With the Verizon iPhone 5 due for release on later this year, for many, one question on their minds will be; “Is this a phone I can use all over the world”?
First of all, we need to look in to the technology of the network, rather than the actual iPhone. Phone carries use two very differing types of wireless communication; CDMA and GSM.
These carriers use CDMA:
- Alaska Communications
- Alaska Digitel
- Appalachian Wireless
- BeyondMobile
- Blue Wireless
- Bluegrass Cellular
- C Spire Wireless
- Carolina West Wireless
- Cellcom
- Cellular One of Northeast Pennsylvania
- Clear Talk
- CloseCall America
- Common Cents Mobile
- Cox Wireless
- CREDO Moble
- Cricket Communications
- Eclipse Mobile
- Element Mobile
- Golden State Cellular
- i-wireless
- Jitterbug Wireless
- Liberty Wireless
- Lightyear Wireless
- Lucky Wireless
- MetroPCS
- Mobi PCS
- Movida Wireless
- NationPCS
- Nex-Tech Wireless
- nTelos
- Page Plus Cellular
- Panhandle Telecommunication Systems, Inc. DBA PTCI Cellular
- Pioneer Cellular
- PlatinumTel Prepaid Wireless
- Pocket Communications
- Pure Mobile
- ReadyMobile
- Revol Wireless
- Standing Rock Telecom
- STI Mobile
- Syringa Wireless
- Thumb Cellular
- Trumpet Mobile
- U.S. Cellular
- Virgin Mobile USA
- Xtreme Mobile
- Boost Mobile
- Sprint Nextel
- Cellular One Bermuda
- Verizon Wireless
As you can see, Verizon uses CDMA technology to power its network. One of the problems is that the rest of the planet predominately use GSM. If you’re a current Verizon customer you may have used one of our World Phones to keep you in-touch whilst you’re on vacation or business trip. So, in theory, the Verizon iPhone 5 won’t be a true world phone, not on Verizon anyway.
If you’re currently using one of the CDMA carriers, and you have an iPhone 4S, there is a solution – the Mobal SIM Card. You can easily order a MicroSIM from Mobal that you put in to the SIM Card Tray. This will enable you to use your iPhone whilst traveling – simple.
If you don’t have an iPhone, but you have another model, you may want to consider investing in an international cell phone from Mobal.
Merry
Hi there,
I purchased a Nokia Deluxe World Phone from you. Will I be able to use the SIM card from that phone to replace the SIM card in my Verizon Iphone 5 while I am in Spain, and will I then be on your plan? I do not want to purchase a duplicate of a card I’ve already purchased from you, so please let me know if this will work for voice and data.
Thanks for your help.
Ian
I lost my mobal SIM card over a year now.
If I order a new one will that cancel out my lost card?
Stephen Trenery
Ian, just give our Customer Support team a call. They would be happy to help.
Customer Support: 212 785 5800
Peter Fellegara
Your article is incomplete. If the iPhone 5 supports both CDMA & GSM network standards, can an existing Mobal GSM SIM card be used with this phone? Thanks
Stephen Trenery
Peter, our advice would be to order a MicroSIM from us and use that should you wish to use an iPhone 5 internationally.
Judy
Does this mean I can take my SIM card out of my Mobal phone and put it into my iPhone 4S and use all my apps? Will I be charged for time by Mobal or will I get international roaming charges from Sprimt?
Stephen Trenery
Judy, it’s the same advice as Peter, we would recommend using out MicroSIM should you wish to use an iPhone 5 internationally.