Hi all,
I'm active duty military and will be deploying in January. Currently I have the iPhone 4... and CDMA isn't an option where I am going. Yes, I know I'll have to pay full price. I'd like to stay in touch with my wife (via e-mail... voice is too expensive!) so i thought about purchasing an iPhone 4s.
What I'm wondering is will Verizon unlock the 4s for me so I can purchase a local sim card where I'm going? Keep in mine I'd be buying at full price (not upgrade eligible) and on military orders. Data that way is cheaper than Verizon's 250 MB allotment.
I remember the good ole days when I could turn on the unlimited e-mail/data blackberry package when I went abroad... my wife and I were able to stay in touch so easily!!!
It's a world phone. It will suport CDMA and GSM. No SIM cards. You should be able to use it just about anywhere in the world.
DrStrangepork wrote:It's a world phone. It will suport CDMA and GSM. No SIM cards. You should be able to use it just about anywhere in the world.
Well, unless it is using a wonderful new technology (and the Apple site is wrong) it probably will have a SIM card!
If it is like VZs other world phones, this will be a Vodafone card. Yes, it will work in many places but as the OP suggests, the cost will be too high to make it usable.
The OP wants to use it with a local SIM, which means getting the phone unlocked. For the other world phones, Verizon will provide unlock codes, The question really is whether the same policy will apply here. AT&T used to refuse to unlock the iPhone, even at the end of the contract, whereas they would unlock other phones. So, we have to see what the policy enforced by Verizon (and maybe Apple) is for this phone
silver6055 wrote:
DrStrangepork wrote:It's a world phone. It will suport CDMA and GSM. No SIM cards. You should be able to use it just about anywhere in the world.
Well, unless it is using a wonderful new technology (and the Apple site is wrong) it probably will have a SIM card!
If it is like VZs other world phones, this will be a Vodafone card. Yes, it will work in many places but as the OP suggests, the cost will be too high to make it usable.
The OP wants to use it with a local SIM, which means getting the phone unlocked. For the other world phones, Verizon will provide unlock codes, The question really is whether the same policy will apply here. AT&T used to refuse to unlock the iPhone, even at the end of the contract, whereas they would unlock other phones. So, we have to see what the policy enforced by Verizon (and maybe Apple) is for this phone
That question could probably be answered tomorrow by calling Verizon and asking. If not tomorrow then I'm sure the answer can be had for sure on the 14th.
kaebfly wrote:That question could probably be answered tomorrow by calling Verizon and asking. If not tomorrow then I'm sure the answer can be had for sure on the 14th.
Well, I'm sure AN answer can be had, the question is whether it will be correct! I don't know if you have ever tried getting a phone unlocked within the first week or so of its release. Generally the reps haven't been told the procedure for that phone,and haven't got the codes and really cannot help. For whatever reason, some of them will give an answer anyway, I have heard "The phone cannot be unlocked", "We don't do that anymore", "It can only be unlocked when you are abroad", "It doesn't need to be unlocked", "Use the last four digits of the phone number" (Yes, I've had a lot of phones unlocked over the last few years!). Now I don't really mean to knock them, once they have been trained on the phone, the Global Services people are usually very helpful
So, it may take several weeks to get the correct answer.
FWIW, here's my experience:
I want to make use of Occasional Global Traveler program with iPhone 4s (as I have in past with BB). However, pre-orderprompted for Global and required plan. I pre-ordered WITHOUT a global plan and called the Global Services number (800-711-8300). They advised me that I MUST CHOOSE A GLOBAL DATA PLAN WHEN ORDERING, but then can have them take it off on activation (next week after phone delivered) and activate occasionally as desired.
Rep canceled my order and then kindly stayed on the line while I re-ordered, this time WITH Global plan option. All my appropraite discounts were applied and I received order confirmation.
VERIZON SHOULD ADD OPTION FOR OCCASIONAL GLOBAL TRAVELER on pre-order form.
silver6055 wrote:
kaebfly wrote:That question could probably be answered tomorrow by calling Verizon and asking. If not tomorrow then I'm sure the answer can be had for sure on the 14th.Well, I'm sure AN answer can be had, the question is whether it will be correct! I don't know if you have ever tried getting a phone unlocked within the first week or so of its release. Generally the reps haven't been told the procedure for that phone,and haven't got the codes and really cannot help. For whatever reason, some of them will give an answer anyway, I have heard "The phone cannot be unlocked", "We don't do that anymore", "It can only be unlocked when you are abroad", "It doesn't need to be unlocked", "Use the last four digits of the phone number" (Yes, I've had a lot of phones unlocked over the last few years!). Now I don't really mean to knock them, once they have been trained on the phone, the Global Services people are usually very helpful
So, it may take several weeks to get the correct answer.
With this being a user forum with only occasional responses from VZW reps (that usually give general answers that often don't apply to the iPhone...such as "remove the battery and then replace it to do a hard reset) you are less likely to get an official and unequivocally "correct" answer on here either. Add on the fact that this is a new global iPhone that no user on here has experience with and you can pretty much expect guesses and theories more than fact. Yes, people can tell you how it works on other global devices, but no one can tell you how it will work on this 4s when no one has actually had their hands on it and had the experience of trying to get it unlocked. THAT is why I said calling VZ would be the best option for getting an answer. Or...you can wait it out on here and wade through the theories...but that could still take several weeks.
If this helps any....this is what the Apple site says. Might not have anything to do with what MAY happen with VZW but Apple usually has pretty strong control over their devices...so this may be the ultimate answer.
The unlocked iPhone works only on supported GSM networks, such as AT&T in the U.S. When you travel internationally, you can also use a micro-SIM card from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone 4 will not work with CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.
kaebfly wrote:If this helps any....this is what the Apple site says. Might not have anything to do with what MAY happen with VZW but Apple usually has pretty strong control over their devices...so this may be the ultimate answer.
The unlocked iPhone works only on supported GSM networks, such as AT&T in the U.S. When you travel internationally, you can also use a micro-SIM card from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone 4 will not work with CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.
Right, but this is for buying the iphone unlocked (which you would do in Europe for example) and those won't have CDMA provisioned. Hopefully the finall answer comes clear in the next few days....
Seems like that statement applies to the original iPhone 4 which was only available in gsm OR cdma versions. Makes sense because no matter how hard you try, an unlocked GSM phone is NEVER going to work on any CDMA network due to the lack of a proper radio.
The 4S is different in that it is a world phone with both gsm AND cdma radios. Technically speaking, you "should" be able to unlock the Verizon version and use it with a local sim card overseas or on AT&T or Tmobile (only Edge since Verizon locks out 3G bands) if it's like previous world phones. You likely won't be able to use the AT&T version on Verizon even with a CDMA radio since the ESN won't be in Verizon's database and they're not in the business of adding outside phones. Who knows what Verizon/Apple will do though.
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