Will Sprint now be moving to SIM based authentication for CDMA?

[Thomas L.]

Hi everyone,

 

Those of us who have been on S4GRU for awhile have been watching Sprint's slow transition to devices with removable SIM cards. The mystery LG D820 device, which could theoretically operate on all major (and many minor) US carriers with the exception of Verizon, has caused me to start wondering if Sprint will finally be moving to a system where both CDMA and LTE credentials will be stored on a SIM card, allowing for true 'GSM' like flexibility (just move your SIM card from one phone to another and voilà it works). I can't think of anything that is preventing them from doing this - R-UIMs with CDMA phones in Asia have been used for years - the decision not to use them on American CDMA networks was to control devices and lock devices to carriers. 

 

What are people's thoughts on this? I know that Verizon has pretty much perfected this, even though initially their CDMA SIM card authentication workaround caused a lot of problems. Is there any reason to think Sprint won't do this? 

 

PS: I know that technically there are no SIM cards of R-UIM cards, etc etc, because they're all UICC with a CSIM, USIM or SIM application on the card, but everyone knows what SIM means. 

[The Dave]

It would be nice. I do miss being able to slap my SIM into a phone and not pay an upgrade/activation fee when I was with T-Mobile.

[S4GRU]

I'm of the feeling that Sprint made concessions on the Nexus 5 so that Google will include their bands. I think there is a good chance that the Nexus 5 will have an activation model like iPhone, where it can be purchased directly from Apple.

 

With that being said, I think if this is the case, there is a 50/50 chance that the SIM alone could allow CDMA authentication. Or, Sprint could just do something similar as the iPhone, where all the units manufactured have ESN's in the Sprint database, and any of them can be activated on Sprint with a phone call.

 

I think there's a good shot these could be purchased from Google directly and activated on Sprint. I think that's the reason why Verizon bands are not supported, as Verizon wasn't going to play ball with Google selling the devices, nor the fact they can be used on another network. I think Google is demanding this if you want to play.

 

These are just my opinions based on observations and not because of any inside information.

 

Robert via Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 using Tapatalk

 

 

[Nickel]

I've thought for a while now that it's a matter of when and not if.

[WiWavelength]

These are just my opinions based on observations and not because of any inside information.

 

Uh oh, now we need to start appending the standard disclaimer to Robert's posts:

 

"The contents of this message do not necessarily represent the views of Sprint 4G Rollout Updates, its staff, or its sponsors."

 

 

AJ

[supert0nes]

 I really hope things open up.  I just switched my s3 over to Ting last night in hopes that at best I can directly buy a Nexus 5 for Ting or, at worst, become a new customer on Sprint again.

[iansltx]

As I mentioned on the news post...but it bears reiterating...having a SIM-unlocked Nexus 5 is an enormous win for me. "One phone to rule them all", with the ability to switch from my main Sprint SIM to T-Mobile or AT&T (AirVoice) means that I can leave my Nexus 4 at home (and my S III for that matter) and still use whoever's best in a given area. Convergence and all that.

 

That's one reason I bought both the Nexus 4 (compatibility with T-Mobile LTE and AT&T/WCW non-LTE) and the iPad 3rd gen VZW (not only VZW LTE but every tech below LTE as long as we aren't talking about AWS). Both are unlocked, so I can use the best network in a given area, rather than the one that the device happens to support. For a guy who travels to areas where the best network varies (where I'm sitting, T-Mobile is awesome...80 miles away, Sprint wins...closer in, Verizon takes the prize), and is willing to keep multiple accounts active to take advantage of the best attributes of each carrier, that's absolutely huge.

[Thomas L.]

As I mentioned on the news post...but it bears reiterating...having a SIM-unlocked Nexus 5 is an enormous win for me. "One phone to rule them all", with the ability to switch from my main Sprint SIM to T-Mobile or AT&T (AirVoice) means that I can leave my Nexus 4 at home (and my S III for that matter) and still use whoever's best in a given area. Convergence and all that.

 

That's one reason I bought both the Nexus 4 (compatibility with T-Mobile LTE and AT&T/WCW non-LTE) and the iPad 3rd gen VZW (not only VZW LTE but every tech below LTE as long as we aren't talking about AWS). Both are unlocked, so I can use the best network in a given area, rather than the one that the device happens to support. For a guy who travels to areas where the best network varies (where I'm sitting, T-Mobile is awesome...80 miles away, Sprint wins...closer in, Verizon takes the prize), and is willing to keep multiple accounts active to take advantage of the best attributes of each carrier, that's absolutely huge.

Your comment was actually part of the reason I decided to ask - as I understand it, at least with the iPhone, you could remove the SIM and still have the CDMA portion of the phone active with the LTE portion disabled.

 

I'm wondering if this new device will be 'clean' - as in if you put in a Sprint SIM card it will work as a Sprint device and then once taken out it will no longer be on Sprint at all and will be free to use on a GSM carrier, or if you will still have to call in our go online to change it. I'm really quite curious about it.

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 4

 

 

[irev210]

I wondered this as well.

 

Given what Google is doing, something sounds like it is up.  I would LOVE the ability to swap between T-Mobile and Sprint.

 

Ideally, I would keep my T-Mobile $30 prepaid 100min/5GB data plan in the nexus 7 LTE I just ordered and put my sprint SIM in the Nexus 5.

 

Combined, I would be spending $80/month - two plans and still less monthly cost vs. blue and red.

 

 

Given the fact that Sprint was the ONLY carrier left out of the Nexus 7 LTE fun, it doesn't sound surprising that Sprint changed its tune on the Nexus 5.

[Fuber]

I think there's a good shot these could be purchased from Google directly and activated on Sprint. I think that's the reason why Verizon bands are not supported, as Verizon wasn't going to play ball with Google selling the devices, nor the fact they can be used on another network. I think Google is demanding this if you want to play.

