Microsoft Surface 3.

[dexman]

With recent reports seemingly indicating that Microsoft and Verizon Wireless will be parting ways, will Verizon Wireless offer and support the 4G/LTE version of the Surface 3? Early reports indicated that Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile would carry the device. at&t started to sell the S3 today. T-Mobile will have it available at the end of the month. Verizon Wireless has been silent.

If Verizon Wireless will not be selling the S3, please let us know so those of us who want to purchase one can make alternate arrangements. If the unit will be sold, can someone provide a time line?

[Ann154]

There will be no time line given until Verizon Wireless issues a press release announcing when they will start to sell the device.

[dexman]

The question is "Will Verizon Wireless be supporting/offering the device?".  If the answer is a definite "No", Verizon Wireless might want to reveal this sooner rather than later so customers...such as myself...can start making alternative arrangements.

[Ann154]

Has Microsoft published the specifications of the LTE connected version of the tablet? If so, that is your best way to discover if Microsoft included the radio frequencies compatible with Verizon Wireless. The other option is to find the FCC filing information about the tablet.

[dexman]

As of this moment, only a GSM compatible version is being offered. With the relationship between Verizon Wireless and Microsoft up in the air, the general public has no idea what the story is.

Microsoft won't likely create a CDMA version if Verizon Wireless has no plans to sell it now or ever.

[Ann154]

Considering the current tablets being sold by Verizon Wireless doesn't have support for the CDMA network and only the LTE network, Microsoft doesn't have to make a device with the CDMA radios. It only needs the LTE networks.

[Ann154]

I checked the Microsoft store and a couple of other sites. The unlocked version won't be able until sometime in August. The AT&T version has the LTE bands capable of working with the Verizon Wireless network. If the unlocked version is the exact same model number, it should work on the Verizon Wireless network.

The bands from the AT&T site. LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 38, and 41. As you can see it supports a ton of LTE networks. The important ones for Verizon Wireless are bands 13 and 4.

So all you need to do is be patient and wait until it is available as an unlocked version. Otherwise purchase it at full retail price from AT&T and immediately request for it to be unlocked.

[dexman]

If I understand the above information correctly, I should be able to pickup an unlocked Surface 3 from the local Microsoft Store, carry it and my old Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2012) to the Verizon Wireless Store in the same mall and they should be able to transfer the service over with no muss or fuss?

I have no qualms waiting until August. What I am leery of is purchasing the S3 from Microsoft or whoever only yo be told "Sorry, we are not going to support Microsoft tablets on the network".

[Ann154]

If the two devices use the same SIM card size, you might not have to go to the store. Moving the SIM card to the new device and it should activate the device.

[dexman]

I pulled up my account profile on Verizon Wireless's website. It shows my two current devices...Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Note 10.1. Should the SIM card be correct for both devices, would moving it to the S3 automatically update VZW's database...or...is that a manual process?

[Ann154]

I wouldn't move the Galaxy S4 SIM card to the Surface 3. The data plan and line access fee are different for those two devices. The Note 10.1 to the Surface 3 are the same device type so it should be more automatic.

[dexman · Accepted solution]

Oh dear....

I just left the mall after speaking to a VZW store manager.

What she said to me is that I will not be able to bring an S3 over, insert my SIM card and have it work.

She said that there is no code for the S3 in VZW's database. No code = no go.

The only way to get an S3 onto the VZW network is via a Jetpack or tethering to a smartphone.

[47seijar]

I've heard rumors - and I stress that it's only rumors, barely rising to the level of "loose talk" - that the Surface 4 will be launched with a major push in business. Microsoft apparently wants the Surface 4 to be the default choice for businesses everywhere and to accomplish this they will release versions compatible with every carrier. The GSM side is easy. But with Verizon's strong presence in businesses it fits that they'd have a deal with Verizon to support the Surface 4.

Just remember: a rumor is not responsible for who believes it.

[dexman]

It's not so much GSM vs. CDMA for the devices as it is which LTE bands are supported. The Surface 3 does support the bands most important to VZW. The unlocked models are due out at the end of the month. If VZW refuses to add a code for the S3 in it's system, then buying an unlocked version becomes pointless.

Oops...it is the Surface Pro 4 that is rumored to be introduced in September and is believed to feature the same 4G/LTE capabilities as the Surface 3. The Pro line have been a WiFi/Ethernet only devices.

[Weth]

This indicates Surface 3 cellular version will be supported by Verizon. 

Microsoft starts trickling out Surface 3 with built-in 4G LTE | ZDNet

[dexman]

Unfortunately that article is over a month old. Since then, Paul Thurrott has revealed that Microsoft and Verizon Wireless would likely be parting ways due to Microsoft needs to grow Windows phones and Verizon Wireless' reputation for not being very supportive of the Windows platform (compared to at&t and T-Mobile).