Are you a Verizon customer wondering what "CDMA-less" means and how it will impact your wireless service? You‘re not alone. With Verizon planning to shut down its legacy 3G CDMA network by the end of 2022, many people have questions about this major change and what they need to do to prepare.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about Verizon CDMA-less, including:
- What CDMA-less means and how it differs from traditional CDMA
- Why Verizon is moving away from CDMA and what benefits this will provide
- What devices are CDMA-less compatible and how to enable it
- Steps you need to take if you have an older 3G device
- Expert insights on the future of Verizon‘s network
Whether you‘re a long-time Verizon customer or you‘re considering switching to the carrier, read on to get informed and ensure you‘re ready for the CDMA-less future.
Understanding CDMA and CDMA-less
First, let‘s break down what CDMA actually means. CDMA, which stands for "Code Division Multiple Access," is the wireless 3G technology that Verizon has used for its network for many years. Historically, Verizon phones contained radios and chips enabling them to connect to the carrier‘s 3G CDMA network as well as its newer 4G LTE network.
In contrast, a CDMA-less device only operates on Verizon‘s 4G LTE or 5G networks – it doesn‘t have the hardware or software to fall back to the older 3G CDMA network. Popular CDMA-less phones include newer iPhone models, Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Pixels, and many others released in the past few years.
So why is Verizon moving away from CDMA entirely? The main reason is that CDMA is an aging technology that is no longer necessary as Verizon has built out its nationwide 4G LTE and 5G networks. Compared to CDMA, these newer networks provide significantly faster data speeds, lower latency, and better coverage, especially for data-heavy applications like video streaming and video calling.
By shutting down its CDMA network, Verizon can free up spectrum and resources to further expand and enhance its 4G and 5G coverage. The carrier has set a deadline of December 31, 2022 to complete the CDMA phaseout.
Enabling CDMA-less on Your Verizon Device
If you recently switched to a new Verizon phone but kept your existing SIM card, you may need to enable CDMA-less to get your device working properly on the network. The specific steps vary a bit depending on what phone you have:
Motorola Phones
For Motorola phones like the Motorola Edge, here‘s how to enable CDMA-less:
1. Log into your My Verizon account
2. Go to "My Devices"
3. Select "Activate or Switch Device"
4. Choose "Activate on an existing line" to enable CDMA-less on your SIM card
If this doesn‘t solve your issue, contact Verizon support and request that they add "CDMA-less provisioning" for the SIM card on your account.
OnePlus Phones
If you have a OnePlus 7 Pro or older OnePlus model, you‘ll need to activate CDMA-less when using your existing Verizon SIM card. Here‘s how:
1. Log into your My Verizon account
2. Select "My Devices"
3. Click "Activate or Switch Device"
4. Follow the prompts to activate CDMA-less
Note that newer OnePlus phones like the OnePlus 8 and beyond do not require CDMA-less activation.
iPhones and Other Devices
Older iPhones and other 4G devices that don‘t support Voice over LTE (VoLTE) may also need CDMA-less enabled when switching to them on Verizon. The steps are similar to the ones outlined above:
1. Log into your My Verizon account
2. Go to the "My Devices" page
3. Select "Activate or Switch Device"
4. Enable CDMA-less on your SIM card
If you have issues, contact Verizon support for assistance with CDMA-less provisioning on your account.
What To Do If You Have a 3G CDMA Device on Verizon
Now that you know Verizon is shutting down its CDMA network at the end of 2022, it‘s important to understand how this impacts you if you‘re currently using an older 3G device on the carrier.
Once the CDMA network is fully decommissioned, your 3G device will no longer have cellular service at all – not even for basic functions like phone calls and text messages. To avoid losing service entirely, you‘ll need to upgrade to a newer device that supports Verizon‘s 4G LTE or 5G networks.
Verizon is actively contacting impacted customers and providing special offers on upgraded devices to help make the transition as smooth as possible. Be on the lookout for communications from the carrier if you think you may be affected. You can also check your device compatibility on Verizon‘s website or by contacting customer service.
