iPhone 6 HW model unsubsidized buying advice (CDMA features and int'l support)

hi all. i’ve done unhealthy amount of research buying iphone 6, , i’m not done… have reduced questions down fair bit, , wondering if community here chime in on of it.

i’m verizon “share everything” iphone 5 owner in usa. contract ends @ end of month. want make sure buy iphone 6 smartly, me, means not renewing contract while maintaining current service, , allowing international support.

understand there (for sake of argument) three models of iphone 6: “a1549 (gsm)”, “a1549 (cdma)”, , “a1586”:

• a1549 (gsm) if buy on at&t or unlocked on t-mobile. supports gsm & lte bands.
• a1549 (cdma) if buy on verizon. supports gsm & lte, *plus* ev-do rev. & b. due broad support, seems “world” version.
• a1586 if buy on sprint. impression unique in supports td-lte, not of this. not considering model.

my first thought buy t-mo unlocked , use verizon lte sim. however, a1549 (gsm) not claim support ev-do, which verizon uses voice. yet, anecdotal evidence shows setup working (youtube, macrumors). don’t understand this. believe because there hardware support ev-do not marketed. can confirm this? also, not clear having imei on cdma network can entail. have heard phone recognized “non-meid device” if used on verizon, , concerned how affect verizon's cdma-based services volte , mobile hotspot.

second (and current) thought buy a1549 (cdma) iphone @ unsubsidized price. allow me have clear , official support verizon.

in summary, here requirements:

• official, full verizon feature support (voice calls (obviously), lte, hotspot, volte)
• no 2-year contract signed verizon
• unlocked , unrestricted, able swap sims domestically (move t-mobile in usa if needed) and, ideally, internationally (specifically, in iceland, finland , japan)
• ideally, (and may not possible) want able change “share everything” plan unlim. talk/text/2gb data $50/mo “verizon edge” plan @ arbitrary future date without signing contract.

based on requirements, a1549 (cdma) 1 me? there gotchas i’m forgetting? overthinking this? have read lot of possibly-misinformed or possibly-incomplete community-sourced information online regarding this, concrete evidence great. i'll speaking verizon rep tomorrow confirm, @ least, plan details. in dream scenario, i'm paying $50/mo verizon edge, paying unsubsidized iphone 6, no contract in sight.

thank reading long post, please let me know if can clarify anything.

 

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