Why are so many phones GSM? I thought verizon wireless was the leader in cell phone service.
1743666
Because GSM phones work with many different networks/providers that use sim cards, also they come unlocked
1743667
Verizon uses CDMA System, While it has some minor advantages and covers more areas only in this country, It is fairly limited to US Market and you cannot use it overseas. Beside you cannot use a Verizon phone with another carrier. GSM, On the other hand is almost universal and you can use your phone outside USA. Other advantage of GSM is that you can use your phone with another GSM Carrier(you need to unlock the phone first which is not difficult) and installing a small card, Called SIM Card in your current phone. So CDMA(Verizon) is not necessarily the leader. It is possible that the newer LTE System and 4G technology could replace both system and we end up to with one universal system. Verizon uses CDMA System, While it has some minor advantages and covers more areas only in this country, It is fairly limited to US Market and you cannot use it overseas. Beside you cannot use a Verizon phone with another carrier. GSM, On the other hand is almost universal and you can use your phone outside USA. Other advantage of GSM is that you can use your phone with another GSM Carrier(you need to unlock the phone first which is not difficult) and installing a small card, Called SIM Card in your current phone. So CDMA(Verizon) is not necessarily the leader. It is possible that the newer... » Read More Verizon uses CDMA System, While it has some minor advantages and covers more areas only in this country, It is fairly limited to US Market and you cannot use it overseas. Beside you cannot use a Verizon phone with another carrier. GSM, On the other hand is almost universal and you can use your phone outside USA. Other advantage of GSM is that you can use your phone with another GSM Carrier(you need to unlock the phone first which is not difficult) and installing a small card, Called SIM Card in your current phone. So CDMA(Verizon) is not necessarily the leader. It is possible that the newer LTE System and 4G technology could replace both system and we end up to with one universal system. « Show Less
1743668
Verizon uses CDMA System, While it has some minor advantages and covers more areas only in this country, It is fairly limited to US Market and you cannot use it overseas. Beside you cannot use a Verizon phone with another carrier. GSM, On the other hand is almost universal and you can use your phone outside USA. Other advantage of GSM is that you can use your phone with another GSM Carrier(you need to unlock the phone first which is not difficult) and installing a small card, Called SIM Card in your current phone. So CDMA(Verizon) is not necessarily the leader. It is possible that the newer LTE System and 4G technology could replace both system and we end up to with one universal system.
1144912
Because AT&T; is gsm and Verizon is CDMA so the inside is configured differently.
1344245
If you mean Verizon service, the answer is NO. This is a GSM phone while Verizon operates on HDMA.
1216950
AT&T; Samsung Galaxy Express uses GSM network; Verizon uses CDMA network, two different networks; but supposedly Verizon is switching to GSM in 2014, So best bet would be to contact a Verizon Rep to check GSM networks availability
787201
Its important to ask this question to the individual selling the phone. Some phones are locked in to a specific carrier, for purposes of pushing a calling plan and can be unlocked. But, beyond that, some cell phone companies use completely different tower technology and are incompatible period. E.g. I had an AT&T; iPhone that was unlocked and so could have been used with another carrier, but was completely incompatible with Verizon towers, couldn't even pick up their signal. This listing indicates Verizon phone. Definitely ask before buying.
1026227
It requires a CDMA card if you're getting Verizon service, as opposed to the GSM SIM card that a lot of cell phone companies require. I only remember going to a Verizon store, and they took care of loading it for me.
1231108
Who is your major Cell phone provider in your area? Where I live Verizon has the best coverage and then AT&T is second. But this phone is a CDMA phone and only uses the Verizon network. Do some research before you jump into this device. I'm hearing that Verizon is trying to phase out the CDMA technology in favor of LTE. Just do a google search of "CDMA Verizon" for further details.
1413630
CDMA, I have this Tracphone. You may have to request it since they use verizon towers for it (may cost tracfone more to use than gsm) it gets better signal than gsm at least in my area.
1149691
Since this phone operates on the CDMA system, check with someone who has a Verizon phone and find out how it works in your area. CDMA is generally operated by Verizon. The other system is GSM (a G at the end of the model number) and that is generally operated by AT&T.;
2215196
Long story short, yes. A gsm network uses a "subscriber identity module," (sim card) which only at&t, t-mobile and h2o wireless operation use. That basically means you buy the phone from them and you have to use it through them (only that carrier no switching). Verizon phones are unlocked from the get-go and can be used anywhere. If it states it is gsm unlocked it will work regardless of the original carrier. This phone is not linked to at&t anymore, that was just the original carrier. Hope this cleared up this cluster-f about phones (you're not an idiot it is just very very confusing).
1588472
Virgin Mobile is a CDMA phone and DOES NOT require a SIM card. Two basic technologies in mobile phones, CDMA and GSM represent a gap you can't cross. They're the reason you can't use AT&T phones on Verizon's network and vice versa. We're mostly a CDMA country. It also means we're not part of the norm, because most of the world is GSM. The global spread of GSM came about because in 1987, Europe mandated the technology by law, and because GSM comes from an industry consortium. What we call CDMA, by and large, is owned by chipmaker Qualcomm. This made it less expensive for third parties to build GSM equipment. There are several variants and options carriers can choose, like toppings on their technological ice cream. For call quality, the technology you use is much less important than the way your carrier has built its network. There are good and bad CDMA and GSM networks, but there are key differences between the technologies. It's much easier to swap phones on GSM networks, because GSM carriers put customer information on a removable SIM card. Take the card out, put it in a different phone, and the new phone now has your number. What's more, to be considered GSM, a carrier must accept any GSM-compliant phone. So the GSM carriers don't have total control of the phone you're using. That's not the case with CDMA. In the U.S., CDMA carriers use network-based white lists to verify their subscribers. That means you can only switch phones with your carrier's permission, and a carrier doesn't have to accept any particular phone onto its network. It could, but typically, U.S. carriers choose not to. In other words, you can take an unlocked AT&T phone over to T-Mobile (although its 3G may not work well because the frequency bands are different). You can't take a Verizon phone over to Sprint, because Sprint's network rejects non-Sprint phones.
1558285
Verizon uses a technology called "CDMA" this note works on "GSM" which as a different as diesel and gasoline cars
29332
The Nokia C2-01.5 is a GSM phone. If Verizon offers service to CSM cell phones and uses one of the operating frequencies of the Nokia C2-01.5 cell phone, then you can use Verizon. I would recommend that you call Verizon and inquire with them. To the best of my knowledge only two carriers in the US, AT&T; and T-Mobile, provide service to GSM cell phones. I hope this information is helpful.
1587972
Verizon is a CDMA network, you don't unlock CDMA phones,GSM phones like AT&T an T-Moble you can unlock to work on GSM networks, most CDMA phones will work on most CDMA network s as long as it has a clean ESN number witch means,bill was paid,not stolen, or reported lost.Verizon is kinda a different story.Verizon ,most Verizon phones will work on Verizon network s like Verizon,,page plus,,an selectel wireless witch is better then page plus. Selectel has free roaming.
1983325
Sprint, Verizon and U.S. Cellular use CDMA. AT&T; and T-Mobile use GSM. Therefore this phone would not work with Verizon.
1344244
The reason one might use an "unlocked" phone is that you are not locked into a specific service provider (so that you can use it overseas). I imagine you could buy the phone and take it to Verizon and have them provide sim card. Just as easy to get a phone from Verizon to begin with.
1055011
GSM is for AT&T; and T-Mobile, or smartphones that require SIM cards. CDMA is for Verizon and Sprint, they don't have the SIM card trays. According to Apple, they are not compatible with each other.