Looks like the Verizon version of the new iPhone 5 is a great choice for international travelers.
Verizon's version of the iPhone 5 comes unlocked. That means you can use the phone with other networks that are compatible with the radio built into the phone. You have to install the appropriate SIM card (micro-SIM in the case of the iPhone 5).
Here's one report that confirms using the Verizon iPhone 5 on ATT, after installing the right SIM
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/09/21/verizon-iphone-5-unlocked-att/
And here's an article that says Verizon has no plan to change the unlocked feature
http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/verizon-has-no-plans-to-re-lock-iphone-5-gsm-and-3g-sides/
The model number of iPhone 5 that Verizon sells is A1429, the CDMA model . According to Apple, this model's radio can use the following bands
-- CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz) -- these bands are used by Verizon and Sprint for voice and basic 2G (slow) data transfers
-- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) -- ATT and T-Mobile use these for voice and 2G data
-- UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) -- ATT and T-Mobile use for 3G (faster) data
-- LTE Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25 -- Verizon uses for 4G (very fast) data transfers. Sprint is just starting to add LTE.
Note that ATT uses LTE bands 4 and 17, so the Verizon iPhone 5 cannot access LTE on ATT.
For travelers, the Verizon iPhone will work with the GSM networks in more than 200 countries. All you need is the SIM card appropriate for the country you're in. Many countries don't yet offer the iPhone 5, so they may not be able to provide a nano-SIM, the new, smaller size that Apple is using now.
LTE is not widely used in international markets, and the LTE bands they use differ from what is used in USA. There's a chance that the Verizon iPhone can work on LTE service in England, Germany, Japan, Australia and South Korea. This is unexplored territory, so don't count on LTE in foreign countries. GSM, however, should work a treat.
Verizon's version of the iPhone 5 comes unlocked. That means you can use the phone with other networks that are compatible with the radio built into the phone. You have to install the appropriate SIM card (micro-SIM in the case of the iPhone 5).
Here's one report that confirms using the Verizon iPhone 5 on ATT, after installing the right SIM
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/09/21/verizon-iphone-5-unlocked-att/
And here's an article that says Verizon has no plan to change the unlocked feature
http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/verizon-has-no-plans-to-re-lock-iphone-5-gsm-and-3g-sides/
The model number of iPhone 5 that Verizon sells is A1429, the CDMA model . According to Apple, this model's radio can use the following bands
-- CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz) -- these bands are used by Verizon and Sprint for voice and basic 2G (slow) data transfers
-- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) -- ATT and T-Mobile use these for voice and 2G data
-- UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) -- ATT and T-Mobile use for 3G (faster) data
-- LTE Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25 -- Verizon uses for 4G (very fast) data transfers. Sprint is just starting to add LTE.
Note that ATT uses LTE bands 4 and 17, so the Verizon iPhone 5 cannot access LTE on ATT.
For travelers, the Verizon iPhone will work with the GSM networks in more than 200 countries. All you need is the SIM card appropriate for the country you're in. Many countries don't yet offer the iPhone 5, so they may not be able to provide a nano-SIM, the new, smaller size that Apple is using now.
LTE is not widely used in international markets, and the LTE bands they use differ from what is used in USA. There's a chance that the Verizon iPhone can work on LTE service in England, Germany, Japan, Australia and South Korea. This is unexplored territory, so don't count on LTE in foreign countries. GSM, however, should work a treat.
