CDMA Verizon iPhone 4 contains GSM chip
Universal connectivity for iPhone 5?
The Verizon iPhone 4 contains a radio chip capable of connecting to both CDMA and to GSM networks, a detailed autopsy of the device has revealed.
The take-apart was conducted by iFixit.com and exposed the presence of Qualcomm's MDM6600 chip, a part that supports both types of cellular technology when connected to appropriate antennae.
Naturally, the Veriphone's integrated aerial is tuned to CDMA, but there's technically nothing to stop Apple incorporating a second, GSM-tuned antenna too, allowing it to produce a single handset capable of connecting to either network.
Or it will simply unify the circuitboard, which will be plugged into different casings for CDMA and GSM operators.
IFixit's teardown reveals that most of the Verizon iPhone's parts are not interchangeable with those from a GSM iPhone 4.
With no Sim slot in the handset, Apple has labelled the phone "does not contain any user-serviceable parts", and there is a pair of its 'pentalobe' screws to keep the case shut. ®
COMMENTS
its called W-CDMA
All the networks that have 3G in the UK, its called W-CDMA.
CDMA you mean CDMA2000!!
Sorry to be a pedantic sod! but UK uses W-CDMA and US CDMA2000. CDMA just means the modulation type.
Trap
What's to stop them using 1 aerial and incorporating a trap? That would allow them to just use the same design as the iphone 4 (perhaps with a lacquer coating?)
(For the non-RF minded, a trap in an aerial is a tuned circuit, allowing an aerial to appear a different length at different frequencies.)
"nothing to stop Apple incorporating a second, GSM-tuned antenna"
No need to, GSM can piggy back on the CDMA antenna and the degraded signal will be little worse than a Lemon 4, which everyone will remember, didn't stop iPhans from buying it.
Maybe they could deposit an antenna on the glass.
Lotr ?
One antenna to rule them all and in the darkness....
