How Do You Know if the 4g Works on a Factory Unlocked Phone
E'er since the Librarian of Congress decided non to renew a provision in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that essentially makes it illegal to unlock your telephone without your carrier'southward permission, there's been intense involvement in the consequence. Simply when information technology comes to unlocked cell phones, in that location's also been a lot of defoliation.
Many people have been looking for means to unlock their devices. The U.K. Web site Mobile Unlocked, which sells unlock codes to consumers, says sales of unlock codes are upwards 71 percent. Only others are however trying to figure out what the heck device-locking is all about and how and if their own smartphones tin be unlocked. There's no question millions of consumers are withal confused about cell telephone unlocking. Aside from the legal issues, there are technical problems that may even make cell telephone unlocking impossible for some consumers.
In this edition of Ask Maggie, I re-examine this issue and offer some basic information about what a jail cell phone lock is. I explain on which wireless networks cell phones can be unlocked. And I caution consumers to investigate before they buy a device they recollect is unlocked.
I too explain to another reader why he can't bring just whatsoever telephone to his prepaid Virgin Mobile service.
Locked versus unlocked phones: What's information technology all mean?
Dear Maggie,
Could you please explain the concept of carrier locks on jail cell phones? Information technology is a tremendously confusing topic. I think I know the basics, but there are e'er strange technicalities that I go along seeing that just throw me off and make me question whether I really know how the system works.
For context, I'm a Verizon customer with an iPhone 4S. Each summer my family visits Crane Lake, Minn., where Verizon has zero coverage but AT&T has very broad coverage. We've resorted to using crappy basic phones with prepaid AT&T calling plans for simple communication (we have no Wi-Fi/Ethernet networking for our iPhones/computers). It would be great if AT&T would allow usa use a prepaid programme for one of our iPhones to utilize for the two weeks we visit each summertime, only for some reason they won't.
OK, so a lot of that info was irrelevant, simply I've been scouring the Web sites of Verizon and AT&T and trying to larn more about all of this.
Here are my questions:
What are the explicit differences betwixt a locked and unlocked phone?
Why is the iPhone treated differently by carriers relative to other phones?
How do Verizon'due south and AT&T's lock policies relate to each other? Is a Verizon unlock the aforementioned as an AT&T unlock?
Cheers,
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
You are admittedly correct about this being a confusing topic. Then permit'due south run into if I tin explain some of the basics for you.
Carrier locks come with just about any jail cell telephone yous buy from a wireless operator. Fifty-fifty if you lot aren't buying the device directly from a detail operator but are buying information technology from a retailer, such as Amazon or Best Buy, and it's for a specific carrier, then most probable it has a carrier lock on information technology. This is regardless of whether you purchase the phone with a subsidy and a two-twelvemonth contract or if you buy the device at full toll.
Generally, the only devices that do not take carrier locks are ones that specifically say they are "unlocked," such every bit the Google Android Nexus brand of devices, the unlocked version of the iPhone, which is sold at the Apple shop, and some developer edition devices. If you desire an unlocked telephone, you should research in advance whether the phone you lot are purchasing is available as unlocked and where you can buy it equally an unlocked device. Remember: Paying full toll alone doesn't guarantee that a smartphone is unlocked out of the box.
What is a phone lock?
The lock is really a software code that'due south put on the telephone by the manufacturer as per the requirement of the carrier that sells the device. And the lock is meant to ensure that the telephone can't be used on any other operator'southward network until a different software code is entered to unlock the device.
This is an result that'southward most important for devices that operate on GSM networks. This is a wireless standard that used by AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.Due south. and by most operators effectually the earth, especially in Europe, Asia, Canada, and Africa, equally well as parts of Latin America. The 3G technologies HSPA and HSPA+ are based on GSM, which means carriers offering HSPA or HSPA+ also operate via GSM.
All GSM devices are designed so that service is provisioned using a SIM card. With an unlocked device, a GSM smartphone tin can exist reprovisioned and used on another network but past popping out the old SIM carte and putting in a new i from the new carrier. The carrier doesn't necessarily need to be notified, and you don't demand anyone in the store to reprovision your telephone.
This is not the case with phones developed for CDMA networks. This is the technology used by Verizon Wireless and Sprint in the U.S. Information technology'due south besides used past some carriers in Latin America, Asia, and Canada. The standard is non as widely used as GSM. CDMA devices do non take SIM cards. So if you wanted to have your CDMA device to some other CDMA carrier, because a CDMA-only device can't be used on a GSM network and vice versa, you lot'd have to get the carrier to provision the device for that other network. EV-DO is the 3G technology used on CDMA networks.
In general, CDMA carriers don't reprovision devices made for other networks for use on their own networks. And then this means phones fabricated for Verizon, which are using the same basic technology every bit devices made for Dart, won't work on Sprint's network. In other words, you can't reuse a Verizon device on Sprint and vice versa.
Simply unlocked GSM phones from AT&T and T-Mobile will piece of work on each other's networks, which makes the use of GSM much more flexible than CDMA.
