Sprint will be the only network offering GSM-unlocked iPhone 4S from the launch day, claims Macworld. That means, users will be able to use some other carrier’s local SIM card when travelling outside the USA at much cheaper rates. The other CDMA provider, Verizon has a policy of unlocking iPhone 4S after 60 days on customers request.
If we look at iPhone 4, there were two different versions of the iPhone, according to the different wireless standards. Initially, Apple launched GSM based handsets with AT&T, but soon they had incorporated a different chipset required for CDMA technology and launched Verizon iPhone 4. But iPhone 4S can access both CDMA and GSM networks depending upon the carrier you choose, thus is called a world phone.
With AT&T, you get the advantage of international roaming because most of the countries work on GSM standards, though you have to pay quite high international roaming charges as AT&T is currently providing SIM-locked iPhone 4S, so you cannot put your preferred country local SIM card until AT&T provides unlocked iPhone 4S.
However, in CDMA phones, international roaming is also limited, as CDMA network requires a built-in device identification number, which is not widely used around the world except North America and some parts of Asia. Due to which unlocked CDMA iPhone 4 did not have much advantage when your require international travel.
This issue overcomes in unlocked CMDA iPhone 4S as they will have the advantage to switch to GSM networks when roaming internationally using the provided GSM micro-SIM. iPhone 4S has an micro-SIM card slot which is not required by CDMA networks rather will enable you to switch to an international GSM network when you travel internationally.
So, currently, if you go with Verizon and Sprint, you can simply buy a pre-paid micro-SIM card for data and voice calling with quite cheaper rates. Though you will not be able to receive phone calls until you share your new local SIM card number with your known ones. But for unlocked AT&T iPhone 4S you have to wait until November which will not work on CDMA networks.
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- No Separate Verizon iPhone 5 in June – Report
- Sprint Briefs Employees iPhone 4 Launch in October, No iPhone 5 until 2012