 

 

 

Since Sprint Roams on Verizon, does this mean this phone will not roam on the Verizon network if activated with Sprint?

[S4GRU]

Since Sprint Roams on Verizon, does this mean this phone will not roam on the Verizon network if activated with Sprint?

Of course it will. This will not impact CDMA roaming at all. It will not LTE roam though.

 

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 4

 

 

[Deval]

Uh oh, now we need to start appending the standard disclaimer to Robert's posts:

 

"The contents of this message do not necessarily represent the views of Sprint 4G Rollout Updates, its staff, or its sponsors."

 

 

AJ

 

Hence my signature

[ericdabbs]

I would love to be able to swap SIMs between LTE phones without having to phone into Sprint.  I figure Verizon is able to do it, why can't Sprint.

[Fraydog]

Under Sprint, I would have said that the lock-in of CDMA would be too tempting to not retain as long as possible.

 

Under SoftBank, I think that they'd be winning to experiment with changing that policy so CDMA SIM authentication is possible. 

[Josh]

Under Sprint, I would have said that the lock-in of CDMA would be too tempting to not retain as long as possible.

 

Under SoftBank, I think that they'd be winning to experiment with changing that policy so CDMA SIM authentication is possible. 

 

I hope this is true for more phones going forward, and not just a one time exception to the rule for the nexus device.  I also want to see the new phones be world ready, as I think that will strengthen sprint's brand, and would make sense now that softbank is calling the shots.  Also, as far as I know most phones will at least be able to roam in japan b/c Son wants to combine purchases of phones between both companies... which has already happened with the new iPhone as it is the same model # as the softbank version. 

 

And I do not know why carriers think having an exclusive phone is so great anymore... I believe that the best thing for customers is phones that are available on all carriers, because it provides more value by having more available accessories, spare/replacement parts, and support from the manufacturer.   And unless sprint thinks that they will make lots of money selling phones at full value off contract, it should not matter if someone activates a phone purchased elsewhere.  Using an upgrade to buy a phone costs sprint around $500, they should be happy if someone activates a phone and they do not have to subsidize it. 

 

The only potential problem is allowing any phone on the network that has not been tested by the engineering department b/c it might not work properly, and give the customer a bad impression of the sprint network.  But I think that if sprint can use a sim authenticated CDMA/global phone... they will have the option for many more handsets from different brands (i would love to see the sony with the 20mp camera be allowed on sprint) and will allow better synergies from the sprint-softbank relationship. 

[dleewee]

The other question is will it be possible to buy an un-subsidized phone on your own (e.g. Nexus 5) and end up with a cheaper service (ala the recently announced "One Up" program).

[Rasta Cheesehead]

Yes Sprint will be using CDMA authentication via the sim card.. The new iPhone 5s and 5c are the first devices to use this new SIM.. It's called a CSIM (CDMA subscriber identification module) instead of the USIM that only provisions LTE and GSM

Edited September 20, 2013 by Rasta Cheesehead

[grimloch]

Yes Sprint will be using CDMA authentication via the sim card.. The new iPhone 5s and 5c are the first devices to use this new SIM.. It's called a CSIM (CDMA subscriber identification module) instead of the USIM that only provisions LTE and GSM

That sounds pretty sweet. Do you have a source?

 

Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk 4

 

 

[ericdabbs]

Yes Sprint will be using CDMA authentication via the sim card.. The new iPhone 5s and 5c are the first devices to use this new SIM.. It's called a CSIM (CDMA subscriber identification module) instead of the USIM that only provisions LTE and GSM

Just curious, how do u know this?  I would love to be able to switch between different LTE phones on the fly.

 

Sent from my Motorola Photon 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[Rasta Cheesehead]

Just curious, how do u know this?  I would love to be able to switch between different LTE phones on the fly.

 

Sent from my Motorola Photon 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

 

swapping sims would only work with device that support the new CSIM.. as of now only iphone 5s and 5c.. old iphone 5 cannot use this sim or other current LTE devices

[ericdabbs]

swapping sims would only work with device that support the new CSIM.. as of now only iphone 5s and 5c.. old iphone 5 cannot use this sim or other current LTE devices

 

I assume the upcoming LTE phones like the Note 3, LG G2, Nexus 5 would be supporting the CSIM?  How do you know that the SIM card authentication system or the SIM card is CSIM based now vs. USIM based?  Do you work at a Sprint store?

 

I understand that the earlier LTE phones like the GS4, HTC One, etc would not be supported.

[Conan Kudo]

swapping sims would only work with device that support the new CSIM.. as of now only iphone 5s and 5c.. old iphone 5 cannot use this sim or other current LTE devices

I say BS to that. The iPhone 5 does support the CSIM program, since that's how Verizon authenticates CDMA on its LTE devices (including the iPhone 5). Whether or not Sprint's CSIM program is authorized to work on an iPhone 5 is another matter, though.

[Rasta Cheesehead]

I say BS to that. The iPhone 5 does support the CSIM program, since that's how Verizon authenticates CDMA on its LTE devices (including the iPhone 5). Whether or not Sprint's CSIM program is authorized to work on an iPhone 5 is another matter, though.

 

this was a discussion of Sprint phones and not VZW phones.so no BS in that.

[Conan Kudo]

this was a discussion of Sprint phones and not VZW phones.so no BS in that.

The iPhone 5 is the same model for both VZW and Sprint, so it is relevant. 

[lilotimz]

The iPhone 5 is the same model for both VZW and Sprint, so it is relevant. 

 

You do know he's talking about the Iphone 5s/5c and explicitly stated it is not applicable to the Iphone 5 right?