31 March, 2016
Moto X Pure Edition (2015) on Verizon Wireless
The Moto X Pure Edition (2015), sold unlocked to any wireless carrier, operates on the following bands: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800 & 1900 MHz), UMTS/HSPA (850, 900, 1700, 1900 & 2100 MHz), CDMA (800, 850 & 1900 MHz) and LTE (B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26 & 41). As a result, the Moto X Pure Edition works, out of the box, on all major networks in the United States. While it is easy to imagine how the Moto X Pure Edition is used on traditional GSM carries like AT&T or T-Mobile, it is a little more challenging to wrap your head around how it is activated on the traditionally CDMA network of Verizon Wireless, particularly if you've been using Verizon since the days of dialing *226 SEND for device activation.
We had the opportunity recently to help out a friend who had been using the Moto X on Verizon Wireless since its release in September 2013. While exceptionally satisfied with both the Moto X and Verizon Wireless, after two and a half years, the original Moto X handset was beginning to show signs of age (we are duly impressed with the longevity of the assembled in Austin, TX Moto X). Looking at the current offerings from Motorola on Verizon Wireless, our friend wasn't impressed enough with the Droid Turbo 2 to pony up the current asking price of $624.00. Always ones for a bargain, and maybe a challenge, we reminded our friend that the Moto X Pure Edition (2015) would work on Verizon Wireless, was customizable in Moto Maker and that since the calendar was just about at the midpoint of the Moto X release cycle, the sale season should be starting soon.
And it was the last bit, come to fruition with the first one hundred dollar off sale that ended in mid-March (don't worry, there will be another similar sale soon), that led our friend to part with three hundred dollars (ok, $299.99 delivered directly from Shenzhen, China) for the sixteen gigabyte model in subdued tones. After seventy-two hours in the hands of FedEx, the Moto X Pure Edition was handed to us in its color matching box, along with our friend's aging, but still graceful, original Moto X. And, of course, the implied request was "make it work."
And, of course, we did.
Required Items
Well, there is the obvious one, you'll need a Moto X Pure Edition (2015) which isn't hard to order. In addition, you'll need a Verizon Wireless nano SIM card active on a Verizon Wireless service agreement. The SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card contains the unique identifier (the International Mobile Subscriber Identity, IMSI, and a cryptographic key used in authentication) which identifies a user to the network.
If you do not have a nano SIM card activated on a Verizon Wireless account, there are a couple ways in which you can get one.
Motorola will add a Verizon Wireless (or any other major wireless carrier, for that matter) nano SIM card to your Moto X Pure Edition order for five dollars. With both the mobile and nano SIM in hand, you can then activate the SIM and select a service plan at the Verizon Wireless bring your own device page, by calling their customer sales division (800-256-4646) or visiting a store front location.
The other option is to visit a Verizon Wireless store front, or call their customer sales division (800-256-4646), and make an order for a wireless service plan associated with a nano SIM card.
Both are equally easy.
The only way it is easier is if you already have an active nano SIM in your current device. If you are currently using a recent 4G LTE device from Verizon Wireless, you may well already have an active nano SIM card in your current handset. If you do, use the nano SIM tool (there will be one in the Moto X Pure Edition box) to open the SIM tray from your current mobile, after powering the device off, of course.
Making the Switch
Open the SIM tray on your new Moto X Pure Edition (top center, look for the small hole in the metal frame) by inserting the included SIM tool (hint—the SIM tray is also the micro SD card tray so have your memory card ready if you'll be adding one to your new mobile). Pop the SIM card, and micro SD card, if applicable, into the card holder and replace it in the Moto X Pure Edition.
Power on the Moto X Pure Edition. Wait just a bit after it has shown the home screen. Wait just a little bit longer.
Done!
Honest. You. Are. Done.
Have someone call or text. Your new Moto X Pure Edition will ring.
There is no need to activate the Moto X Pure Edition through the My Verizon website. There is no need to dial *226 SEND, wade through the "Welcome to Verizon Wireless programming..." prompts and reset the phone.
There isn't even a need to configure an APN for messaging or data.
It just works. It is that easy.
What Verizon Wireless Knows
So how does Verizon Wireless know that your new Moto X Pure Edition is compatible with their network? Motorola has already registered the IMEI number of your new mobile with Verizon Wireless identifying the device as a Moto X Pure Edition, by model number. Here is what the My Verizon site shows for the Moto X Pure Edition we were asked to setup.
Verizon Wireless already knows exactly what mobile you are using (the MOTOROLA-XT1575 in red above is their listing of the device in their database of compatible phones). This knowledge is based on the IMEI number sent from your phone to the network (dial *#06# on your handset to see the fifteen digit number). It is very similar in purpose to the ESN or MEID used on the classic 2G and 3G Verizon Wireless CDMA handsets.
About the only thing Verizon Wireless doesn't know about your Moto X Pure Edition is what it looks like. You'll need to make do with a generic smartphone shape placeholder instead of an exact replica of your custom designed mobile.
Not a great loss.
Conclusion
The great promise of the LTE network (like the GSM network before it) has come to pass—you can go out an buy a mobile at retail and use it on the Verizon Wireless network without any difficulty. Or bring your mobile from another country and just add a local activated SIM card.
The Moto X Pure Edition (2015) is an LTE Android device which "speaks" the frequencies of all major network carriers in the United States. Using the Moto X Pure Edition on Verizon Wireless is as simple as moving your active Verizon Wireless nano SIM to the handset. Verizon Wireless knows that your new Moto X Pure Edition is compatible with their network and configuration is taken care of, no numbers to enter or settings to define.
And yes, we had our friend's Moto X Pure Edition up and running on the Verizon Wireless network in under ten minutes. You can do the same.
It is that easy.