[NA]switching iphone service[NA]

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Dave Taylor
Iphone 5S
-currently with ATT
-ATT towers go down here regularly.
-Can it be switched to Verizon (which never goes down) or is there something physical in the phone which ties it permanently to the ATT type network?
-StraightTalk says no can switch, need verification, ty.
 
Iphone 5S
-currently with ATT
-ATT towers go down here regularly.
-Can it be switched to Verizon (which never goes down) or is there something physical in the phone which ties it permanently to the ATT type network?
-StraightTalk says no can switch, need verification, ty.
The answer is sort of. You can switch and use an LTE service. But likely the 3g and non LTE 4G is SIM locked.
 
Some days, I think returning to rotary dial is the answer
 
The answer is sort of. You can switch and use an LTE service. But likely the 3g and non LTE 4G is SIM locked.
Seriously?
Well, how to tell if it is unlocked? (or, can it be unlocked?)
StraightTalk csr said, oh I see it's locked but then also said it cannot be switched.
Maybe you refer to a different kind of unlocking.
Wait, we may not have LTE down here. I need to check that first, correct?
 
Seriously?
Well, how to tell if it is unlocked? (or, can it be unlocked?)
StraightTalk csr said, oh I see it's locked but then also said it cannot be switched.
Maybe you refer to a different kind of unlocking.
Wait, we may not have LTE down here. I need to check that first, correct?
It's tough to answer all of your questions. Your phone is most likely locked. But LTE works regardless of any lock.

Unfortunately that means very limited coverage. You can call AT&T and see if they can/will provide you with an unlock code
 
There also may be problems with different bands used by the two carriers. Many will overlap, but usually there are a few that are peculiar to individual carriers. For example, I think Verizon is the only carrier that uses 13. Phones manufactured for other carriers may or may not have capability on 13.

Rich
 
There also may be problems with different bands used by the two carriers. Many will overlap, but usually there are a few that are peculiar to individual carriers. For example, I think Verizon is the only carrier that uses 13. Phones manufactured for other carriers may or may not have capability on 13.

Rich
My understanding is that doesn't apply to LTE, right?
 
I switched from ATT to Verizon. iPhones and iPads. No problem. I kept my phone numbers. Verizon handled it in the store. Easy peasy.
 
My understanding is that doesn't apply to LTE, right?

Actually, it does if the problem is inability to operate on a particular band that the new provider uses. All else aside, if the handset's radio can't use the band, then there is no connectivity on that band.

When a manufacturer update to a factory-unlocked phone I'd just bought hosed Band 17, I lost LTE on AT&T because 17 is the band they use here. I had EDGE, but no LTE.

Band 17 is an important one for AT&T. A phone that can't connect on 17 is next to useless on AT&T's service. So I returned the phone for a refund and bought an AT&T-branded phone by the same manufacturer, which had Band 17 intact, and it works fine. That's one of the advantages of using a carrier-branded phone: The carriers usually test the updates before pushing them to their phones. This is something that customers often complain about when waiting for the latest and greatest updates, but the delays are because the carriers don't want the updates hosing their customers' service.

This review of updates is something one should consider when pondering unlocking a carrier-branded phone and jumping ship to another provider. Once the phone moves, it no longer gets updates from its branded carrier. The updates from the new carrier may or may not adversely affect the phone at some future time. It's rare, but it's possible.

The other thing to consider is more fundamental, and that's whether the phone has the ability to operate on all of the bands used by the new carrier. If it does, then in theory, LTE should work fine. If it lacks a band or two, then it won't work where the "missing" bands are the only ones in use in a given area.

Similarly, if a tower in a given area is operating on multiple bands, but your phone lacks the least-congested of them, then it will only work on the more congested band(s). Will this matter? Maybe not. Most users won't notice anything other than that the connection is slower than it could be. But it will still be a sub-optimal experience, whether they notice it or not.

What it comes down to is that there's a lot of room between "works great" and "doesn't work at all." Ideally, the phone should be able to use all the bands used by the "new" carrier. If it doesn't, then its functionality will be reduced accordingly. Whether the user ever notices depends on whether or not (or how often) they find themselves in areas served only by the "missing" bands.

As for OP's specific situation, there are multiple models of that handset with different band capabilities. They can be found here.

Rich
 
They can be found here.

Jeez, remind me to buy a 'universal' one, next purchase.

Cellular and Wireless
  • Model A1533 (GSM)*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25)
  • Model A1533 (CDMA)*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25)
  • Model A1453*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26)
  • Model A1457*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20)
  • Model A1530*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20); TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40)
  • 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
 
Jeez, remind me to buy a 'universal' one, next purchase.

Cellular and Wireless
  • Model A1533 (GSM)*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25)
  • Model A1533 (CDMA)*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25)
  • Model A1453*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26)
  • Model A1457*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20)
  • Model A1530*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20); TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40)
  • 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

That's not necessarily a guarantee. Ask anyone who bought an unlocked LG G5 for use on AT&T's service. A manufacture update (to Nougat in this case) hosed Band 17. That's why you can get them for ~ $200.00 now, NIB. They don't work on the channel most-used by America's No. 1 GSM carrier; and LG (to my knowledge) still hasn't fixed the problem and has shown no intention of doing so. You can read about it here.

Short of rooting the phones and installing third-party software, non-AT&T-branded G5's are basically useless on AT&T. I believe AT&T has even pulled the branded ones, just so they don't have to deal with the headaches of re-writing LG's update and having to deal with possible future conflicts. The thing is that if the phone is AT&T-branded, they'll give you a healthy credit toward a replacement if you push hard enough. With an unlocked phone, you have a paperweight unless you want to root it.

I have a friend who's like a son to me who owns a cell phone store. I used to cover for him from time to time. I learned quite a bit about the potential pitfalls of unlocked phones, unlocking branded phones, and switching carriers. It usually works out okay, but it's not without its risks and drawbacks. Using a carrier-branded phone and sticking with that carrier is the least-economical option, but also tends to be the least problematic one.

My personal opinion is that if you want to use an unlocked phone, buy a Motorola. Their band support and device stewardship, in my experience, puts the rest -- including Apple -- to shame.

Rich
 
What about if you are committed (for reasons of apps or otherwise) to Apple products? What would be your recommendation?
 
What about if you are committed (for reasons of apps or otherwise) to Apple products? What would be your recommendation?

Check band compatibility to determine whether all bands that the new carrier uses where you operate are supported.

If no -> You're SOL unless the missing bands can be enabled by a firmware upgrade or update from Apple or the new carrier. Because the actual hardware is often the same, this may be possible. Finding someone who understands what you're talking about, maybe not so much.

If yes -> See if you can get the phone unlocked by the carrier and decide if you want to take your chances. If all the bands are supported, then usually it works out okay. Not always, but usually.

I suppose the other option would be to buy a new iPhone that is FACTORY unlocked if you don't want to be locked into a carrier. I've looked into it from time to time, but I prefer phones with removable batteries: and none of the iPhone's features are enough to sway me from that preference. I also think iThings in general are ridiculously expensive (but so are decent Androids these days, so that's becoming less of an issue).

Rich
 
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