[criddell]

Just because it's technically compatible doesn't mean the network operator will allow the device, does it?

I remember hearing Jeff Jarvis' story about trying to get Verizon to let him use a Nexus 7 tablet. IIRC was compatible with the network but Verizon dragged their feet for a long time.

https://buzzmachine.com/2013/11/06/the-verizon-saga-continue...

[shmerl]

T-Mobile usually have no problem with custom devices. Avoid Verizon if you can.

[RussianCow]

Verizon still has by far the best coverage in many parts of the US, so it may be the only option if that's important to you.

[shmerl]

That was the case in the past, but T-Mobile were actively building up their network in the recent times so it should be a lot better than before. I didn't compare it myself, so can't say how much it has improved in areas where it was bad before.

[RussianCow]

I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile a couple years ago, and where I live (Oregon), T-Mobile's service is absolute garbage compared to Verizon's. It was fine in the dense parts of the city, but anything outside of that was a total gamble. Driving to the mountain, the beach, or really anywhere outside the metro area nearly guaranteed a lack of service all or most of the way. I even had poor reception in parts of my house, and would sometimes lose calls in my kitchen!

I recently switched to AT&T and am much happier, but there are still occasions where my wife (on Verizon) has service but I don't. I've also heard similar anecdotes from people I've met in other parts of the country, so I don't think Oregon is the only state for which this is true.

(Before you say that this was a problem with my phone, I changed phones once while I was still on T-Mobile, and the service did not improve.)

[reaperducer]

I live (Oregon), T-Mobile's service is absolute garbage compared to Verizon's

It's all regional. There are places in America where T-Mobile is streets ahead of Verizon.

The upper Midwest, and the Gulf Coast, for example, because T-Mobile bought VoiceStream, and PrimeCo, which were dominant in those areas years ago.

Between personal and work devices, I carry AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile with me almost everywhere I go across America (usually two or three different states a month). Verizon is best in populated areas. T-Mobile is best in lower density places. AT&T is something of a crapshoot. Some places it's incredibly good, and some places it's like trying to make a phone call on an angry hedgehog.

[linuxftw]

> There are places in America where T-Mobile is streets ahead of Verizon.

Nonsense, it's not even a comparison. Tmobile is complete garbage coverage compared to Verizon or AT&T. I don't believe there is any place in the US where Tmobile has better coverage than Verizon.

[RussianCow]

Yep, exactly. So if you happen to live somewhere that's only well covered by Verizon, and consistently good reception is important to you, you don't really have a lot of other options. It's similar to the situation with ISPs in the US.

[ocdtrekkie]

Most phones/tablets are a little different of a story, because the chip is integrated with the phone. The Librem 5, using a separate removable module for LTE, is going to be a bit more like a connected laptop. Verizon doesn't certify laptops for their network, they certify the cards/modules that you put in a laptop.

If you use an approved module, there should be no issue: https://opendevelopment.verizonwireless.com/design-and-build...

[LyndsySimon]

I had a phablet on AT&T for years - a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, which I ordered from Indonesia. I didn't have any issues with it at all. I didn't even contact them, I just swapped the SIM from my existing phone to my new tablet and that was that.