In summary, phone locks are non really relevant when you lot're talking about 2G and 3G devices that operate on CDMA or EV-DO networks. Only telephone locks are very important for devices that operate on a GSM or HSPA/HSPA+ network. Almost every GSM device comes "prelocked" to a particular carrier. Certain phones are sold unlocked. And if you accept a device that is locked, you can get it unlocked from your wireless carrier if y'all run into certain criteria, which includes paying the full price of your device or ending your contract and being in proficient standing with your service provider.
Sentry this: Top v tips for traveling with an offline telephone
Complicating factors
And so that'south the basic gist of how software locks for smartphones work. But things are getting a bit more complicated because now at that place'southward a new network applied science that'southward currently used only for data services just will eventually be used for voice besides. That engineering is called LTE. And like GSM, LTE uses a SIM carte.
Simply unlike GSM, not all LTE services operate over the aforementioned radio frequency. For instance, to evangelize their LTE services, AT&T and Verizon Wireless utilise different slivers of spectrum that have different "band plans." This means devices built for AT&T won't operate on Verizon's LTE network and vice versa.
This issue will soon modify as flake manufacturers start including multiple radios on their semiconductors. What's more, wireless operators volition also soon exist incorporating other slivers of spectrum into their LTE networks, which volition overlap with their competitors. When these things all start to converge, we'll likely see more interoperability amongst devices that include back up for the faster-speed LTE services.
Meanwhile, many of the smartphones being built today for Verizon and Dart also include GSM adequacy on top of CDMA and LTE. If a device also supports GSM, so information technology has a SIM carte du jour, which tin exist swapped out to access almost any GSM network.
Call up that in the U.S., Verizon and Sprint customers use either a Verizon or Dart CDMA network. The GSM radio is included in these phones so that subscribers can roam onto networks in Europe and other parts of the world. Verizon and Sprint subscribers can choose either to sign upward for international roaming plans with their U.S. carrier when they travel, or, if they can become their devices unlocked, they tin swap out the SIM, put in a SIM card from a local provider, and get new service that mode.
Verizon 4G LTE devices are unlocked out of the box
Ane thing to notation here in terms of software telephone locks is that all Verizon 4G LTE smartphones come unlocked out of the box. The reason why is that the spectrum Verizon is using to build its 4G LTE network had restrictions put on it past the Federal Communications Committee, which required the visitor to allow "open access" to the network. And then as part of this provision, Verizon has decided not to lock those devices. That said, its 3G devices are locked.
And so what does this mean for the average consumer? Let'southward take the iPhone 5 every bit an example. It's a 4G LTE device. A Verizon version of this telephone comes unlocked out of the box. There aren't special codes that need to be entered in order to use it on another carrier'south network. Just because of the spectrum differences I mentioned above, a Verizon iPhone five won't operate on AT&T's LTE network. It will operate on AT&T's 3G network, which is based on GSM. So this means you can employ the Verizon iPhone on AT&T, but you won't get the fastest Internet speeds on it.
The same is truthful if you take the Verizon iPhone 5 to Europe. You lot can bandy out the SIM card and put in another carrier's SIM carte du jour, just the device will operate only on a GSM-based 3G network. And it won't operate on a faster LTE network.
And even though the phone is unlocked and uses the aforementioned CDMA technology and some of the same radio frequency channels as Sprint, an unlocked iPhone 5 won't operate on Sprint.
Answering your specific questions
What are the explicit differences betwixt a locked and unlocked phone?
The divergence between a locked and an unlocked phone is that a locked device has a software code on information technology that prevents yous from taking a GSM-based device and using it on some other GSM carrier's network. An unlocked phone either doesn't have the lock software on information technology or someone was able to get a code that unlocks the software. One time a device is unlocked, yous tin pop out the SIM card and put in a different SIM from another GSM operator and go service. Remember that this issue of locked and unlocked phones today is really only relevant when you're talking about devices fabricated for GSM networks. Information technology doesn't really use to CDMA-only devices or for swapping out SIM cards for LTE networks. As I explained above, most carriers use different frequencies and band plans for their LTE networks, and so even without a software lock on the device, it still won't operate on these networks. That volition soon modify, but for now don't wait unlocked LTE devices to perform at top speeds on any other carrier'southward LTE network.
Why is the iPhone treated differently by carriers relative to other phones?
In the past, the iPhone was treated differently than other devices when it came to lock codes. For case, AT&T was happy to unlock whatever other phone y'all owned, merely co-ordinate to its policy, the iPhone could never exist unlocked. The reason for this was because AT&T didn't want people buying the popular telephone and going to another carrier, whether that was T-Mobile or an overseas operator. So to command how and where the device was used, it refused to unlock information technology.
That's changed. At present AT&T, T-Mobile, and Dart let people unlock any smartphone so long as they've met the carrier's unlocking criteria. Usually, this means the phone is fully paid for and the customers are no longer on a contract. And they have to be customers in "good standing" for a certain menstruation of fourth dimension.
How do Verizon's and AT&T's lock policies relate to each other?
Is a Verizon unlock the aforementioned equally an AT&T unlock? As I explained above, Verizon has a slightly different unlock policy for its newer 4G LTE phones, which was built-in out of an FCC requirement. The spectrum AT&T uses for its 4G LTE network and for its 3G HSPA and HSPA+ network don't take the same requirements, so every device sold past AT&T or for use on AT&T's network has a software lock on it.
