Skip to main content

Last Call: The End of iPhone Cellular Voice Call Support

Lots of tech things have come to an end, but some things still live on even though they feel like they should have come to an end.

Our classic analog broadcast TV system here in the US ended about 10 years ago after a 70 year run, although many US cable TV companies embarrassingly still use it to transfer video to millions of customers despite its poor quality and inefficiency.  After all, US cable TV companies don't want to replace their profitable-but-obsolete systems.

FAX machines seem dead, but due to the poor security of software services, coupled with a lack of legal privacy protections, FAX machines are still a staple within the medical and legal businesses.

But mobile phone tech?  Yeah, that's dying on a schedule, as cell phone tech in the US is centrally controlled by the telecom oligarchy of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.  So given industry clout, some old and not-so-old iPhones are going to be unusable on US phone networks.

The Retiring iPhones

Apple made a bunch of cellular-capable models that aren't all necessarily clear.  Here is the list of devices at short-term risk:

iPhone (Original) 2007 - 2008.  Last call: 31-December-2020 on T-Mobile.

The original iPhone uses what is known as 2G technology, and came to market just as 3G technology was emerging.  The original iPhone is a GSM-only phone, so in the US it is only compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile.

2G phones will work on T-Mobile until the end of 2020.  AT&T stopped supporting them in early 2017. 

Middle Aged iPhones: 2008 - 2016.  Last call: 31-December-2022 on Sprint.

iPhone 3G (AT&T, Feb 2022)
iPhone 3GS (AT&T, Feb 2022)
iPhone 4 (GSM) (AT&T, Feb 2022)
iPhone 4 (CDMA) (Sprint, 31-Dec-2022)
iPhone 4S (Sprint, 31-Dec-2022)
iPhone 5 (Sprint, 31-Dec-2022)
iPhone 5C (Sprint, 31-Dec-2022)
iPhone 5S (Sprint, 31-Dec-2022)

Yep, lots of phones in there all in one big block.  All of these phones support 3G voice phone call technology, and 3G tech is very close to sunset.

Verizon ended their 3G service on 31-Dec-2019.  T-Mobile ends 3G on 31-Dec-2020.  AT&T ends in Feb-2022, and finally, T-Mobile subsidiary Sprint ends on 31-Dec-2022.

What about the LTE of iPhone 5/5C/5S?  They're LTE!

These three iPhones do support LTE, which is 4G tech, but these phones were released well before there was a standard for using 4G for making voice phone calls.  So these phones can use 4G for data, but revert to 3G for making voice phone calls.

Therefore, these phones are effectively 3G in the voice phone call sense.

No End In Sight: Modern iPhones (2014 to now)

Anything from the iPhone 6 and beyond supports voice calling over 4G/LTE technology, so these will be able to be used for years more.  That includes the iPhone SE, 6, 6S, 7, 8, X, XS, and 11 series.  Since all these devices support 4G VoLTE, we can see them all making their last call on the same day.

Considering that 5G has very little deployment, we can expect 4G to remain around for at least another 10 years, unless, of course, something unexpectedly crazy happens first.


Popular posts from this blog

Fixing a SodaStream Jet, part 1: Disassembly Guide

I've had my SodaStream Jet for years, and once in a while something has gone wrong. Disassembly is the first step to repair.  Start with this article to see how to disassemble the SodaStream, and then once you have that down, scroll through my other articles to see how I repaired specfic SodaStream problems. SodaStream Jet Disassembly Guide Tools Required Flat head screwdriver Phillips head screwdriver 1. Remove the Carbonator.  Duh. 2. Remove the black panel lever The front big black tilt lever needs to be removed first. Removing this panel is tricky, but it isn't impossible. Looking up at the bottom of the black panel, there are two tabs, one on the left and one on the right. These tabs fully secure the panel in place. The trick is to use a flat-head screwdriver under the plastic to gently lever the tabs out of the way.  Note in the pictures how I approach these tabs with my screwdriver.  I usually release the left side first, and then I release ...
Read more

E-waste portfolio grows, thanks to the losers managing Ring.

