[Thunderbolt General] willzzz88:
Thunderbolt and ALL future 4G VZW devices require a SIM card inserted into them for authentication. I just posted this on VZW forums because someone asked so here's a re-post for the HoFo members.

The SIM card is required for ALL 4G devices even when in CDMA only mode. See this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Removab...dentity_Module

VZ is adopting SIM-technology for all 4G and beyond future releases for ease of use because you can switch your account profile from phone to phone as long as it's a VZW 4G device and it will seamlessly work. No more calling support, you just swap the SIM card. No more *228 except for PRL updates but that in theory should be done automatically too in the future.

If you really want to know what's in the Thunderbolt here you go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UICC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDMA_Su...dentify_Module

The Verizon 4G LTE SIM cards have 3 components in them (3 modules that are transparent to the end-user):

1. CSIM: Authentication to the CDMA 1X voice/data and CDMA EvDO rA data 3G network.

2. USIM/ISIM/USAT/ISIM: USIM is used for LTE/GSM/UMTS/HSPA data authentication. The last 3 are for roaming.

1. USIM is also used for native direct Verizon SIM card roaming when abroad (outside of the US) as long as the device hardware has the processing (baseband) and antennas to have the overseas bands.

2. ISIM is used for IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) authentication. Basically in the future Verizon wants to do VoLTE and move voice into IP (VoIP). This allows for ALL-IP simplified network management. Also device management and stuff that makes the device automatically work when it connects to ANY network in the world /w VZW roaming agreement (aka SMS/MMS).

3. USAT: Application toolkit for the SIM card. If you're not a developer forget about it.

4. ISIM (Intelligent SIM): One of the functions/applications is remote modular address book movement. (Only up to 256K). So if your address book contains up to 256K you can move it onto the SIM card and move your address book seamlessly transparently to the end user between any VZW device. There are other functions that only the engineer would understand.

"The application has been ported to the UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card), so that a card with CSIM, SIM, and USIM can operate with all cellular networks worldwide."

Get it? One phone, one network, 6 continents, every-where on planet-earth! Ah don't you just love technology? >.<

Also countering AT&T's stupid advertising the Thunderbolt will be able to do simultaneous voice and data like all AT&T 3G phones when in an upgraded area.

**Upgraded area=Area where Verizon has done network infrastructure upgrades to allow simultaneous voice and data on both CDMA and LTE. You will have simulaeous voice and data in ALL areas covered by LTE in which the data will be on LTE and the voice will be on CDMA 1X currently. In areas without LTE coverage that have been upgraded even the old native CDMA 1X/EvDO rA network will be able to do simulaeous voice and data (not all complete, in LTE areas yes, in non-LTE areas where they will get LTE yes by 2012). Basicall if you're in a metro area you will have simulaeous voice & data on ALL Verizon technologies, and then expand from there to the rural areas for the entire country by 2012.

Now with that said and done, VZ counters EVERY SINGLE CLAIM made by AT&T marketing in which VZ:

1. Support every function that AT&T does but does it EVEN BETTER

2. The superior VZW network in which VZW has invested billions of $$$ in.

These days it's not a technology limitation, it's the amount of $$$ you want to invest. Everything is possible, it just costs $. Heh.