I can't find it anymore, but the original Verizon iPhone 4 (not the 4s) was CDMA/EvDo only. It did not have GSM abilities, so there was no SIM card (CDMA had a RUIM card option that was never used.) The iPhone 4s gained a CDMA/GSM chipset, that allowed for a SIM card for Sprint or Verizon. US Cellular (the other "major" CDMA carrier) did not use a SIM in the 4s, but left the GSM side unlocked on that device, it was carrier locked on the 5c and up though, and unlocked for international SIMs on all devices. Verizon is required, as part of their 700 MHz purchases a few years ago, to have all LTE phones fully unlocked.
Originally Posted by
stimpy
There is a Cydia program called Signal which will tell you all you need to know about the link, down to the technical details such as RSSI, channel, etc.
As for LTE versus 4G showing up on your phone, that is simply down to how the phone company programs their network. At most Euro operators they send out 4G and most American operators send out LTE. Maybe TMO or some TMO networks send out 4G. It is a German company after all.
LTE and 4G are just two ways of saying the same thing and there is no difference in the meaning.
It has more to do with the fact when T-Mo US was rolling out the HSDPA+ network it was just as fast (if not faster) than most of the LTE networks that had been minimally deployed. It was leaps and bounds faster than what they had as a 3G network. It also helps when you have T-Mobile and can see when you're on a specific network. (GPRS, Edge, 3G, 4G, and LTE.) Not every market has all the networks though, some are GPRS/EDGE, and LTE only.
Originally Posted by
dtsm
Which tweaks? I have a Verizon model 5s and curious what band works when on TMO.
As far as SE, I have TMO set up and notice it switching from 4G to LTE. When I'm at home, get 3 bars LTE. At office (with new TMO tower literally 300 yard direct sight line away), it shows 3-4 bars 4G? What is difference btw seeing a 4G vs a LTE signal.
You'll have access to their full LTE network, except for band 12, which the 6s, 6s+, and SE have. 4G is their HSPDA+ Network, it is different than LTE. They'll frequently deploy a network, and have it running on the older specifications prior to launching LTE on it. LTE having parts of CDMA in the background does need to be load and network balanced. There may also be a lack of backhaul for the LTE side. I would probably say it should have LTE within 6 months of being consumer ready. There is a difference between consumer ready, and network ready.
Originally Posted by
javabytes
I have an AT&T phone. It will display 4G or LTE at different times. 4G for AT&T indicates HSPA+, which is fundamentally different from LTE. So it is not the same thing. This despite the fact that 4G is a completely meaningless term now that it's been so thoroughly abused by marketers.
T-Mobile is the same way.