Too, as I've mentioned, you can get a special code to unlock the software from AT&T so long equally y'all meet the visitor'south requirements. The same is true if you have a Verizon 3G device that supports GSM network technology. But if you take an LTE device from Verizon, yous don't demand an unlock code. The device is already unlocked.
The AT&T code is not the same as the Verizon code. So if your device is locked, you must go the advisable unlock code from your carrier, or if you are getting the code elsewhere, you should specify which carrier network your device is affiliated with.
Another manner to become an unlocked phone is to buy 1 that'south specifically advertised as unlocked. For instance, Google's Nexus serial of smartphones come unlocked. They're congenital and configured in such a mode equally to allow whatsoever GSM SIM to be used in them. The international unlocked version of the iPhone is also sold without a lock. And again it can be used on whatever GSM network. (This ways that neither the Nexus serial phones nor the unlocked iPhone can exist used on Verizon or Dart's CDMA vocalization or data networks.)
Your vacation dilemma
As for what y'all should do while you're on vacation in Minnesota, so long as your iPhone is unlocked and supports GSM, you should exist able to use an AT&T SIM bill of fare in it. So apply the existing SIM card you lot've used in the past or buy a prepaid SIM from AT&T and pop it into your unlocked iPhone.
As I said, the iPhone v on Verizon is already unlocked out of the box. And so you should be able to employ any AT&T SIM card in that device and get service. If y'all want to do this on the inexpensive, make certain you turn off all the information functions on the iPhone, and you'll just be able to use the vocalism network.
The iPhone 4S is not a 4G LTE device, so if you ain this device from Verizon, you'll have to get an unlock lawmaking from Verizon in lodge to unlock it. I would telephone call a Verizon client service agent and tell her you lot're going out of the land on holiday and you want to utilise a local SIM card. She'll tell you the requirements for getting your phone unlocked. And if y'all accept met the appropriate criteria, the amanuensis should provide you with the lawmaking and instructions for unlocking.
I hope I answered your questions and helped you lot better sympathise the differences between locked and unlocked devices.
Skilful luck!
Can I bring a Samsung GS4 to Virgin Mobile?
Dear Maggie,
Virgin Mobile is not offer the Samsung Galaxy S4 nonetheless. Volition I have a problem connecting/using a GS4 if I buy it from the secondary marketplace?
Thank you,
Mike
Dear Mike,
I'm pitiful to tell you, just the answer to your question is yes. Virgin Mobile is a prepaid brand owned and operated by Dart. And Sprint is a CDMA wireless operator. Equally I explained as function of my in a higher place reply to the question about locked and unlocked phones, CDMA devices don't accept the same flexibility in terms of device portability as GSM phones.
Then even if you buy an "unlocked" GS4 on the secondary market, it will work merely on a GSM network. It won't work on Virgin's CDMA network. The principal reason is because that unlocked GS4 doesn't take a CDMA radio that will connect to the Virgin network.
Sadly, even if you were able to become your easily on a Sprint Samsung GS4, information technology nonetheless wouldn't piece of work on Virgin's network. This is actually something that as a consumer I detect maddening. As I said higher up, Virgin is owned and operated by Sprint. It uses Dart'southward 3G wireless network that'due south based on CDMA, and then technically there's no reason why a telephone fabricated for Sprint shouldn't work on Virgin's network.
Merely because of software locks and how the phones are provisioned for each network, Virgin Mobile customers are restricted from using Sprint devices on a Virgin service. Sprint launched a new program in March that lets customers utilize their former Sprint devices on other mobile virtual network operators that use the Sprint network, but the plan does not work for Virgin Mobile customers.
There is a chance that you may find a tech specialist who may offer to unlock a Sprint and then it works on Virgin, but a Sprint spokeswoman cautioned the phone may not function completely on Virgin'southward network.
"For example, voice services may role," she said in an email. "Although many other features and services may not and system and network updates may go problematic over fourth dimension."
Boost is another prepaid brand owned by Sprint. Like Virgin Mobile, most of Dart's phones won't work on this network. But there are select Sprint devices that can be activated on Boost's network. The normal reactivation fee associated with Heave used phones will employ, the spokeswoman said.
I hope this was helpful. Skilful luck.
CORRECTION Baronial 19, 2013: A previous version of this commodity incorrectly stated that Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile participate in Sprint's Bring Your Ain Device program for MVNOs. Virgin Mobile and Heave Mobile are wholly owned subsidiaries of Sprint. Dart does non let its used devices to be used on Virgin Mobile. Only select Sprint devices tin can be used on Heave Mobile. The story has been corrected
Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. The cavalcade now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Ask Maggie's advice. If you accept a question, I'd love to hear from you lot. Please transport me an east-mail service at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Inquire Maggie" in the subject header. You lot can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie folio.
Source: https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/confused-about-locked-vs-unlocked-phones-ask-maggie-explains/
0 Response to "How Do You Know if the 4g Works on a Factory Unlocked Phone"
Post a Comment