10-09-2011, 02:03 PM
Chakravartin wrote:
There is absolutely no need for a SIM to be present in the Sprint or Verizon phones and every reason to believe that the GSM radio will be crippled in their handsets.
We'll see when they ship, but it's already been cited by news sources that the CDMA versions of the phone will not be able to get on GSM networks.
And I remind you that the Verizon iPhone 4, while it has the same dual-mode chip, lacks a SIM slot.
Apple's not above disabling part of the phone to cater to a service-provider and in this case it's two domestic providers who don't want GSM capability in their phones.
Sprint and Verizon make quite a bit of money from roaming agreements with other CDMA providers. Since they don't sell GSM phones, they have no roaming agreements with GSM providers and have no motive to make such an agreement.
A SIM card is required for roaming on GSM networks. Verizon offers several dual-mode phones that include SIM cards:
http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Global_...index.html
So I do think they have roaming agreements with GSM providers. They just don't promote it. Note that Verizon Wireless is 45% owned by Vodaphone, which is the world's largest wireless company, and is primarily a GSM company.
But it looks like they are excluding iPhones from that group. No mention of GSM capability on Verizon's web site for the iPhone 4s. Here's what Verizon Wireless says about one of the iPhone 4s models"
"Communication
CDMA EV–DO Rev A (800,1900 MHz)"
Sprint also offers several phones with GSM capability. If you check the "International" box under "Key Features" when browsing phones on Sprint's web site it includes the iPhone, but the detailed iPhone info does not mention GSM.
http://shop.sprint.com/mysprint/shop/phone_wall.jsp?
- Winston