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Thunderbolt and ALL future 4G VZW devices require a SIM card inserted into them for authentication. I just posted this on VZW forums because someone asked so here's a re-post for the HoFo members.
The SIM card is required for ALL 4G devices even when in CDMA only mode. See this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Removab...dentity_Module
VZ is adopting SIM-technology for all 4G and beyond future releases for ease of use because you can switch your account profile from phone to phone as long as it's a VZW 4G device and it will seamlessly work. No more calling support, you just swap the SIM card. No more *228 except for PRL updates but that in theory should be done automatically too in the future.
If you really want to know what's in the Thunderbolt here you go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UICC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDMA_Su...dentify_Module
The Verizon 4G LTE SIM cards have 3 components in them (3 modules that are transparent to the end-user):
1. CSIM: Authentication to the CDMA 1X voice/data and CDMA EvDO rA data 3G network.
2. USIM/ISIM/USAT/ISIM: USIM is used for LTE/GSM/UMTS/HSPA data authentication. The last 3 are for roaming.
1. USIM is also used for native direct Verizon SIM card roaming when abroad (outside of the US) as long as the device hardware has the processing (baseband) and antennas to have the overseas bands.
2. ISIM is used for IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) authentication. Basically in the future Verizon wants to do VoLTE and move voice into IP (VoIP). This allows for ALL-IP simplified network management. Also device management and stuff that makes the device automatically work when it connects to ANY network in the world /w VZW roaming agreement (aka SMS/MMS).
3. USAT: Application toolkit for the SIM card. If you're not a developer forget about it.
4. ISIM (Intelligent SIM): One of the functions/applications is remote modular address book movement. (Only up to 256K). So if your address book contains up to 256K you can move it onto the SIM card and move your address book seamlessly transparently to the end user between any VZW device. There are other functions that only the engineer would understand.
"The application has been ported to the UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card), so that a card with CSIM, SIM, and USIM can operate with all cellular networks worldwide."
Get it? One phone, one network, 6 continents, every-where on planet-earth! Ah don't you just love technology? >.<
Also countering AT&T's stupid advertising the Thunderbolt will be able to do simultaneous voice and data like all AT&T 3G phones when in an upgraded area.
**Upgraded area=Area where Verizon has done network infrastructure upgrades to allow simultaneous voice and data on both CDMA and LTE. You will have simulaeous voice and data in ALL areas covered by LTE in which the data will be on LTE and the voice will be on CDMA 1X currently. In areas without LTE coverage that have been upgraded even the old native CDMA 1X/EvDO rA network will be able to do simulaeous voice and data (not all complete, in LTE areas yes, in non-LTE areas where they will get LTE yes by 2012). Basicall if you're in a metro area you will have simulaeous voice & data on ALL Verizon technologies, and then expand from there to the rural areas for the entire country by 2012.
Now with that said and done, VZ counters EVERY SINGLE CLAIM made by AT&T marketing in which VZ:
1. Support every function that AT&T does but does it EVEN BETTER
2. The superior VZW network in which VZW has invested billions of $$$ in.
These days it's not a technology limitation, it's the amount of $$$ you want to invest. Everything is possible, it just costs $. Heh.
thanks for the info...very informative
Stinks, I wanted to use this phone over seas too, I thought the SIM card thing was universal but ah well.
Not a surprise at all considering LTE is based on GSM, but nice job supplying details.
Would one be able to use a Thunderbolt SIM card in a laptop that was so equipped so that one only needed one data plan?
A Verizon sales rep I spoke with said no, it will not be possible, but you never know whether to believe what a sales rep says.
Robertus said:
Would one be able to use a Thunderbolt SIM card in a laptop that was so equipped so that one only needed one data plan?
A Verizon sales rep I spoke with said no, it will not be possible, but you never know whether to believe what a sales rep says.
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Almost certainly not, at least until they start making laptops with LTE radios. Or preferrably, a combined EVDO/LTE radio compatible with Verizon's SIM for CDMA scheme. No telling how long that will take, though.
Robertus, yes if you get a 4G USB stick like the UML290.
FCC is here:
https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas...=N&application_id=579333&fcc_id=\'NM8PG05100\
Looks like part of the delay is the updated RF testing for the SVDO and SVLTE support! w00t!
willzzz88 said:
Looks like part of the delay is the updated RF testing for the SVDO and SVLTE support! w00t!
