Amazon Unlocks Fire Phone & Slashes Price

[Barbara1955]

Then What dose the Fire use?

[zebradude]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

The CDMA standard doesn't use SIM cards anyway.

I thought I would jump in again and make things more confusing!

In order for CDMA phones to use the LTE bands they DO need SIM cards.

Ex: My iPhone 6+ (Sprint) has a SIM card.
Ex: My Xoom Tablet LTE (verizon) has a SIM card.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by zebradude

I thought I would jump in again and make things more confusing!

In order for CDMA phones to use the LTE bands they DO need SIM cards.

Ex: My iPhone 6+ (Sprint) has a SIM card.
Ex: My Xoom Tablet LTE (verizon) has a SIM card.

But when you are in an area that doesn't have LTE you won't be able to use data, right? It's LTE only vs. AT&T sim where you can use 3g data if that's all that's available.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

...shows you what I know about SIM cards. I thought all smartphones used them.

Heh, I was surprised myself the first time I put my hands on a CDMA phone. My battery had died and I thought I could just slide into my SIM into a friend's phone, only to find that their phone didn't even have a slot for one.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by zebradude

I thought I would jump in again and make things more confusing!

In order for CDMA phones to use the LTE bands they DO need SIM cards.

Ex: My iPhone 6+ (Sprint) has a SIM card.
Ex: My Xoom Tablet LTE (verizon) has a SIM card.

Aye... and to makes things still MORE confusing, before LTE was even a thing, some Verizon smartphones came with a Vodafone SIM card to provide international service.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Crap..! :-) My carrier is AT&T. Nice price though.

Can't you request a nano-SIM?

But as was mentioned by another poster, you can cut a Micro SIM down to a Nano SIM.

Lots of guides on doing this. Here's one ...

http://htc-one.wonderhowto.com/how-t...ne-m8-0154010/

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

...shows you what I know about SIM cards. I thought all smartphones used them.

To further complicate the issue. Many CDMA smartphones were "world phones," in other words they had both a CDMA radio and a GSM radio (requiriing a SIM). And all the newer LTE smatphones require a SIM (they also have the CDMA radio). Sooner or later all phones will probably work on SIMS.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

So, I've got an iPhone 4s that's out of contract. Is it possible to drop the iPhone sim into Fire phone?

If you're planning to stay with AT&T and if you want a new 2 Year contract, you can get a new Fire Phone for one dollar (99 cents).

http://www.amazon.com/Fire_Phone_13M...rds=fire+phone

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

But when you are in an area that doesn't have LTE you won't be able to use data, right? It's LTE only vs. AT&T sim where you can use 3g data if that's all that's available.

No. Since LTE CDMA phones still have the CDMA bands and radio, (where it currently gets its talk and 3G (and even lower speed) data) you would still have data even in 3G-only areas. All CDMA LTE phones are "hybrids." Eventually (supposedly) Verizon and Sprint will move over to VoLTE (Voice over LTE) and, at that point (supposedly) they'll be able to drop the CDMA bands. Verizon is tentatively talking about 2021, but VoLTE deadlines have slipped a lot already. Still a lot of work to do to get to that point.

[zebradude]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

But when you are in an area that doesn't have LTE you won't be able to use data, right? It's LTE only vs. AT&T sim where you can use 3g data if that's all that's available.

HI!

NO if you are in a area that does not have LTE you will fall back to 3G data!

[Breathinlady]

Curious, could this be used as a smaller Fire tablet, not using a phone provider? Would it connect to my wi-fi to download apps and data? Would it act like my iPod touch? Thanks

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Breathinlady

Curious, could this be used as a smaller Fire tablet, not using a phone provider? Would it connect to my wi-fi to download apps and data? Would it act like my iPod touch? Thanks

Yes to all.

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Can't you request a nano-SIM?

But as was mentioned by another poster, you can cut a Micro SIM down to a Nano SIM.

Lots of guides on doing this. Here's one ...

http://htc-one.wonderhowto.com/how-t...ne-m8-0154010/

There are also special cutters, like this and this. Just make sure before you push on the cutter that you turn it enough to look at the card through the cut-hole, to ensure that the card is positioned properly.

To go back to using the new nano SIM as a micro SIM, these adapters are about the best. (I linked the three-pack rather than the single nano-to-micro SIM adapter because it's cheaper today.) But to then take out the adapted micro SIM from your iPhone, you'll likely get it snagged, and rather than proceeding to ruin your iPhone's SIM holder, use the trick in this youtube video (you'll see why when you look at the SIM holder (the prongs can easily get caught in the lip of the adapter), or you can read about the problems of removal here.


Of course, go with rcentros's good advice if it fits your needs:

Originally Posted by rcentros

If you're planning to stay with AT&T and if you want a new 2 Year contract, you can get a new Fire Phone for one dollar (99 cents).

http://www.amazon.com/Fire_Phone_13M...rds=fire+phone

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Breathinlady

Curious, could this be used as a smaller Fire tablet, not using a phone provider? Would it connect to my wi-fi to download apps and data? Would it act like my iPod touch? Thanks

Yes, yes, and yes. Just pretend it's a Fire HDX 4.7 and treat it as such.

I ordered one and will never use it as a phone.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Yes, yes, and yes. Just pretend it's a Fire HDX 4.7 and treat it as such.

I ordered one and will never use it as a phone.

And the Volt you just ordered is the same size. Are both of them for yourself?