoft and Windows Central forums. And support for the 950 by Microsoft will dry up in a heartbeat the moment the Surface Phone is released. The 950 is just a placeholder for the SP.

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