HTC One Unlocked

[Blandge]

Hi All,

I want a phone that will work when I travel. If I bought an HTC One Unlocked, would I be able to use it in Europe and the US? Does the One support the right bands, and does it have a simcard slot that can be accessed by the user?

Thanks!

 

[codyray10]

I cant speak to if it will work when you travel, but it does not have an accessible simcard slot due to the unibody design. No removable battery, sd card etc..

 

[Blandge]

I cant speak to if it will work when you travel, but it does not have an accessible simcard slot due to the unibody design. No removable battery, sd card etc..

How the hell does that work in Europe where you need to swap sim cards out all the time?

 

[Accord99]

The HTC One is compatible with European GSM and HSPA networks. It uses a micro-Sim that is user accessible. It's stored in a tray on the left side.

 

[ElFenix]

I cant speak to if it will work when you travel, but it does not have an accessible simcard slot due to the unibody design. No removable battery, sd card etc..

Thats not correct. The sim is removable.

 

[s44]

I assume you mean the developer's edition? That should be both SIM- and bootloader-unlocked. It will work with all European GSM bands but probably no LTE ones. It will *not* work with T-Mo's AWS GSM, so you can only use T-Mo in a refarm area (which, to be fair, is a lot of them). It will work with AT&T GSM and both T-Mo and AT&T LTE.

If you want to use T-Mo everywhere in the US, you'll want to get the T-Mo version with a SIM unlock code. However, it's hard to get at the moment.

 

[Blandge]

Thanks for the info everybody.

I assume you mean the developer's edition? That should be both SIM- and bootloader-unlocked. It will work with all European GSM bands but probably no LTE ones. It will *not* work with T-Mo's AWS GSM, so you can only use T-Mo in a refarm area (which, to be fair, is a lot of them). It will work with AT&T GSM and both T-Mo and AT&T LTE.

If you want to use T-Mo everywhere in the US, you'll want to get the T-Mo version with a SIM unlock code. However, it's hard to get at the moment.

I am referring to this:
http://www1-shopamerica.htc.com/cell-phones/productdetail.htm?prId=41589

I'm don't think this is the developer version, and given that additional information, which features does the developer version have that this one lacks?

In the US I want to use Verizon. I should have specified that to begin with.

 

[s44]

In the US I want to use Verizon. I should have specified that to begin with.

Then that will definitely *not* work. You have to buy a Verizon-specific version that handles the CDMA/EVDO protocols it uses for voice and 3G data. Unfortunately, as you know, Verizon hasn't announced the One ever appearing on its network.

If you wait for a possible release down the line, there's a good chance that the Verizon version will have SIM-unlocked GSM/HSPA reception for use abroad. Or you could get the DNA (or Verizon Note 2 or Verizon iPhone 5) now, which has that. Or you could get the Verizon S4 next month, which should also have that.

 

[Blandge]

Then that will definitely *not* work. You have to buy a Verizon-specific version that handles the CDMA/EVDO protocols it uses for voice and 3G data. Unfortunately, as you know, Verizon hasn't announced the One ever appearing on its network.

If you wait for a possible release down the line, there's a good chance that the Verizon version will have SIM-unlocked GSM/HSPA reception for use abroad. Or you could get the DNA (or Verizon Note 2 or Verizon iPhone 5) now, which has that. Or you could get the Verizon S4 next month, which should also have that.

I was afraid that might be the case. I find it absurd that they've simply decided not to include the hardware needed to use Verizon's network.

 

[Red Storm]

I was afraid that might be the case. I find it absurd that they've simply decided not to include the hardware needed to use Verizon's network.

Doesn't make much financial sense for them to do so. If Verizon was GSM like the others I'm sure they would.

 

[Blandge]

Doesn't make much financial sense for them to do so. If Verizon was GSM like the others I'm sure they would.

Well the One supports LTE/CDMA in some capacity already, but I don't know enough about this technology to make any guesses as to what it would take to add Verizon functionality.

This HTC One® unlocked version comes with: 32GB of onboard memory and is SIM unlocked.
- HSPA/WCDMA: 850/1900/2100 MHz
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- LTE: 700/850/AWS/1900 MHz (US)

 

[Red Storm]

I'm pretty sure Verizon is going to have their own One variant, that's probably the phone you're looking for.

 

[Blandge]

I'm pretty sure Verizon is going to have their own One variant, that's probably the phone you're looking for.

I want a carrier agnostic device so that I can use it in Europe, and one that I don't have to buy on contract. Am I mistaken in assuming Verizon's variant will not allow me to do so?

 

[Red Storm]

I want a carrier agnostic device so that I can use it in Europe, and one that I don't have to buy on contract. Am I mistaken in assuming Verizon's variant will not allow me to do so?

If it's going to be like past HTC phones (and other recent phones like the Note 2) you will be able to unlock and access the APN settings and use whatever GSM sim you want with it. You don't have to buy it subsidized either. It's not guaranteed though, we'll find out more when it launches.

 

[Accord99]

I want a carrier agnostic device so that I can use it in Europe, and one that I don't have to buy on contract. Am I mistaken in assuming Verizon's variant will not allow me to do so?

Based on recent phone releases by Verizon, if they did release a HTC One it would be unlocked and support the GSM networks in North America and Europe. For example, the Droid DNA:

http://www.androidcentral.com/how-use-verizon-droid-dna-att-or-any-other-gsm-network

 

[s44]

Well the One supports LTE/CDMA in some capacity already, but I don't know enough about this technology to make any guesses as to what it would take to add Verizon functionality.

WCDMA isn't CDMA. It's actually a 3G tech used by GSM carriers -- faster than EDGE, slower than HSPA(+).

Verizon uses EVDO for 3G.

Note that squeezing in Verizon's EVDO/CDMA network would involve taking out all the non-Verizon LTE bands, as you see on the Note 2. So until baseband tech improves you won't see the kind of device you want. Also, Verizon is incredibly anal about certifying devices for their network...

 

[Blandge]

WCDMA isn't CDMA. It's actually a 3G tech used by GSM carriers -- faster than EDGE, slower than HSPA(+).

Verizon uses EVDO for 3G.

Note that squeezing in Verizon's EVDO/CDMA network would involve taking out all the non-Verizon LTE bands, as you see on the Note 2. So until baseband tech improves you won't see the kind of device you want. Also, Verizon is incredibly anal about certifying devices for their network...

*Sigh* I truly hate Verizon. I'd drop them in a minute if there was a better Carrier in the U.S. in terms of performance and coverage.

 

[ElFenix]

Doesn't make much financial sense for them to do so. If Verizon was GSM like the others I'm sure they would.

if HTC can make a One for Sprint then it's not HTC that's keeping the One from appearing on VZW's network.

I was afraid that might be the case. I find it absurd that they've simply decided not to include the hardware needed to use Verizon's network.

HTC didn't make that decision. VZW doesn't want it. at least not yet, and probably not branded as the 'One' because VZW is paying lucasDisney way too much money for the Droid trademark.

 

[ImDonly1]

I was afraid that might be the case. I find it absurd that they've simply decided not to include the hardware needed to use Verizon's network.

They (HTC)? Blame Verizon, they won't allow any phone unless they specifically approve it. HTC could include all of Verizon's bands and sell it unbranded, VZW could still not approve it and not allow it.