The Verizon iPhone 5 is unlocked.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

The Verizon iPhone 5 is unlocked.

The Verizon Wireless version of the iPhone 5, which went on sale Friday, comes with a secret and unexpected feature: it works on AT&T's network as well.

Confirming blog reports, The Associated Press found that the Verizon iPhone 5 accepts an AT&T "SIM card" — a little chip that identifies a phone to a wireless network. The phone can then be active on AT&T's network.

It's the first time Verizon iPhones have been able to access AT&T's network without complicated hacking procedures. The feature may mean little to most buyers, since they're signing up for two years of Verizon service. But it does give them the option of switching carriers.

It's unclear whether the feature is intended and whether the phones will work with other carriers, such as T-Mobile USA. But Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Brenda Raney confirmed Saturday that the iPhone 5 models it's selling are "unlocked."

Last year, the first shipments of the Sprint iPhone 4S were unlocked and worked on AT&T, but Sprint later issued software updates that turned off that capability.

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LTE:USA: Verizon LTE network covers now 75% of country`s population.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

US number-one operator Verizon Wireless said its LTE network will cover more than 75 percent of the country’s population with its introduction in 34 new markets and expansion in 38 existing markets today.

The network is the largest in the US and will now cover 371 US markets, more than all other US operators combined, according to Verizon Wireless chief technical officer Nicola Palmer. “We are ahead of schedule with our 4G LTE market roll out and will provide 4G LTE network coverage to more than 400 markets in the near future,” she said.

In March, the operator pledged that its LTE network would be available in 400 markets and cover 260 million people by the end of the year. It also said it would ensure all new smartphones launched in 2012 were compatible with the network.

Rival AT&T’s LTE network now covers more than 74 million people in 51 markets and the operator hopes to reach potential coverage areas of 150 million people by the end of the year. Number-three operator Sprint started its LTE rollout in July with 15 markets and expects to have “largely completed” the implementation of the new network across the country by the end of 2013.

The Verizon Wireless LTE network is going live today in cities in Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Verizon

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