2 replies to this topic

[Jim Farmer]

I was hoping maybe some of our readers from the UK could describe what choosing a carrier is like in the UK. Most of the time I see UK residents relieved that their carrier relations aren't like that of the US. Here we have to choose a carrier and then pick from their selection of devices. Over there don't you all buy a device then choose a carrier?

[RobNazarian]

Well I'm obviously not from the U.K., but I don't believe it works that way unless it's an unlocked device. Each carrier carries a line of phones no different than the U.S. I don't believe they get caught up in contracts as much as the U.S. though. Maybe someone from the U.K. can chime in?

[bdfull3r]

The US carriers are largely CDMA. Verizon, Sprint, and literally every other company outside of ATT and T-Mobile use CDMA. What this means is that only certain phones are able to work on their networks. The phones have to be carrier approved basically.

ATT, T-Mobile, and most UK carriers use GSM technology. SIM card technology. Most phone work on their networks and usually the hardest part is just putting your SIM card in a new phone when your done with the old one.

Also UK carriers use contracts a lot less. People are more inclined to buy the device outright and same money in the long long versus being tied down to a two year contract, (three years in Canada)