LTE Backwards Compatibility

[BRZA]

Will Verizon Wireless' LTE devices be backwards compatible with existing HSPA networks to allow for global roaming?

[crimedoggies]

---

BRZA wrote:

Will Verizon Wireless' LTE devices be backwards compatible with existing HSPA networks to allow for global roaming?

---

I have the Pantech modem, and I know it is supposed to get GSM roaming capabilities in 2011, but I'm not sure at this point which GSM technologies it will support.

[willzzz99]

It will have global roaming VERY SOON LIKE AT&T. Verizon with 4G LTE has switched to GSMA UICC SIM-based technology which is totally awesome and I believe in Q1 2011 once VZW updates it's back-end systems and switches customers from the 3G Vodafone/NL/faux-SIMs to real Verizon SIM cards being installed in customer devices like all the 4G LTE devices those UICC SIM card #'s and serial #'s attached to your account will be enabled to allow global HSPA, HSPA+ roaming overseas all billed back to your US VZW account like it currently does with international services (and a headache with dual CDMA and GSM technologies). With LTE it makes it 10x easier as VZW domestically is using the SAME technology as globally.

I don't know if VZW has opened a global-roaming APN yet for roaming but it will soon. 

All the customer has to do in 2011 is to call customer service that they want GSM UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+, EDGE, GPRS global roaming and the customer's 4g lte SIM card profile will be updated in VZW's system to allow global roaming. All that is needed on the customers computer is a software and driver update which will enable the hardware features of the UML290 which supports back-ward capability of HSPA, HSPA+ (21Mbps down, 5.76Mbps up and MIMO so double those #'s, what AT&T and T-Mobile currently use in the US) and EDGE, GPRS on 850/900/1800/1900/2100MHz support globally. ❤️ GSM technology and GO VERIZON and the amount of $$$ you put into the network!

[willzzz99]

Oh and I almost frogot, when global roaming with the UML290 you have to connect at least once domestically in the US before going overseas as your VZAccess software manager will automatically put the latest SIM card programming details from VZ and program it automatically into the SIM (Don't you just LOVE GSM technology!?), the customer has to DO NOTHING EXTRA, the software will do it automatically.

[Android10]

Currently there is no information on plans for LTE devices to be backwards compatible with existing HSPA networks to allow for global roaming.

For more information about 4G LTE copy and paste the link below into your browser's address bar. 

http://support.vzw.com/clc/faqs/VZAccess/4g_mobilebroadband.html

[tigerdog]

Here we are, 15 months later, still without this capability or even a decent subset of the wished-for capabilities mentioned above.  frustrating.