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This is a HUGE plus for vzw network, as from this point on with all the 4G devices they are becoming on of the worlds most modern providers in the world.
Thank you as always for your great info willzzz!
The old native EVDO Rev. A is not capable of doing voice and data, and SVDO is a software feature, not hardware. Verizon is upgrading to CDMA 1X Advanced, in order for SVDO to work. Voice over LTE was tested with this phone, but it weren't as successful as the LG 4G device. The tentative date for this device was changed 3 times, with the iphone being the main reason for the delay. Verizon doesn't know what their LTE data surcharge should be, or if they should go free for a limited time. I'll find out later at work as to what's with their reasoning for the delay now.
After reading that I'm still not sure... so will the thunderbolt be global or not?
I'm about to get Thunderbolt, and through my company we get very nice discounts on vzw plans. Once I get unlimited data on thunderbolt you are positive that by swapping SIM's with UML290 they won't automatically change my plan to data card plans?
That's what I'm worried the most. Also, the other day when I tried to buy UML290 outright, they didn't really wanna sell me unless i sign a contract or month-to-month, which means credit check etc... Is this required? I just want to pay for UML290 full price $250, and leave the store, they obviously don't make it easy.
milan03 said:
Also, the other day when I tried to buy UML290 outright, they didn't really wanna sell me unless i sign a contract or month-to-month, which means credit check etc... Is this required? I just want to pay for UML290 full price $250, and leave the store, they obviously don't make it easy.
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They wouldn't let me do that at a corporate store for my Droid X the other month either. I just went to a reseller and bought it outright. You can probably buy the device from a Verizon authorized dealer without signing up for anything.
Ok so I know I'm a noob when it comes to some things on here, but I think this is a legitimate question so bare with me.
Basically, I have to move back home to Trenton, FL because of personal family issues. The problem is that I get absolutely NO service from T-Mobile over there. (It's horrible) I have a rooted and unlocked G2x for T-Mobile/ATT. My question is; can I simply purchase an ATT sim card and use their network back home without having to shut off my T-Mobile account and switch to ATT? From what I've researched, I'm pretty sure it's possible to "Borrow" service from ATT's towers over there with an unlocked T-Mobile phone and a data plan, but I'm not 100% sure. It's not a huge deal, but I'd like to know the answer before I actually move. Thanks!
Can someone please give me an accurate answer?
In short, no. If you want to use Att's cell towers but have a tmo subscription that would be considered roaming. If you had an att SIM you'd have to have service from them, it wouldn't be service from tmo. You could get some sort of roaming plan (I think) from tmo that would allow you access to the att towers.
I appreciate the help, but I'm pretty sure I have roaming from T-mobile. At least, I think I do, cause I think I've roamed before cause I've seen the symbols E and G on my service bar before. Hopefully this is good news! So I guess I'll just have to ask T-Mobile and see what's up.
The t-Mobile rep told me that wherever there is no tmo service you will piggy back on att's network for free. I've done it with both att and cellular one.
Call them and ask to be sure. But you shouldn't need to get a new att sim.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Wouldn't bother calling about this...
1) To roam onto AT&T's network, they would have to have a roaming agreement in place. They only pay for roaming agreements in areas where A) They realllly realllly need to have coverage, and B) They don't already have coverage. If T-Mobile already has coverage in an area, they won't pay for an AT&T Roaming agreement. Even if it is bad coverage.
2) If you put an AT&T Sim in the an unlocked phone, then it will have nothing to do with T-Mobile while the AT&T Sim is in there... that is, as said above, you would need to have a service plan with AT&T and as such a new phone number, bill, etc...
3) You can't add a special roaming plan. They don't exist. You get all the roaming that's available already. Now, if you go OVERSEAS that's different - you have to call to add INTERNATIONAL roaming, but that's done so you don't get charged for international roaming without having been warned first. But for within the US, no, you can't get additional roaming on your T-Mobile plan...
The sad thing is, Roaming used to be a lot more common. Wireless services have gotten so competitive, however, that many of those old roaming agreements are dead and gone. Nobody's willing to share their networks any more.
If you bought an AT&T SIM and use that in the G2x, then you would simply be an AT&T customer, except I don't think G2x supports AT&T's 3g band, so you'll just have EDGE.
