Are there no unlocked versions of the Moto Z for a Verizon customer?

[XDCX]

Based on what I've read it's my understanding that there will not be an unlocked version of the Moto Z for a Verizon customer - is my understanding correct?

I currently have a Nexus 6P on Verizon and I still have my Unlimited Data Plan - the Nexus 6P allows me to tether without paying an addition $30/month to Verizon. I really want a new phone and the Moto Z Play looks perfect for my needs but I don't want to lose my ability to tether without paying $360/year.

 

[Ry]

Based on what I've read it's my understanding that there will not be an unlocked version of the Moto Z for a Verizon customer - is my understanding correct?

I currently have a Nexus 6P on Verizon and I still have my Unlimited Data Plan - the Nexus 6P allows me to tether without paying an addition $30/month to Verizon. I really want a new phone and the Moto Z Play looks perfect for my needs but I don't want to lose my ability to tether without paying $360/year.

The unlocked models will only be for the GSM-based carriers.

 

[azdmelani]

If you buy outright that shouldn't affect your contract, right?

Or wait until it becomes available on Swappa.

 

[XDCX]

The unlocked models will only be for the GSM-based carriers.

Thanks for the clarification even thought that's not the news I wanted to hear. I was hoping that the non-Droid version of the Moto Z might be available as an unlocked phone for CDMA but sadly that's not the case.

 

[XDCX]

If you buy outright that shouldn't affect your contract, right?

Or wait until it becomes available on Swappa.

Buying the phone outright is a good strategy to preserve UDP but it won't help me because Motorola isn't going to build an unlocked CDMA version of the Moto Z. The unlocked version of the Moto Z that will be offered (GSM) won't work on Verizon's network so my only option is to buy a Moto Z with Verizon's bloatware that also prevents me from using tethering unless I'm willing to pay another $30 per month.

I guess I'll have to wait to see how Google's new "Pixel" phone looks even though I prefer the Nexus branding...

 

[Ry]

Thanks for the clarification even thought that's not the news I wanted to hear. I was hoping that the non-Droid version of the Moto Z might be available as an unlocked phone for CDMA but sadly that's not the case.

Nope. This year's, it's the fourth gen Moto G if you want unlocked from Motorola that works on Verizon.

 

[azdmelani]

Buying the phone outright is a good strategy to preserve UDP but it won't help me because Motorola isn't going to build an unlocked CDMA version of the Moto Z. The unlocked version of the Moto Z that will be offered (GSM) won't work on Verizon's network so my only option is to buy a Moto Z with Verizon's bloatware that also prevents me from using tethering unless I'm willing to pay another $30 per month.

I guess I'll have to wait to see how Google's new "Pixel" phone looks even though I prefer the Nexus branding...

Thanks. Sorry for you that you will lose tethering. I was trying to figure out if I would lose UDP by buying outright

 

[YAYTech]

Thanks. Sorry for you that you will lose tethering. I was trying to figure out if I would lose UDP by buying outright

No reason any phone bought outright should affect your data plan / contract with Verizon.

 

[Rukbat]

"Locking" means that the phone won't accept a "foreign" SIM card. CDMA carriers don't do that - they maintain lists of phones they will accept on their networks, so if your phone isn't on that list (say a Moto Z on Sprint), the network will reject it.

Things are changing - CDMA phones never had SIM cards, so there used to be no way to lock them.

 

[XDCX]

"Locking" means that the phone won't accept a "foreign" SIM card. CDMA carriers don't do that - they maintain lists of phones they will accept on their networks, so if your phone isn't on that list (say a Moto Z on Sprint), the network will reject it.

Things are changing - CDMA phones never had SIM cards, so there used to be no way to lock them.

Thanks for the clarification - I can see that my use of the word "unlocked" was incorrect.

Just out of curiosity, what would be the correct way to describe the circumstance? Perhaps "Motorola will not offer a Moto Z Play for the GSM networks that's not free of carrier software and control"?

It would be interesting to know the details of Moto's deal with Verizon and whether it's really a good deal for Moto. I know Moto is now Verizon's exclusive OEM for the "Droid" branded phones but I'm not sure that's really worth much.

 

[Ry]

"Locking" means that the phone won't accept a "foreign" SIM card. CDMA carriers don't do that - they maintain lists of phones they will accept on their networks, so if your phone isn't on that list (say a Moto Z on Sprint), the network will reject it.

Things are changing - CDMA phones never had SIM cards, so there used to be no way to lock them.

"CDMA phones never had SIM cards" isn't a true statement though.

 

[benjamminh]

Thanks for the clarification - I can see that my use of the word "unlocked" was incorrect.

Just out of curiosity, what would be the correct way to describe the circumstance? Perhaps "Motorola will not offer a Moto Z Play for the GSM networks that's not free of carrier software and control"?

It would be interesting to know the details of Moto's deal with Verizon and whether it's really a good deal for Moto. I know Moto is now Verizon's exclusive OEM for the "Droid" branded phones but I'm not sure that's really worth much.

Apparently last year's totally unlocked carrier free MXPE did not sell well or they likely would have done that again, along with supplying Droids for Verizon.

 

[kilofoxtrot]

Pretty sure all post-paid LTE Verizon phones are unlocked.

 

[YAYTech]

Pretty sure all post-paid LTE Verizon phones are unlocked.

Most people in this & similar threads are meaning "non-Verizon/Droid branded, and without Verizon software added" when they're saying "unlocked".

 

[Ry]

Pretty sure all post-paid LTE Verizon phones are unlocked.

Pretty sure this thread isn't talking about that though.

 

[dpham00]

"Locking" means that the phone won't accept a "foreign" SIM card. CDMA carriers don't do that - they maintain lists of phones they will accept on their networks, so if your phone isn't on that list (say a Moto Z on Sprint), the network will reject it.

Things are changing - CDMA phones never had SIM cards, so there used to be no way to lock them.

You don't need a sim for cdma. But you do for lte and gsm. Since Verizon's network consists of both cdma and lte, it uses a sim card

 

[Ry]

Most people in this & similar threads are meaning "non-Verizon/Droid branded, and without Verizon software added" when they're saying "unlocked".

Yep. Unlocked/carrier-free phones that work on Verizon.