Iphone 4s Verizon Gsm
Linda writes: I was wanting to buy the unlocked version of the iPhone 4S for my son for Christmas but wasn’t sure if the phone was compatible with the carrier in our area. Help!
Hi Linda! So, here’s the thing with the unlocked iPhone: it will only work with a carrier that operates a GSM (or “Global System for Mobile Communications”) network, and not on carriers with CDMA (“code division multiple access”) networks.
Here in the United States, for example, the unlocked iPhone 4S will work on AT&T or T-Mobile, which are both GSM carriers, but not Sprint or Verizon Wireless, which are CDMA carriers.
Standard SIM card and the iPhone 4's smaller micro-SIM, compared
How can you tell whether your carrier is GSM or CDMA? Simple. A GSM carrier uses something called a SIM (short for “Subscriber Identification Module”) card to identify a specific phone on its network. These little plastic chips can be swapped in and out of a GSM-based phone, allowing it to connect to the particular network to which a given SIM card is tied.
This is an updated unlocking tutorial with new repo sources to show you how to unlock any CDMA or GSM Sprint Verizon or At&t iPhone 4S or 5.1.1 or lower for T-Mobile or any GSM carrier world wide. But the iPhone 4S changes all that: It can access either the CDMA or GSM network, depending on which carrier you sign up for. For consumers on CDMA networks, this new phone design is a big deal.
So, if you’re curious whether your carrier runs a GSM network, just check your cell phone for a SIM card slot; it might be on the side of the phone (as in the case of the iPhone), or inside the handset itself, usually behind the removable back panel and near the battery.
Can’t find a SIM card? Then you might have a CDMA-based phone, which doesn’t use a SIM card—and that means your carrier runs a CDMA network. (If in doubt, you could always just call your carrier and ask, of course.)
Side note: The new iPhone is, in fact, a so-called “world phone” that will connect to both GSM and CDMA networks. That said, Apple has specified that the unlocked iPhone 4S will only work on GSM networks.
If you do decide to get an unlocked iPhone 4S for your son (lucky him!), you’ll need a special type a SIM card from your local carrier: a “micro-SIM,” which is basically a smaller version of a SIM card. Be sure to make the distinction when placing your order, as a regular SIM card won’t fit in the iPhone 4S.
Still have questions? Let me know!
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Want to know whether your smartphone uses GSM or CDMA or want to know what the differences are between the two? Read through this article to find out.
GSM and Global (CDMA) are essentially different types of mobile technologies used by mobile devices across the world. Do note that in this article Global is referred to as CDMA as that is the same thing.
Global Vs GSM - The Major Differences
In terms of overall performance, you won’t find any noticeable differences between GSM vs CDMA. However, there are some limitations depending on which country you’re in.
Typically, CDMA devices are found commonly in the United States and Russia. Interestingly, CDMA was originally developed during World War II as a technology that could be used to communicate without axis forces being able to intercept or jam signals.
These days, CDMA has evolved into being widely used as a smartphone and mobile technology for everyday consumers in the USA and Russia.
CDMA devices do not use SIM cards and are instead tied directly to a specific network.
GSM, on the other hand, uses a SIM card to allow a user to send messages to and from other mobile owners. GSM is the network we see most commonly throughout the world.
These days, the United States has started to use GSM technology more commonly to give users more freedom over the network they use.
In the past, Verizon and Sprint would use CDMA in the USA, whilst AT&T and T-Mobile used GSM.
With the fast spread support of LTE, more smartphones in the USA are moving over to GSM from all four networks.
GSM is considered to be the better technology - you can switch out your SIM card to use other networks across the world, and you’re given more freedom over which network you use.
How To If Your iPhone Uses GSM VS CDMA
If you’d like to learn about what network type your iPhone uses, the easiest way to find out is to find your model number and compare it with data available online.
To begin with, you can find your iPhone model number by looking at the back of your device. The model number will be printed onto the bottom of the back plate.
If the text on the back of your iPhone is worn out, you can also visit the settings to find your iPhone model.
- Head to the Settings app, tap General, and then tap About
- Scroll down and search for the Model listing
- If you do not see the model number starting with 'A', tap on it and it will toggle it
Once you know your iPhone model, you can compare it with the model numbers provided below to find out which network your iPhone uses.
iPhone X
GSM:
Model A1865
Model A1901
Model A1902
CDMA:
Model A1865
iPhone 8
GSM:
Model A1863
Model A1905
Model A1906
Model A1897
CDMA:
Model A1863
iPhone 8 Plus
GSM:
Model A1864
Model A1898
CDMA:
Model A1864
iPhone 7
GSM:
Is Iphone 4s 4g
Model A1660
Model A1778
Model A1780
CDMA:
Model A1660
Model A1779
iPhone 7 Plus
GSM:
Model A1661
Model A1784
Model A1786
CDMA:
Iphone 4s Lte
Model A1661
Model A1785
iPhone 6S
GSM:
Model A1633
Model A1688
Model A1700
Model A1691
CDMA:
Model A1688
iPhone 6S Plus
GSM:
Model A1634
Model A1687
Model A1699
Model A1690
CDMA:
Model A1687
iPhone 6
GSM:
A1549
A1589
CDMA:
A1549
A1586
iPhone 6 Plus
GSM:
A1522
A1593
CDMA:
A1522
A1524
iPhone SE
GSM:
Model A1662
Model A1723
Model A1724
CDMA:
Model A1723
iPhone 5S
GSM:
Model A1533
CDMA:
Model A1453
iPhone 5C
GSM:
Iphone 4s Verizon Sim Card
Model A1532
CDMA:
Model A1456
iPhone 5
GSM:
Model A1429
Model A1428
CDMA:
Model A1429
Model A1428
iPhone 4S
GSM:
Model A1387
Model A1531
CDMA:
Model A1387
iPhone 4
GSM:
Model A1332
CDMA:
Model A1349
iPhone 3GS
GSM:
Model A1325
Iphone 4s Verizon Gsm Flip Phone
Model A1303
iPhone 3G
GSM:
Model A1324
Model A1241
iPhone 1
GSM:
Iphone 4s Sim Card Verizon
Model A1203
Summary
Hopefully, the information in this article has proven to be useful in determining the difference between GSM vs Global. Leave us a comment below if you have any questions!