iPhone launching on a CDMA carrier in Jamaica -- huh?
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jun 16th 2008 4:57PM
posted Jun 16th 2008 4:57PM
Last time we checked, the iPhone 3G was GSM through and through -- four bands of GSM / EDGE plus three bands of UMTS / HSDPA, to be exact. So how exactly is it that an exclusively CDMA carrier, Jamaica's MiPhone, could be carrying it? Even MiPhone's international roaming agreements are all with CDMA carriers (Alltel, MetroPCS, Sprint, and Verizon in the States, for example) so it's pretty freaking unclear how -- or what -- they plan to launch down there. We've cooked up a few possibilities for how this could play out:- MiPhone has negotiated a roaming agreement with a GSM carrier in Jamaica. Doesn't seem like there would be any way to profit from this arrangement, though, since iPhone customers would be roaming 100 percent of the time.
- They didn't get the memo that "WCDMA" doesn't mean "CDMA". Just imagine the blushing execs!
- Unlocked iPhone 3Gs will simply be offered through MiPhone stores for use on other networks.
- There's a mysterious CDMA version of the iPhone waiting in the wings. Doubtful. Very, very doubtful.
- CDMA support secretly lurks inside each and every iPhone 3G. Again, doubtful.
[Thanks, L8on]
Update: It seems that MiPhone might be branding its GSM 850 network as Claro, which would match up with branding corporate parent America Movil uses throughout much of Latin America. Where this leaves MiPhone's CDMA network is unclear, but needless to say, we don't think there's a CDMA iPhone in the cards. Thanks, everyone!
According to the MiPhone website, they are a wholly owned subsidiary of GSM provider America Movil (owner of TracFone in US). Their Jamaica GSM provider is called Claro.
So it isn't CDMA? ...
it looks like someone recently merged or was bought or renamed...or something. its really hard to follow, but it appears that a CDMA carrier was somehow acquired by a GSM and UMTS / HSDPA carrier. Money will be invested in new infrastructure that is GSM based. The iphone would be just the thing to really push the new network to the public.
im not a tech expert but i dont think CDMA can be upgraded much past its current speeds, while UMTS / HSDPA can. CDMA carriers are probably going to move to GSM for 4G technology, because of cost/ease of future upgrades, and easier roaming.
I'd actually heard from a friend that Apple and Qualcomm were working together on a chipset........... and he could be a pretty reliable source... :-)
im from trinidad. nearby to jamaica what i dont get is what is the point. the west indies is generally a poor country. i dont get why they even bring a phone that a very small potiono f the population can afford
Really not sure whats going on over trinidad but i can talk for us Jamaicans we take our cell phone life serious we dont walk with medioka phones around ere. Iphone 3g will be welcome with open arms here but i can assure you most of the jamaican population will be owning one since half of us already own one.
Trinidad and Jamaica really aren't that close, in fact Venezuela is closer to Trinidad. The West Indies isn't a "generally poor country" as it's not a country at all, similar to how Africa isn't a country, either. And yes, like many other places, there are segments of the population that can afford it.
The only 2 GSM networks there are Cable&Wireless and Digicel.
Seeing they were bought by America Movil maybe they are getting GSM and WCDMA licenses to put up a network.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_jm.shtml
Claro is America Movil's brand in Puerto Rico and some other islands. So MiPhone must be getting rebranded soon.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/net_jmod.shtml
There. It's branded Claro but the website goes to MiPhone.
Case closed
vodaphones website when you hit usa geus what..
it comes to verizon!
Nobody cares.
I don't get it. Sure they could be owned by a GSM provider, but everything on MiPhone's site is CDMA - the phones, the network, the roaming partners, everything. So there is certainly an extensive CDMA network there. Is there much of a GSM network there as well?
MiPhone got bought out by America Movil. I did some research on gsmworld.com and they are rolling out a GSM 850mhz under the Claro brand.
miphone will go gsm shortly
well said HV, just to inform you guys (we live in Jamaica), miphone is shifting most of its technology from cdma to gsm as it did not go very well here using cdma.
as for the iphone being a hot-seller here, it probably won't work out as jamaicans are very attached to their providers, especially Digicel.
the good news is that Digicel didn't get the iPhone as rumoured, so in the end the consumer will probably win or come out ahead.
we'll keep you posted as we get more info...
Well, they sell iPhone 3G in Jamaica, but still not in Bulgaria. We might have confused them with the way Bulgarians nod :) "Do you want iphone in Bulgaria?" *shakes head*
sure if u want to nitpick. but most of its population is what i am saying. compared to north america especially
Well, word is that MiPhone was bought out specifically to cripple Digicel here in Jamaica. They (Digicel) woke a sleeping giant in the now parent company of MiPhone's homeland. War of the competitor's. BTW it is easier to get to Miami than to Trinidad. Whoever said trinidad was close. Miami is just over an hour;s flight to Jamaica while Trinidad is about 5 hours flight from Miami. There you have it...
MiPhone was bought by AMX, they have contracted a Chinese company to build out there GSM network on the 850MHz band.
They will run GSM and CDMA simultaniously.
GSM 3G is set to launch September 2008 under the brand name CLARO.
Cross network calls cost will be reduced, Cable & Wireless aready signed an agreement with CLARO, Digicel don't want to reduce there cross network call cost so CLARO has written to the Utilities Regulators.
Iphone will actually be launched on a GSM 3G network on 850 MHz
Hey the iphone 3G is coming to Jamaica ?? Do you know as to when Miphone may get it. Would they have it at least before year end and at what price and whether it would be sold unlocked or not in Jamaica
Hope this clears up the confusion once and for all.
omg i love miphone!
Hey the iphone 3G is coming to Jamaica ?? Does anyone know as to when Miphone may get it. Would they have it at least before year end and at what price because i understand that it would be going for $200.00US and $300.00 Us, but not to sure if those prices would be for the price of the 8gb and 6gb phone or the price for it on contract or unlocked.But most importantly i would like to know when it may reach Jamaica