If T-Mobile doesn't have coverage where you're going, you can call them and terminate your service with T-Mobile, provided that you have proof that you moved there, and T-Mobile has zero coverage in the town you moved to. Otherwise, either keep your TMO account alive, or you have to pay a contract termination fee.
Damn guys I'm glad you told me all of this, especially the part about proving where I'm moving. That's awesome, now I don't have to pay two cell phone bills. Hells yes.
I've been using Sprint for ~2 1/2 years on a Family plan with my mom while in college and would like to transition onto my own plan. T-mobile's Monthly4G $30 (I don't talk on the phone much) would be perfect for me, and if it wasn't then the $50 plan would still be cheaper than our current Sprint plan split in half.
The one issue is Google Voice. I work in a facility where I can't have my cell phone on property so I handle my text messaging and voicemail 8 hours a day through GV's web interface. With Sprint it is incredibly convenient, my cell phone number is my GV number.
My thought is that if I go to T-mobile, I can get a new phone with a new cell phone number and just port my phone number to GV, but I'm concerned with how it would handle MMS. Can anyone provide any insight?
whoops, should have been in Q/A forum, can an admin move?
Greetings all!
I've been a very satisfied and loyal supporter of Ting for nearly two years now. However, I've decided to get myself a 32gb Nexus 5 from the playstore (arrives tomorrow, yaay!) with the hopes that I'll eventually be able to BYOSD to Ting. For now, I'm trying to settle on an ATT MVNO since TMO coverage is awful around here for miles.
Here is my usage on Ting:
under 100 mins
no texts (I use Google voice for SMS)
150mb average data use
I pay about 15-25ish per month depending on usage.
What I'm looking for in an ATT MVNO:
Decent Customer Service
Unliminted (or even decent amount) SMS/MMS/VOICE
Decent amount of data, say 250mb-1gb.
Reliable autopay and number porting.
No more than $40/month
I would like to port my Ting number once I feel "safe" and satisfied with the ATT MVNO.
I'm thinking of going with red pocket for now since I can get a free sim from callingmart.com with 39.99 of service. However, I'm nervous about the repeated complaints about inconsistent data throttling with Red Pocket. If I like the ATT service, I'd like to port my "real number" over to AIO because I've heard they have better CS, LTE, and a more reliable data throttle of 256kbps after the plan cap. I wish they had more LTE data (in my price range), but I can deal with the 256kpbs throttle if I breach 250mb.
I like the larger data pools of Airvoice and RP but the strange stories about having to call in to reset data or restore service are unsettling. I've never had an issue with my Ting service. Ting CS kind of spoils you.
Am I being paranoid?
Aside from you owning a nexus 5, I think this thread belongs over at the Howard forums because it has nothing to do with the Nexus 5
Sent from my LG-D801 using xda app-developers app
Dang, was wondering the same thing.
I'm in the same boat, but migrating from Sprint. I was hoping to hear what the community had to say on the matter of AT&T MVNOs. XDA is my trusted source. :fingers-crossed:
I would also like to see what the community here thinks on this matter. I'm currently with Sprint, was considering Republic Wireless, but when the Nexus 5 came out decided that I prefer that to the MotoX and so was looking at Ting. Hopefully they will come around to allowing a Play Store Nexus on Ting, but until then I'd sure like to get away from my $85 per month plan I have with Sprint towards something in the $20-$40 range. ATT and Sprint have decent coverage where I am, T-Mobile is not an option, unfortunately.
heroisnotdead said:
What I'm looking for in an ATT MVNO:
Decent Customer Service
Unliminted (or even decent amount) SMS/MMS/VOICE
Decent amount of data, say 250mb-1gb.
Reliable autopay and number porting.
No more than $40/month
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I would highly recommend Aio Wireless. Their $40 plan fits all of your criteria, and I've been really satisfied with them after 2 months. I currently use the $70 plan and the speeds and coverage are great. I would also recommend installing their MyAio app to keep track of data/pay/etc and their Visual Voicemail app which is really great to use. I can't comment on their Autopay feature because I like to manually pay my bills to keep track of where all of my money goes, but their payment method via app and desktop is painless and quick.