It‘s wise to make a plan to upgrade sooner rather than later to avoid any service disruptions, especially if your 3G phone is your main line of communication. Verizon‘s current lineup includes many excellent 4G and 5G devices at various price points, so you have plenty of options to choose from.
Using an Unlocked CDMA-less Phone on Verizon
What if you have an unlocked CDMA-less phone from another carrier or manufacturer that you want to use on Verizon‘s network? The good news is that most recent unlocked phones are compatible with Verizon as long as they support the carrier‘s LTE bands.
To check if your unlocked phone will work, you can use Verizon‘s Bring Your Own Device page. Simply enter your device‘s IMEI number, which you can find in your phone‘s Settings. The compatibility tool will let you know if your phone meets Verizon‘s requirements and if it supports all of the carrier‘s network features.
Keep in mind that even if an unlocked CDMA-less phone is supported on Verizon, certain features like Wi-Fi calling or visual voicemail may not be available. It‘s always best to check with Verizon directly to confirm which features are supported on your particular device before making the switch.
The Future of Verizon‘s Network
With the CDMA shutdown imminent, you may be wondering what the future holds for Verizon‘s network. As someone who has followed the wireless industry for many years, I can tell you that the move away from CDMA is a necessary and positive one.
By going all-in on 4G and 5G, Verizon will be able to provide a better overall experience for its customers. We can expect to see faster speeds, improved coverage, and more capacity for data-heavy applications as the carrier continues to expand and optimize its new networks.
5G in particular is poised to be a game-changer, with the potential for speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G and extremely low latency. This will enable exciting new use cases like autonomous vehicles, remote surgery, smart cities, and more. Verizon has already launched 5G service in many cities and continues to aggressive roll the technology out to new areas.
Of course, fully realizing the potential of 5G will take time, as the network and device ecosystem matures. In the meantime, Verizon‘s nationwide 4G LTE network will continue to be the backbone for most customers. It‘s a proven and reliable technology that already covers over 99% of the U.S. population.
So while the CDMA shutdown may feel like a hassle in the short term for those with older devices, it‘s really a necessary step to make way for a brighter wireless future. By embracing CDMA-less, we‘ll all be able to take advantage of Verizon‘s faster, more advanced networks for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about Verizon CDMA-less? Here are answers to some of the most common ones:
Q: Is Verizon shutting down its CDMA network?
A: Yes, Verizon is planning to fully decommission its 3G CDMA network by December 31, 2022.
Q: Will my 3G Verizon phone still work after the CDMA shutdown?
A: No, once the CDMA network is shut down, 3G devices will no longer have any cellular service on Verizon, including voice calls, texts, and data. You‘ll need to upgrade to a newer 4G or 5G phone to maintain service.
Q: How do I know if my phone is CDMA-less?
A: If you have a recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or other major phone released in the past few years, it‘s almost certainly CDMA-less. You can also check your phone‘s technical specifications or contact Verizon to confirm.
Q: What should I do if I need to enable CDMA-less on my Verizon account?
A: Log into your My Verizon account, go to the "My Devices" page, and follow the prompts to activate CDMA-less on your SIM card. If you have trouble, contact Verizon customer support for assistance.
Q: Will my unlocked CDMA-less phone work on Verizon?
A: Most likely, as long as it supports the proper LTE bands. Check your phone‘s compatibility using Verizon‘s Bring Your Own Device page to be sure.
The Bottom Line on Verizon CDMA-less
Verizon‘s move to shut down its 3G CDMA network and go CDMA-less is a major milestone for the carrier and its customers. While it will require those with older 3G devices to upgrade, the transition will allow Verizon to focus on its newer, faster, and more advanced 4G and 5G networks.
If you‘re a Verizon customer, the best thing you can do is ensure you have a CDMA-less device that supports the carrier‘s LTE or 5G networks. Enable CDMA-less on your account if prompted, and don‘t hesitate to contact Verizon if you need any assistance.
By embracing CDMA-less, we can all look forward to a future of faster speeds, better coverage, and exciting new wireless capabilities on Verizon‘s network. I hope this guide has helped you better understand the change and how to navigate it! Let me know if you have any other questions.
