Orange Nano Sim

Walter4

NFH wrote: »

The iPhone 5 sold in the US and Canada is model A1428 which will not work on non-US 4G networks. You need the A1429 GSM model, which works on 4G in the rest of the world.

They sell two models in the states, the 1428 which you correctly point out does not work with non-US (Ex Japan) 4G, and the 1429.

The phone sold here is identical to the 1429 that is in the states, but it sounds like the CDMA technology is turned off on the one sold here in the UK. Hence the distinction between the CDMA and GSM versions.

Verizon in the states has confirmed to me that the GSM portion of the CDMA phone is sold unlocked out of the box, so it would work both here as normal, as well as on CDMA in the US. To me, that is ideal given the amount of travel I do to the states.

Since I thought it would just be easier to buy the phone here upon release, than wait for a month and go through the hassle of signing up for a Verizon contract just to cancel and pay the early termination fee, I was going to do that. But if we are going to have to wait anyway, it would be cheaper and I'd get a more full-featured iphone if I just waited to buy the Verizon CDMA version next month.

NFH

Walter4 wrote: »

The phone sold here is identical to the 1429 that is in the states, but it sounds like the CDMA technology is turned off on the one sold here in the UK. Hence the distinction between the CDMA and GSM versions.

Are you sure? Why would they bother manufacturing separate GSM and CDMA versions of the A1429 if they could supply just one like they did with the 4S?

diamonds

Walter4 wrote: »

They sell two models in the states, the 1428 which you correctly point out does not work with non-US (Ex Japan) 4G, and the 1429.


Verizon in the states has confirmed to me that the GSM portion of the CDMA phone is sold unlocked out of the box, so it would work both here as normal, as well as on CDMA in the US. To me, that is ideal given the amount of travel I do to the states.

That is to allow a Verizon "roaming" sim, but is it unlocked from Verizion or just a unlock as in "it works" with our roaming sim.

Walter4

NFH wrote: »

Are you sure? Why would they bother manufacturing separate GSM and CDMA versions of the A1429 if they could supply just one like they did with the 4S?

I don't think they manufactured two different ones, from what I understand it is the same phone -- the chip is actually a dual CDMA/GSM chip from what I have been told by many.

I actually think for cost reasons they manufactured the same one. But since very few people outside of US or Japan even care about CDMA, it wouldn't impact many people to turn off this function. And assuming Apple pays a licensing fee to use the CDMA function, then it would be an easy way to limit unnecessary costs to turn off the CDMA outside the US. Few would know the difference, and if it saves $5 per phone, then that would add up.

I concede that I am not 100% sure that the GSM 1429 has CDMA capability (even if turned off) but many very knowledgeable people think it does, and that would explain why they share the same model number. But if you look at the specs, the CDMA version is GSM capable. The only question I had was whether the GSM was locked or unlocked, but Verizon has stated in writing that it is unlocked, so I think I'll just go ahead with that.

diamonds

NFH wrote: »

Orange make life difficult for themselves by issuing each size of SIM card separately. Many other networks around the world (including O2 UK) issue full size 1FF (credit-card sized SIMs) with multiple break-out points, where the customer simply breaks out the size of SIM that they need, e.g. 2FF (mini-SIM), 3FF (micro-SIM) and now 4FF (nano-SIM). Orange has failed to catch on to this much simpler system.

Orange UK used to be innovative, and all that remained as a overhang France Telecom got rid of :mad:

NFH

Walter4 wrote: »

I don't think they manufactured two different ones, from what I understand it is the same phone -- the chip is actually a dual CDMA/GSM chip from what I have been told by many.

https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ suggests otherwise.

Walter4

NFH wrote: »

https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ suggests otherwise.

Not sure how that says otherwise? If you look the 1429 CDMA functions on 4G bands: 1, 3, 5, 13, and 25. This includes the three bands of the 1429 GSM which you could get here.

And if you look here at the specs: https://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

- CDMA model A1429*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)

- GSM model A1429*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5)

The CDMA version lists all the GSM functionality of the GSM version, but with the addition of the CDMA tech. The only question was whether the GSM on the CDMA version was locked to a Verizon specific sim which would prevent use of local carrier GSM chips and only enable International roaming through Verizon; but they have confirmed in writing that the GSM is not locked and that local 3rd party GSM chips would work fine with their phone.

NFH

It's worth continuing to ask the question from Orange and Apple, because the advice seems to change each time. I've just phoned Orange business customer services again on 345 and they told me that the only way to get a nano-SIM is from Apple. Apple have a supply of generic nano-SIMs, not branded to any network, and once you obtain one, you can phone Orange and get your number switched over to the new SIM.

Walter4

NFH wrote: »

It's worth continuing to ask the question from Orange and Apple, because the advice seems to change each time. I've just phoned Orange business customer services again on 345 and they told me that the only way to get a nano-SIM is from Apple. Apple have a supply of generic nano-SIMs, not branded to any network, and once you obtain one, you can phone Orange and get your number switched over to the new SIM.

Thanks for the info. Really interesting as I've never heard of unbranded generic sims before, and conflicts with everything I've heard before, but at this point I almost think that Orange/Tmobile/Apple are starting to make things up.

I got a call from the Apple Store Executive relations team today, after emailing Tim Cook directly (I know but I was !!!!ed off at the time). He wanted to hear more about what was going on and said he would get back to me by days end. I will update when I hear back.

diamonds

NFH wrote: »

It's worth continuing to ask the question from Orange and Apple, because the advice seems to change each time. I've just phoned Orange business customer services again on 345 and they told me that the only way to get a nano-SIM is from Apple. Apple have a supply of generic nano-SIMs, not branded to any network, and once you obtain one, you can phone Orange and get your number switched over to the new SIM.

What a shambles NFH, I'd be emailing executive office & asking them to find out for you procedure AND BULLET THEIR STAFF !