A9 Verizon Support

[dmark44]

So after this update to allow Verizon customers to connect, is the A9 going to be more limited in terms of Verizon bands it can connect to vs. other unlocked phones such as the Nexus 5x or Moto X Pure?

 

[Jon_Doh]

So after this update to allow Verizon customers to connect, is the A9 going to be more limited in terms of Verizon bands it can connect to vs. other unlocked phones such as the Nexus 5x or Moto X Pure?

From what I've read after the software update the phone will only work on Verizon's LTE network. If you need to use their 3G towers the phone won't work. But, since they've pretty much put LTE towers where they have coverage you shouldn't have a problem using the phone. And if you get the unlocked version from HTC you can always change to another carrier.

 

[dmark44]

From what I've read after the software update the phone will only work on Verizon's LTE network. If you need to use their 3G towers the phone won't work. But, since they've pretty much put LTE towers where they have coverage you shouldn't have a problem using the phone. And if you get the unlocked version from HTC you can always change to another carrier.

I wonder if it is the same experience as those other carrier unlocked phones that I mentioned. My current Moto X 2013 definitely switches to 3G sometimes, especially @ work.

 

[Jon_Doh]

The difference is that this is a GSM phone and has no 3G radio to work on Verizon's CDMA network (It's 3G band works only on GSM). LTE is essentially in the GSM family so since the phone has a broad array of LTE bands the ones Verizon uses are covered. Incidentally, most Verizon phones have two radios in them currently - one to operate on their traditional CDMA network and another to operate on the newer LTE network. Since LTE is in the GSM family if you are talking on LTE and travel into an area that has only 3G your call will be dropped because the two radios can't cooperate because of the different technology. Not true with AT&T or T-Mobile. You can move from LTE to 4G to 3G to 2G and keep talking because it's all the same technology.

 

[bigboss3]

i wonder if HTC will release cdma compatible a9. I know ll have their own carrier specific htc one a9 in November. I agree it willonly work on 4glte signal. When I spoke Verizon a repr. told me yet it will work but I explained to her that it didn't have the cdma2000 radio built in that it would only work with lte. then said they had lte everywhere this not true in my area cdma is still needed to be able to make a phone call. 3g and even 2g is still heavily used. I cant get Verizon to tell me if and when they are coming out with a cdma a9.

 

[Ry]

Bands -
AT&T,TMUS,VzW: 2G GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900; 3G UMTS 850/AWS(1700)/1900/2100; 4G LTE Bands FDD 2,3,4,5,7,12,13,17,29

 

[Jon_Doh]

i wonder if HTC will release cdma compatible a9. I know ll have their own carrier specific htc one a9 in November. I agree it willonly work on 4glte signal. When I spoke Verizon a repr. told me yet it will work but I explained to her that it didn't have the cdma2000 radio built in that it would only work with lte. then said they had lte everywhere this not true in my area cdma is still needed to be able to make a phone call. 3g and even 2g is still heavily used. I cant get Verizon to tell me if and when they are coming out with a cdma a9.

There is not going to be a CDMA version of the A9 from what I've read.

 

[dmark44]

There is not going to be a CDMA version of the A9 from what I've read.

That's a shame, because I can't imagine it will be reliable enough for me. I think you need to live in a blanketed metro area to consider this phone on Verizon.

 

[Ry]

Gutsy move by HTC if they use this on Verizon with EVDO/1xRTT fallback, IMO.

Curious if that will be the case since the Snapdragon 617 supports EV-DO and CDMA1x.

 

[Rhyalus]

If they use the LTE band only, will simultaneous voice and data be possible like it is now??

R

 

[dmark44]

If they use the LTE band only, will simultaneous voice and data be possible like it is now??

R

I suppose it is if it is capable of Advanced Calling. I guess that is something that needs to be verified.

 

[Jon_Doh]

If they use the LTE band only, will simultaneous voice and data be possible like it is now??

