Verizon and 950?

[LocationDudeNYC]

Verizon and 950

Hi,

First off let me apologize if the subject has been done to death. I've never owned a Windows phone having had only iOS and Android but I'm very interested in switching to Windows mobile, as I just left Apple and got my first Windows computer (a friend remarked that hell must have, indeed, frozen over).

I am interested in the 950 but I have to use on Verizon because I'm grandfathered into unlimited data and go through about 260gigs a month.

I find it unbelievable that there is no way to activate through a keycode combination the radio inside the 950 as I would bet a cheeseburger the correct radio is there just not activated.

Does anyone have any knowledge at all of how to use the Windows 950 or XL on the Verizon network, or is it just clearly impossible and I should shut my trap and forget all about it?

Thanks for not flaming me.
Matt

 

[spicypadthai]

Re: Verizon and 950

Not sure if this story was ever confirmed but probably not worth the effort anyway. Maybe pick up an Icon and install the Insider Release build. eBay has some new. It's very good and should tide you over until we find out whether there'll be any new Verizon options.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Re: Verizon and 950

Welcome to Windows Central.

Unfortunately, the 950/950XL will not work on Verizon or Sprint. It will only work on AT&T, T-Mobile, and MVNOs that use AT&T or T-Mobile.

 

[LocationDudeNYC]

Re: Verizon and 950

Hi Laura, Queen of Lightsabers. Thanks for the reply.

This is simply inconceivable to me why Microsoft would ever , in their right mind, do something like this. A part of me still wants to believe the correct radio is there just not activated.

Man, I finally decide to go Windows and MS won't even let me.

Sigh....

 

[Y2HBK]

Re: Verizon and 950

Im kind of in the same boat, dude. My work uses all AT&T devices (got a 950) and my personal phones have always been verizon (access to ICON and a Note 5 currently). I would like to carry one device. I've been forwarding my verizon calls to my work phone and using the Verizon Messages app on my PC for texts. The Verizon Messages app isnt available on mobile even though their website says it works on Windows 10 mobile. Obviously the desktop app isn't going to help me when away from the PC.

I've been trying to find ANY way to forward my Verizon texts to my AT&T device since the Verizon messages app isn't an option. I've had my personal number for 15 years and can't access my work email on the personal device. I was checking to see how apps like WhatsApp, Viber, etc all work (I've never used any of them, so clueless) and doesnt sound like any of them would help much. I tried one 3rd party app on Android called Phoneleash and it just didn't do anything. Looks like the development has pretty much been silent since last year too.

At this stage sounds like I'll be stuck with 2 devices. We are also mostly a HP shop for equipment and I've been keeping an eye on info about the Elite X3. Well according to rumors and documents posted over in that subforum it won't support CDMA, either.

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Verizon and 950

A part of me still wants to believe the correct radio is there just not activated.

It's not activated on the SoC. Qualcomm sets it pre-production. There is no hack. Sorry.

If you want to see how this horse was ridden 'round and 'round the track until it collapsed, check this 44 page thread: http://forums.windowscentral.com/mi...ked-950xl-work-verizon.html?highlight=verizon

 

[Laura Knotek]

Re: Verizon and 950

Hi Laura, Queen of Lightsabers. Thanks for the reply.

This is simply inconceivable to me why Microsoft would ever , in their right mind, do something like this. A part of me still wants to believe the correct radio is there just not activated.

Man, I finally decide to go Windows and MS won't even let me.

Sigh....

We really don't know for sure if that was a decision made by Microsoft or Verizon. Those 2 companies haven't had a good relationship. That seems to go back to the Microsoft Kin debacle.

 

[rtwright68]

Re: Verizon and 950

WOW! 260GB of data, I don't blame you for not wanting to leave Verizon.

We recently switched to AT&T because we have DirecTV and I was getting tired of Verizon. Our signal for AT&T in our area is incredible, and it works great with the 950 I picked up off eBay.

Honestly, I wonder if Verizon will ever have a flagship WM10 phone, I hope they do, but then they would have to encourage sales.

 

[rambo47]

Re: Verizon and 950

Microsoft never bothered to obtain CDMA certification for the 950. It is a placeholder for the upcoming (2017) Surface Phone and has not received the attention a true flagship device should. Verizon already has several WM phones so it's a no-brainer that they would support it if at all possible.

The HP Elite X3 is on it's way and promises to be quite a beast. Since it won't be picked up by any carriers there is a good chance HP will offer a CDMA version. After all, Verizon is the biggest U.S. based carrier so ignoring that segment of the market would be folly. I expect it to be supported by Verizon, if not at launch, then shortly after.

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Verizon and 950

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_wireless_communications_service_providers



I don't think Big Red is as far out front as many people believe they are.

11 million over AT&T is a gap, granted. However a Factory Unlocked GSM model can potentially reach AT&T + T-Mobile + a great number of mvno's running off of their towers including Straight Talk, Cricket, Walmart Family Mobile, H2O, Ting, GoPhone, Consumer Cellular, Metro PCS, Net 10, Simple mobile, TracFone, etc. A substantial number when totaled together.

Sure Verizon has a lot of subscribers and yes, it is more than any other single entity (although ATT + Cricket = close... The figures are hard to come by, but they appear to hover around 5M on Cricket). But for Verizon to be able to leverage any company they come in contact with to dictate terms is probably not realistic. Is it a benefit to have access to that market? Sure. Is it imperative? Probably not.

Once more I'll go to my favorite pie chart on this topic. Who supports Windows Phone through subscriptions? Hands down ATT + Cricket at 50%, followed by T-Mo + Metro PCS with Vzw a distant 3rd in Windows Phone subscribers... This is from last September. I'm dying for AD Duplex to update this stat. I have a feeling Vzw & the T-Mo/Metro block will lose more share in this to ATT/Cricket.

 

[rambo47]

Re: Verizon and 950

Another benefit of manufacturers going GSM-only is that the phone is usable all over the world. GSM is indeed the world standard, and focusing on GSM cuts manufacturing costs/raises margins while reaching segments of almost every market on the planet.

 

[toddpart]

Re: Verizon and 950

Can't help my curiosity, but what on Earth are you doing to pull 260+ GB a month on a phone? LOL, you must be tethering most of the day?