> Verizon (and most of US) uses a competing "standard" called CDMA

Verizon and Sprint use CDMA. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. The frequencies that T-Mobile uses are non-standard, IIRC.

  AT&T => 107.3M
  Verizon => 116.8M
  T-Mobile => 44M
  Sprint => 64.3M

More information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_wireless_... (Note: the numbers on that page are different from the numbers on the individual carrier pages in some cases)

It's technically possible to "unlock" a CDMA phone, but in the USA, CDMA carriers refuse to unlock a phone on their network. And even if you did get an unlocked CDMA phone, the providers will refuse to activate any phones that were not originally activated on their network.

I use Verizon and they are always more than happy to activate my CDMA capable phone for use on the Verizon network - which I have been using for a very long time and live contract free this way. I also use a very old completely Unlimited plan, so buying a phone from Verizon would cancel this plan and force me on a new contract.

Anyhow my point is I have no problems adding a personal device to my plan anytime - many times.

> Verizon (and most of US) uses a competing "standard" called CDMA, where your identity is coupled to your phone.

And that's a pretty good reason not to go for Verizon. It's not that you don't have a choice.

I am with t-mobile ever since I remember, just because I refuse to give my money to AT&T or Verizon (and also to Sprint as they are CDMA).

It's your money, and it's your decision.

Not if Verizon is the only carrier with decent coverage where you live, which is more common than you might think.