9 ms·

FTA: "So, now I’ll just give my money to Verizon, since I can’t give it to T-Mobile." This, in the USA, normally comes at the cost of getting a Verizon-compati

by bahman2000 12y ago

FTA: "So, now I’ll just give my money to Verizon, since I can’t give it to T-Mobile." This, in the USA, normally comes at the cost of getting a Verizon-compatible device.

dmdeller 12y ago
The Verizon versions of iPad Air, iPad Retina Mini, iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are identical to those sold for AT&T and T-Mobile, and will work on any of those three networks[1]. (It's different/more complicated for older devices.) Also, an agreement Verizon signed when buying their LTE spectrum from the FCC says that all Verizon LTE devices must be carrier-unlocked out of the box[2]. However, Verizon will refuse to activate any device that was not originally sold for use on its network (they use a unique device hardware ID for this). AT&T and T-Mobile don't do this. Therefore, for maximum flexibility, buy Verizon versions of recent Apple devices. You can then switch to AT&T or T-Mobile (not Sprint), or back again to Verizon, at any time, as many times as you wish. This is what the author did[3]. [1]: http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2008_wireless_spectrum_auction#Google_involvement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2008_wireless_sp... [3]: http://www.caseyliss.com/2014/5/21/tmo-vs-vzw-plans http://www.caseyliss.com/2014/5/21/tmo-vs-vzw-plans
- justin66 12y ago
  > Also, an agreement Verizon signed when buying their LTE spectrum from the FCC says that all Verizon LTE devices must be carrier-unlocked out of the box[2]. > However, Verizon will refuse to activate any device that was not originally sold for use on its network (they use a unique device hardware ID for this). Which is a violation of those FCC rules you linked to. It's monopolistic, shitty behavior. > AT&T and T-Mobile don't do this. > Therefore, for maximum flexibility, buy Verizon versions of recent Apple devices. Or just avoid Verizon entirely. That way you won't be rewarding their bad behavior.
peterwwillis 12y ago
Yeah, I don't get why people use the big-name providers unless they have a family plan. Prepaid services like Net10, Straight Talk, Cricket, Metro PCS, Boost, H2O, Jolt, Redpocket, etc are less than half the cost of the bigger ILECs/CLECs and most of them are or have GSM offerings. I like that Net10 and Straight Talk give you T-mobile or AT&T sims to bring over locked phones. My personal favorite combo at the moment is Straight Talk's "Unlimited" 30 day service for $45, combined with an AT&T Radiant pre-paid phone ($70 cash). This phone is the same specs as a new Moto-E smartphone but for half the price. (I find it hilarious that I can lose or break my phone 7 times and still pay less than for one iPhone 5)
- eli 12y ago
  Just to be clear, most of those are MVNOs -- they basically buy wholesale network access from the big name providers and resell it (and provide support) under their own name.
  - mkaziz 12y ago
    But they are much cheaper, usually.
brianbarker 12y ago
Yeah, except Verizon is notably more expensive than the other networks, particularly T-Mobile. Verizon tacks on random fees into your bill that have no explanation. I would rather push T-Mobile to fix this issue than move to Verizon under the guise that I'm switching to something better. Nope. I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile this year. My bill dropped from $180 to $160/month. That's with 2 lines, data and a new device installment plan. If you didn't have a new device it's at least $20 less per month iirc. T-Mobile needs to work on their coverage in some spots, but that's supposedly coming with new spectrum purchases and whatnot. I'd never go back to Verizon.

FTA: "So, now I’ll just give my money to Verizon, since I can’t give it to T-Mobile." This, in the USA, normally comes at the cost of getting a Verizon-compatible device.

dmdeller 12y ago

The Verizon versions of iPad Air, iPad Retina Mini, iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are identical to those sold for AT&T and T-Mobile, and will work on any of those three networks[1]. (It's different/more complicated for older devices.) Also, an agreement Verizon signed when buying their LTE spectrum from the FCC says that all Verizon LTE devices must be carrier-unlocked out of the box[2]. However, Verizon will refuse to activate any device that was not originally sold for use on its network (they use a unique device hardware ID for this). AT&T and T-Mobile don't do this. Therefore, for maximum flexibility, buy Verizon versions of recent Apple devices. You can then switch to AT&T or T-Mobile (not Sprint), or back again to Verizon, at any time, as many times as you wish. This is what the author did[3]. [1]: http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2008_wireless_spectrum_auction#Google_involvement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2008_wireless_sp... [3]: http://www.caseyliss.com/2014/5/21/tmo-vs-vzw-plans http://www.caseyliss.com/2014/5/21/tmo-vs-vzw-plans

justin66 12y ago
> Also, an agreement Verizon signed when buying their LTE spectrum from the FCC says that all Verizon LTE devices must be carrier-unlocked out of the box[2]. > However, Verizon will refuse to activate any device that was not originally sold for use on its network (they use a unique device hardware ID for this). Which is a violation of those FCC rules you linked to. It's monopolistic, shitty behavior. > AT&T and T-Mobile don't do this. > Therefore, for maximum flexibility, buy Verizon versions of recent Apple devices. Or just avoid Verizon entirely. That way you won't be rewarding their bad behavior.

peterwwillis 12y ago

Yeah, I don't get why people use the big-name providers unless they have a family plan. Prepaid services like Net10, Straight Talk, Cricket, Metro PCS, Boost, H2O, Jolt, Redpocket, etc are less than half the cost of the bigger ILECs/CLECs and most of them are or have GSM offerings. I like that Net10 and Straight Talk give you T-mobile or AT&T sims to bring over locked phones. My personal favorite combo at the moment is Straight Talk's "Unlimited" 30 day service for $45, combined with an AT&T Radiant pre-paid phone ($70 cash). This phone is the same specs as a new Moto-E smartphone but for half the price. (I find it hilarious that I can lose or break my phone 7 times and still pay less than for one iPhone 5)

eli 12y ago
Just to be clear, most of those are MVNOs -- they basically buy wholesale network access from the big name providers and resell it (and provide support) under their own name.
- mkaziz 12y ago
  But they are much cheaper, usually.

brianbarker 12y ago

Yeah, except Verizon is notably more expensive than the other networks, particularly T-Mobile. Verizon tacks on random fees into your bill that have no explanation. I would rather push T-Mobile to fix this issue than move to Verizon under the guise that I'm switching to something better. Nope. I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile this year. My bill dropped from $180 to $160/month. That's with 2 lines, data and a new device installment plan. If you didn't have a new device it's at least $20 less per month iirc. T-Mobile needs to work on their coverage in some spots, but that's supposedly coming with new spectrum purchases and whatnot. I'd never go back to Verizon.