Even though new Verizon LTE phones will use a SIM card to connect to the cellular network, they will not be compatible with other LTE networks like AT&T's, contrary to recent speculation. While the frequencies each company use bump up against each other and interoperability is technically possible, Verizon has no intent of making its phones able to communicate in wider bands, an idea that was a long shot to begin with.
Both AT&T and Verizon use frequencies in the 700-800MHz band for their LTE networks. However, Verizon's block is roughly 746-787MHz, while AT&T uses 704-745MHz. Apparently Verizon owns a bit of the 704-710MHz spectrum as well, also known as the "lower B block," but the chances for collaboration there was slim at best.
Even if both LTE networks could work on one phone, the networks they would drop down to outside the few LTE areas in the country are, well, not the same at all: Verizon uses CDMA for their 2G and 3G, while AT&T uses GSM and HSPA.
So this was a nice glimmer of hope, if a brief one. Maybe one day telecoms will join hands for the greater, signal-roaming good of humanity. We're not holding our breath, though.
Read the comments on this post
Padma Lakshmi Sarah Mutch Gabrielle Union Alessandra Ambrosio Amanda Detmer
No comments:
Post a Comment