I completely understand the procedural difference between swapping out a sim and calling into the carrier for a phone swap. My understanding is that these two options are tied into the differing technologies used by the carriers. (CDMA vs. GSM.) And even if Verizon were able to (by some small miracle) begin installing sim slots into their CDMA phones, they would still be virtually useless overseas. (Or domestically for that matter if no other CDMA provider was on board.)
It would still appear that with this policy change for Verizon there will be a couple significant differences between what you can do with them and with a GSM (ATT) carrier. With GSM it will still be a simple card swap with zero guarantee a device or any of its features will work on the new network. (Most features probably will, but if you hit a road block there really is no support from carrier or manufacturer.) With Verizon your choices will still likely be more limited than GSM, but certified non-Verizon devices will be guaranteed to work on the network. Verizon will back up the connection to the network. Software and hardware issues beyond connecting will have to fall back on individual manufacturers. And yes, you will still have to contact Verizon any time you want to activate a new device on your account.
I am just hopeful that this (and the OHA) helps to push all carriers into a more "dumb pipe" style service. Open up your network, and let me choose the device I want to use on it.
And for those thinking I am a Verizon fan boy, it couldn't be further from the truth. I have been with them since T-Mobile hit the US back in '01. And now I am looking to leave them and find a new carrier. I'm waiting to see how a few things within the industry (as well as some phone releases) pan out before making the leap into a two year agreement with either AT&T or Verizon. And right now I am leaning toward AT&T, even though they don't have 3G in my home town.
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I completely understand the procedural difference between swapping out a sim and calling into the carrier for a phone swap. My understanding is that these two options are tied into the differing technologies used by the carriers. (CDMA vs. GSM.) And even if Verizon were able to (by some small miracle) begin installing sim slots into their CDMA phones, they would still be virtually useless overseas. (Or domestically for that matter if no other CDMA provider was on board.)
It would still appear that with this policy change for Verizon there will be a couple significant differences between what you can do with them and with a GSM (ATT) carrier. With GSM it will still be a simple card swap with zero guarantee a device or any of its features will work on the new network. (Most features probably will, but if you hit a road block there really is no support from carrier or manufacturer.) With Verizon your choices will still likely be more limited than GSM, but certified non-Verizon devices will be guaranteed to work on the network. Verizon will back up the connection to the network. Software and hardware issues beyond connecting will have to fall back on individual manufacturers. And yes, you will still have to contact Verizon any time you want to activate a new device on your account.
I am just hopeful that this (and the OHA) helps to push all carriers into a more "dumb pipe" style service. Open up your network, and let me choose the device I want to use on it.
And for those thinking I am a Verizon fan boy, it couldn't be further from the truth. I have been with them since T-Mobile hit the US back in '01. And now I am looking to leave them and find a new carrier. I'm waiting to see how a few things within the industry (as well as some phone releases) pan out before making the leap into a two year agreement with either AT&T or Verizon. And right now I am leaning toward AT&T, even though they don't have 3G in my home town.