Given that I am tied to Verizon for phone service and given their refusal to support Librem 5 phones on their network, I am not going to be able to use the phone I waited so long for. It has the BM818-A1 modem for use on the US networks. Well, some US networks…
Message me directly with an offer if you are interested. I will look at all offers received in the next week or so.
I don’t want to hijack the thread and don’t intend to sell you on anything, but it’s worth noting that Purism now offers the ability to transfer an existing number to their data plan packages as a $15 service.
Thanks, but I don’t know if that would solve my problem. Verizon is the only carrier whose signal I can receive in my office. Unfortunately coverage at home is weak, but (barely) functional.
Another option as well, you can use Xfinity. They use the verizon network, but might be willing to work with you? I don’t know just an idea.
Thanks for the suggestion. Part of the issue is the family shared plan at a pretty good discount with Verizon, but I will check on Xfinity.
That wouldn’t work. MVNOs can’t opt to ignore the underlying carrier’s compatibility requirements. The BM818-A1 modem has to pass the IMEI compatibility check anyway:
https://www.xfinity.com/mobile/byod/compatibility/device
https://www.verizon.com/sales/prepaid/byod.html
It’s pretty much T-mobile (and associated MVNOs) or nothing in the U.S.
Yeah after I actually got to reviewing the wiki I was about to post that. It appears only data works? Yeah so sounds like the phone needs more work to support the network.
Or Broadmobi needs to get their modems certified with Verizon and its VoLTE implementation.
But still… Verizon gonna Verizon.
Are no modem chips available that support Verizon as well?
Not currently; not for sale by Purism, and which fit into the L5, anyway.
Of course, they may have the opportunity to make other modems available at some point, if they happen to find a compatible one (that aligns with their mission).
Which pretty much leaves us early purchasers up a creek if we can’t use T-Mobile.
Honest question: what else did you expect? I’m not from US and never been there, but I know that Verizon has had a very bad reputation when it comes to allowing third party devices on their network for at least the last 15 years or so. From over here I always knew Verizon as the butt of a joke and a company that does things that would be outright illegal here in Europe 
Given that I ordered the phone over two years ago, I had hoped that Purism would have made some attempt to work with them in that time, but I gather from forum posts that they don’t do that. I hope that is a wrong impression, because it is a huge disservice to their customer base.
I tend to agree. Has no one figured out a way to work with Verizon professionally or technically? In what way do they not allow third party devices?
EDIT : it does appear pinephone supports it - https://wiki.pine64.org/index.php?title=PinePhone_Carrier_Support
Maybe Verizon is not going to cooperate with Purism. It’s not like Purism is big enough to heavy Verizon into mending its ways.
More accurately, Verizon supports (allows) the modem in the Pinephone (Quectel, soldered in, I believe).
Now if only Quectel made a modem that fits in the Librem 5 (and meets any other relevant requirements) …
As always there are three parties (carrier, modem manufacturer, phone manufacturer) and the stars have to come into alignment for it to work.