And if CDMA carriers were be forced to accept user devices, the AT&T model would be unlocked for Verizon... 

So when VoLTE is finished, how will that work? Will the CDMA guys slowly dismantle the old and switch to SIMs for the new?

I wonder if this is because if the FCC requirement regarding the 700Mhz spectrum.

Was reading this over at hofo, might be interesting for those here:

http://www.howardforum.com/showthread.php/1777112-Verizon-iPhone-5-s-must-be-unlocked!-FCC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tulkas 

The relevant law is found here in the Code of Federal Regulations 

Title 47 - Telecommunication. CHAPTER I - FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED). SUBCHAPTER B - COMMON CARRIER SERVICES. PART 27 - MISCELLANEOUS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. Subpart B - Applications and Licenses. 

§ 27.16Network access requirements for Block C in the 746-757 and 776-787 MHz bands.

Take a look at this : (e) Handset locking prohibited. No licensee may disable features on handsets it provides to customers, to the extent such features are compliant with the licensee's standards pursuant to paragraph (b)of this section, nor configure handsets it provides to prohibit use of such handsets on other providers' networks.

 

Why does this law only apply to Verizon? Can AT&T lock their handsets?

Too bad the place I am going to visit doesn't have a nano-sim.  No, I'm not going to be messing with a Claro or Movistar micro-sim and cut it to fit.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstone 

Why does this law only apply to Verizon? Can AT&T lock their handsets?

Does AT&T use that band?

I hope AT&T's and Sprint's phone are same way.

I'm sure we'll soon be able to buy the right sim card trays on eBay to deal with the thinner nano-sim cards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by radster360 

I hope AT&T's and Sprint's phone are same way.

Sprint's might be the same. However, even if AT&T's phones are unlocked, they can't be used on Sprint or Verizon.  Unlike the 4S, where the internals were the same, the 5 has three different models with different bands/frequencies.  The Verizon/Sprint model (CDMA model A1429) also has HSPA+, GSM, etc., but the AT&T model (GSM model A1428) lacks the CDMA bands and uses different LTE bands.  This really isn't unlike the 4S, where the CDMA couldn't ever be used unless originally activated on a CDMA network.  However, the difference is that the hardware is a different spec.  So maybe AT&T's won't need to be unlocked to be used on a different GSM provider, but it will never work on a CDMA provider.

(Details about models with frequencies/bands are under the "Cellular and Wireless" section of http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPOM 

Does AT&T use that band?

Not exactly.  Their LTE network is on bands 4 and 17.  However, band 17 does fall in the 700 MHz range but not entirely within the 746-757 MHz range like band 13 from Verizon does.  This was quoted above in the FCC regulations as reason for the mandatory unlock.  See http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html and http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/lte-long-term-evolution/lte-frequency-spectrum.php.  It's possible that AT&T's spectrum falls outside the regulation, so it can still be locked.