 I just installed a Ring doorbell the other day, and in perusing the website I read this gem: "security updates until at least four years after the device is last available for purchase"  Four years is all Ring promises for a brand new device?  This isn't 2007.  It's a mass market doorbell and a camera, something expected to be safely used for years, if not decades.  Even my home router has a longer promised life, and that's saying something. Ring management must be embarrassed by their ineptness.  They're idiots, and clearly the only way they know how to make a buck is not through great ideas and great implementations, but through planned obsolescence and customer abuse.  
Read more

Apple TV HD - The Best Streaming box ever

I purchased my Apple TV on its release day, in October 2015.  It continues to serve me perfectly, after nearly 10 years of active use. Although it is decidedly not the newest model of Apple TV, it does 100% of the things I want it to do without any issues.  Sure, I'd love a more modern SoC, gigabit Ethernet, Thread support, 4k video support, etc, but honestly I am not missing any of those features, so "upgrading" it today would be a waste of money.  I did sell the original Siri remote in 2023 and upgrade to the 3rd generation (USB-C) Siri remote. The original Siri remote was working great, but I figured after 7.5 years of use, it was time to get a new remote with a new battery.  I will likely upgrade my Apple TV in the future, but I can't predict when that will be.   Due to a quirk of its release strategy, this Apple TV was discontinued in late 2022, and so it is likely to be supported for several more years. A new device would have to be a leap ahead, because m...
Read more

Canon SD890 Review

My Canon PowerShot SD890IS Review Wahoo! I just received my new Canon PowerShot SD890IS . Here's my review of the new SD890IS. Updated! (20-April-2008)! I like taking good photos. And I hate lugging around big cameras and equipment. And so I concluded that I needed to buy myself an awesome point-n-shoot camera. I often take pictures in difficult conditions, such as a museum where a flash camera is prohibited. Or a concert, where I can't use a flash, the lighting is low, and the people on stage are in motion. Or with the zoom cranked up and focused on a distant subject. Taking good photos in these conditions, with a small lens camera and without a tripod is a challenge at best. In comes the SD890. I was particularly excited about the SD890 because it is pocketable, yet it has awesome specifications: Image stabilization ; a 5x zoom lens, and 10 megapixel resolution. When I bought the camera, I imagined that these features would help me take much better pictures in the...
Read more

Repairing a Crate TX15 Taxi amplifier battery

A friend gave me a Crate battery guitar amp that he used for busking. It is a nice 15 watt amp with an internal battery. Sadly it died, and its custom power adapter was misplaced. After several years the battery will fail, and it requires a functioning battery to work at all. Happily, new batteries are inexpensive, readily available, and easy to install. Obtaining a replacement battery for the TX15 The original battery was a 4+ pound, sealed lead battery. Any replacement battery should closely follow the specs of the original. I bought this MightyMax Battery on Amazon , which is a perfect replacement. There are many batteries that conform to the needs of the TX15, and they can be found at local hardware stores as they are commonly used in lots of equipment. It pays to look locally if you need something faster than Amazon.  The battery specs are as follows: 12 Volt, 7.2 Ah lead battery (mine was marked 1272). Length: 5.94" (151 mm)  Width: 2.56" (65 mm) Height: 3.94" (100...
Read more

Fixing a SodaStream Jet, Repair #2 - Broken Fill Button

My Soda Stream Jet's fill button broke, which means I can not longer carbonate water by pressing the pushbutton. This caused all sorts of grief in my household. Here is how I managed to repair my Jet to give it another 10 years of life (hopefully). First, a look at the button The fill button on the top of the SodaStream is actually a simple lever. Pressing down on the button moves a pin that does the actual work of pressing open the Carbonator's valve. Unfortunately, the axis point is fairly thin and can see a lot of stress. That's where my Soda Stream button cracked. [ I think the usage tip here is "don't over-press the button like a gorilla, it doesn't do anything but put high stress on the button."] Cracked levering point of the button The Pesky Lever Retaining Pin The Fix It was pretty easy for me to replace the button: Take off the back of the Soda Stream and remove the carbonator. Push out the the button lever's steel retaining pin. This takes qu...
Read more

Other Posts

Show more