Comments on: 4G Fragmentation forces Apple to build 3 separate iPhones

By: Kevin Fitchard

Kevin Fitchard — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:30:56 +0000

It’s the AT&T version so it will support AWS and and the lower 700 MHz (AT&T’s unique portion of it). It will work on AT&T’s network and T-Mobile’s network, but you’ll have to wait a while on T-Mo to get LTE connectivity (and in many cases even 3G connectivity).

By: Pat Kalellis

Pat Kalellis — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:16:01 +0000

Anyone know which LTE frequencies the new unlocked version supports? It was just released last night.

By: AMA

AMA — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 04:06:18 +0000

Looking into it further, the A1429 does appear to be one physical model. Disabling CDMA in the “GSM” version is apparently so that Apple does not pay CDMA licensing fees on these phones which are never intended to connect to a CDMA network. Nothing so altruistic as possibly improving performance. It’s just profit.

By: AMA

AMA — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 01:07:16 +0000

Isn’t that directly in line with their current practice though? The current 4S is one model with a GSM firmware and a CDMA firmware. The GSM firmware shuts down access to the CDMA side of the phone, and the CDMA firmware for Verizon/Sprint allows the use of international SIM cards but disables use with domestic SIM cards. The separate firmware on the 5S may be to allow for similar carrier lockdowns and perhaps shutting down the “unneeded” antennas also has performace / battery life enhancement effect on the phone?

By: RaptorOO7

RaptorOO7 — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 18:51:45 +0000

Fortunately we have iFixIt to help us with the last part, when they do their full tear down of the latest iPhone we will know exactly what Apple was to scared to tell us, or what they figure their customers are too stupid to understand. lol.

By: RaptorOO7

RaptorOO7 — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 02:46:03 +0000

But Apple has failed and missed big time where Android is on target. Apple’s new iPhone 5 LTE does NOT support VoLTE or simultaneous voice and data (data on 4G LTE and Voice on 3G EVDO) like so many Android phones do.

This is a huge issue and again leaves Verizon and Sprint customers lacking a critical feature that Android does.

Apple finally caught up to Android by adding LTE, Panorama feature in the camera, 1080p recording, etc. Many features Android has had for 1-2 years.

So when maybe Apple releases their 8th Gen iPhone in two years they will finally have figured out their radio designs and will call it magical all over again.

Maybe they can double down on secrecy by then.

By: Vishi Gondi

Vishi Gondi — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:06:29 +0000

Look for the other shoe to drop when apple supports china mobile.

By: Kevin Fitchard

Kevin Fitchard — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:10:35 +0000

Hi Robert, the CDMA version supports all of those bands as well. I think it’s an issue of where Apple is choosing to sell it, not what it can support. Technically the CDMA one will work anywhere the global GSM will.

By: Robert Gaal

Robert Gaal — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:06:51 +0000

Kevin: it does not appear that the CDMA model is the global version. The GSM version with bands 1, 3 and 5 is. See this table: http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

By: eric perlberg

eric perlberg — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:16:59 +0000

It’s not like Apple purposely to “snub” customers. To label Apple as stupid is frankly stupid. Perhaps there is, you know, like a reason for not including the 800mhz band. Did you do some research to find out?