As I mentioned above, MSRP $49 later this year.

From the press release:

iPhones are either GSM or CDMA; they are different models with different radios. As far as I know that's true across manufacturers, I'm not aware of any phone that will do both CDMA and GSM in the same handset model.

The iPhone 4 did not, but the iPhone 4S does exactly that, has both GSM and CDMA radios in the same phone. It was cheaper for Apple to put both in one phone than having to engineer two different phones.

And, all features don't work the same. I think the Verizon still will not allow phone use and internet use at same time? I hear it's Verizon not allowing it yet.

Not very useful for iphone owners unless you plan to crack your phone open. Not a good idea unless it is already dead and you don't plan to repair it. It is super easy to damage the lcd/digitizer/etc when open them up.

You're quite right. My mistake. I looked that up specifically before I posted and I was still wrong .



I thought that was a Verizon network technology limitation and not how the phone is provisioned.

This would be a deal-breaker for me if I wanted to move to Verizon. Being able to look something up from my email while on a call isn't something I use every week but when I need it I really need it. Similarly, not being able to use the phone while tethering is something I use at least once a week.

Not sure what you mean here- you don't have to disassemble the iPhone to remove the sim card, if that is what you are referring to. Sim card is very easily removed with a simple tool that is included with the phone, or a small paper clip.

anyone have any clue if this upcoming "SpareOne" device would work using the Tracfone system? (ie: do tracfones even have sim cards?)

we live very remotely with little-to-none cell reception, so cell phones are fairly worthless, except when we travel. we own a tracfone we take with us in saddlebags or truck for emergencies.

for $100/yr it has come in handy a couple of times over the last ten years. we even recently upgraded to a never model phone for $15 because the old battery wouldn't hold a charge anymore.

problem has always been that when we go to use it after a few weeks or months, the battery was often dead, so this 1xAA unit seems like just the answer we need.

suggestions/comments/ideas?

yes they have sim cards.when i got a newer phone they send one so i could use my old number on the new phone.it's just a tiny bit of paper with a gold-like coating.i very seldom use mine.

Imagine if these phones came with this waterproof technology:
http://www.boom973.com/jeff/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10334003