R

Yes. This is a GSM device so voice and data simultaneous use are supported. Since the phone only has a GSM/LTE radio it can't support any of the CDMA/EVDO bands. That may change in the future, but I doubt it since this is such a thin phone and room is at a premium.

 

[Stozz]

Is Verizon and Sprint using VoLTE yet? I have Sprint and I can do 'wi-fi' calling which can counter the lack of CDMA support, but I think Sprint still uses CDMA for phone calls/SMS and LTE for data. I dislike the idea of buying a 'Sprint' version just because they could not add another radio for full US Carrier support.

 

[Ry]

Yes. This is a GSM device so voice and data simultaneous use are supported. Since the phone only has a GSM/LTE radio it can't support any of the CDMA/EVDO bands. That may change in the future, but I doubt it since this is such a thin phone and room is at a premium.

I'm under the impression that support for CDMA/EVDO is built into the Snapdragon 617.

Why can't it support CDMA/EVDO bands?

Motorola (Nexus 6, Moto X Pure Edition), LG (Nexus 5X), and Huawei (Nexus 6P) can support all four US carriers with single SKUs.

 

[Ry]

Is Verizon and Sprint using VoLTE yet? I have Sprint and I can do 'wi-fi' calling which can counter the lack of CDMA support, but I think Sprint still uses CDMA for phone calls/SMS and LTE for data. I dislike the idea of buying a 'Sprint' version just because they could not add another radio for full US Carrier support.

Verizon supports VoLTE.

 

[Jon_Doh]

I'm under the impression that support for CDMA/EVDO is built into the Snapdragon 617.

Why can't it support CDMA/EVDO bands?

Motorola (Nexus 6, Moto X Pure Edition), LG (Nexus 5X), and Huawei (Nexus 6P) can support all four US carriers with single SKUs.

It doesn't support CDMA because that is an entirely different technology from GSM and requires a separate radio to send and receive. Just because the CPU supports the radio doesn't mean the phone will have the radio built in. HTC made a decision to go with the dominant technology, GSM, which is the world standard and leave out CDMA which is basically only used in the US and is being phased out here. The problem is that although Verizon will tell you not to worry that they have LTE virtually everywhere, Verizon subscribers will tell you that's not the case and they are on CDMA quite a bit. So yes, if you are a Verizon subscriber I would be skeptical of the coverage I would have on this phone. One other thing, the software necessary for the phone to work on Verizon's LTE was announced yesterday that it would be rolled out in December.

 

[Ry]

It doesn't support CDMA because that is an entirely different technology from GSM and requires a separate radio to send and receive. Just because the CPU supports the radio doesn't mean the phone will have the radio built in. HTC made a decision to go with the dominant technology, GSM, which is the world standard and leave out CDMA which is basically only used in the US and is being phased out here. The problem is that although Verizon will tell you not to worry that they have LTE virtually everywhere, Verizon subscribers will tell you that's not the case and they are on CDMA quite a bit. So yes, if you are a Verizon subscriber I would be skeptical of the coverage I would have on this phone. One other thing, the software necessary for the phone to work on Verizon's LTE was announced yesterday that it would be rolled out in December.

..yeah. I know about CDMA.

So what you're telling me here is that HTC disabled the CDMA/EVDO portion of the modem that's a part of the Snapdragon 617?

https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/processors/617

 

[Jon_Doh]

..yeah. I know about CDMA.

So what you're telling me here is that HTC disabled the CDMA/EVDO portion of the modem that's a part of the Snapdragon 617?

https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/processors/617

All I know is that every article I've read about this phone - and I researched it heavily before placing an order - says it will not support CDMA, but only LTE on Verizon after a software update that's scheduled for sometime in December. And I read one article where Verizon verified this. According to that article Verizon said they would not be carrying the phone but would release software so that it would run on their LTE network. I guess if enough folks make a big enough stink to Verizon and the phone is capable of handling CDMA things could change.