Unlocked iPhone CDMA... Which carriers?

[FullFledgedYYC]

This is probably a DUH question... But.

I have an iPhone 5s I am getting rid of and it is factory unlocked, but a CDMA phone.

Does this mean it will not work on carriers that are GSM like Rogers?
Which carriers would it work for?

Thanks for any help!

[z2two]

does it have a sim slot? what CDMA network was it made for originally?

[Stealth22]

Where did you get this iPhone 5S? It wouldn't work with any of the major carriers in Canada. I'm not even sure if you can get a CDMA iPhone in Canada.

[roopi]

I'm pretty sure Telus/Bell have or will be shutting down their CDMA networks. So if the phone isn't useless yet it will be soon.

[FullFledgedYYC]

I got it from the Apple Store the day it was released.... I currently have it running on telus.

[Stealth22]

Originally posted by FullFledgedYYC
I got it from the Apple Store the day it was released.... I currently have it running on telus.

Are you sure its a CDMA phone, and not a GSM/HSPA model? If it's the latter, and you got it from the Apple store, it is factory unlocked, and will work with any network in Canada, and most networks throughout the world.

In fact, come to think of it, there's really no such thing as an "unlocked" CDMA phone. So if your iPhone is "factory unlocked", you have the GSM/HSPA model.

Just to be sure, can you look at the back of the phone (or under Settings --> General --> About) and tell me what the Model number is?

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201296

Model number on the back cover:

A1533 or A1457 or A1530: iPhone 5s (GSM model)
A1533 or A1453: iPhone 5s (CDMA model)
A1518 or A1528 or A1530: iPhone 5s (GSM model China)

I'm not sure about the retail stores, but the Canadian online Apple Store will only sell you a GSM/HSPA iPhone 5S.

http://store.apple.com/ca/buy-iphone...-grey-unlocked

The unlocked iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a wireless contract commitment. You can activate and use iPhone on the supported GSM wireless network of your choice. The unlocked iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s will not work with CDMA-based carriers.

[FullFledgedYYC]

Well I went to the Apple Store... Always a lovely experience /sarcasm

They only sell GSM unlocked phones in Canada, so mine is definitely GSM.

My model number was 1533, so that's why I thought it could be CDMA, since 1533 is listed for both CDMA and GSM.

Now I know!

[G-ZUS]

How much do you want fori t?

[Stealth22]

Originally posted by FullFledgedYYC
Well I went to the Apple Store... Always a lovely experience /sarcasm

They only sell GSM unlocked phones in Canada, so mine is definitely GSM.

My model number was 1533, so that's why I thought it could be CDMA, since 1533 is listed for both CDMA and GSM.

Now I know!

Glad to be of help!

But hey, at least now you know! It will work with any network in Canada, and it's factory unlocked, so you'll get some decent coin for it.

By the way, I charge a 20% online consultation fee.

[GQBalla]

I'm wondering whats the difference between factory unlocked and carrier unlocked iPhones? Other then the obvious one is factory unlocked

This was brought up in Asia as well when i told them it was unlocked from my carrier and not a factory unlocked iPhone

They mentioned it wouldn't work but they popped in a sim and it worked. I tried and Hong Kong sim and a Bangkok sim, both worked.

[G-ZUS]

Originally posted by GQBalla
I'm wondering whats the difference between factory unlocked and carrier unlocked iPhones? Other then the obvious one is factory unlocked

This was brought up in Asia as well when i told them it was unlocked from my carrier and not a factory unlocked iPhone

They mentioned it wouldn't work but they popped in a sim and it worked. I tried and Hong Kong sim and a Bangkok sim, both worked.

It's all the same really. You pay your carrier whatever they charge, then they ask apple to release that IMEI and once you updated it on iTunes it's factory unlocked.

Factory unlocked is purchased outright unlocked from apple and never locked to any carriers.

[GQBalla]

Originally posted by G-ZUS


It's all the same really. You pay your carrier whatever they charge, then they ask apple to release that IMEI and once you updated it on iTunes it's factory unlocked.

Factory unlocked is purchased outright unlocked from apple and never locked to any carriers.

yeah that's what i thought. It just seems people are adamant that factory unlocked iphone is better and will work for all carriers where as the carrier unlocked iphone doesnt work for all carriers... hence fetching a better price or whatever

[roopi]

Originally posted by GQBalla


yeah that's what i thought. It just seems people are adamant that factory unlocked iphone is better and will work for all carriers where as the carrier unlocked iphone doesnt work for all carriers... hence fetching a better price or whatever

Factory unlocked phones don't have the carrier's software/apps on them. Not sure with Apple phones but a BB that is from Rogers/Fido loads with the Rogers/Fido icon and usually other bloatware. A factory unlocked phone would have none of this. Again not sure if this is true for Apple phones.

[GQBalla]

Originally posted by roopi


Factory unlocked phones don't have the carrier's software/apps on them. Not sure with Apple phones but a BB that is from Rogers/Fido loads with the Rogers/Fido icon and usually other bloatware. A factory unlocked phone would have none of this. Again not sure if this is true for Apple phones.

speaking specifically about iPhones. Yes other phones have bloat ware on them. android/blackberry.

[thetransporter]

still using my iphone cdma on telus ...............

[FullFledgedYYC]

I'm guessing its a 4 or 4s or something? The 5S was not sold in Canada as CDMA.