About 18 months ago, I left Sprint for Straight Talk. They have everything unlimited* for $45. You get unlimited 2.5GB of 4G (LTE & HSPA+ for at&t SIM, HSPA+ for T-Mobile SIM), then 2G until the end of the month. I only had to call them once after i ported a secondary Google Voice number to them (I couldn't add a service card online). I read that the customer service is bad, but it seemed fine to me. I usually get around 5Mbps, but sometimes its faster/slower too.
I'll second Straight Talk. I've had no problems whatsoever with them. I did have to call to activate my SIM card (the online process messed up somehow), and I had to talk to the manager as the first rep had no idea what I was talking about, but overall it's been great.
ok, so im getting the 100 minute, unlimited data 30$ tmobile plan on my sprint nexus 5 cause sprint totally sucks.
i have a google voice number and i was just wondering, now that hangouts has calling integrated, can i just use google voice number to make and receive calls over data?
im reading conflicting things, like some people want call forwarding from tmobile (im thinking they want their cell number forwarded to google voice) which 1)isnt an option and 2) not really needed since people will be calling my seperate google voice number
also reading that tmobile blocks google voice on their prepaid plans for some folks
is anyone using the 30 month 100 minute unlimited tmobile data plan and making and receiving calls using a seperate google voice number?
Yes VoIP in Hangouts works just fine with the T-Mobile $30 plan. You can't forward from T-Mobile to GV but that doesn't matter if you use your GV number to take incoming calls.
dwreck420 said:
ok, so im getting the 100 minute, unlimited data 30$ tmobile plan on my sprint nexus 5 cause sprint totally sucks.
i have a google voice number and i was just wondering, now that hangouts has calling integrated, can i just use google voice number to make and receive calls over data?
im reading conflicting things, like some people want call forwarding from tmobile (im thinking they want their cell number forwarded to google voice) which 1)isnt an option and 2) not really needed since people will be calling my seperate google voice number
also reading that tmobile blocks google voice on their prepaid plans for some folks
is anyone using the 30 month 100 minute unlimited tmobile data plan and making and receiving calls using a seperate google voice number?
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Yes, I just set up a GV number and I'm going to begin providing it to my family members and close friends to use as the number to reach me. Everyone else can leave a message for me to pick up in visual VM, and then I'll call them back if needed. The only negative is that T-Mobile's coverage really stinks outside of a few areas where it's screaming fast. Inside my house in Metro Detroit, my wife can get 30 Mbps on her Verizon GS4 while I get 5-8 on my LG G3. And it can be really spotty as you travel between cities & towns, so missing a few calls & texts when driving is going to be a real probability. But for $30/mo, I can probably live with it.
zhamilton05 said:
Yes, I just set up a GV number and I'm going to begin providing it to my family members and close friends to use as the number to reach me. Everyone else can leave a message for me to pick up in visual VM, and then I'll call them back if needed. The only negative is that T-Mobile's coverage really stinks outside of a few areas where it's screaming fast. Inside my house in Metro Detroit, my wife can get 30 Mbps on her Verizon GS4 while I get 5-8 on my LG G3. And it can be really spotty as you travel between cities & towns, so missing a few calls & texts when driving is going to be a real probability. But for $30/mo, I can probably live with it.
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The coverage is what killed it for me. I'd been waiting for Hangouts and voice to merge but switched to straight talk last month. Happy to finally get coverage in the locations I'm in the most.
First, you sure can just use Google Voice number to make and receive calls over data. In fact, Hangouts only use data, not voice/talk minute at all.
Second, prepaid mobile phone plans do not have conditional forwarding which is required to forward incoming calls to mobile DID (Direct Inward Dialing -- telephone number) to Google Voice DID. Therefore, you are correct. It is not an option. Moreover, you are also correct as to there is no such need to forward calls from mobile DID to Google Voice DID due to people will be using separate Google Voice DID. I would suggest you port Sprint mobile DID to Ring.to and have Ring.to forward all incoming calls and texts to your Google Voice DID. Consequently, people have been using your current Sprint mobile DID will continue be able to contact you without changing your DID. You just get a new DID from T-Mobile when you sign up for $30 prepaid plan for 100 minutes talk, unlimited text and data with first 5 GB up to LTE speeds.
Third, I am using $30 prepaid plan for 100 minutes talk, unlimited text and data with first 5 GB up to LTE speeds and using Hangouts for outgoing calls. It just work flawlessly! I use Voxox for incoming calls and do not use mobile DID came with T-Mobile $30 plan at all.