What does "unlocked" mean WRT cell phones?

[bjn70]

What does \"unlocked\" mean WRT cell phones?

My wife lost her new cell phone so I was looking into finding a new one for less than Cingular charges. Does unlocked mean it will work with any carrier? Do I just take a new phone into my local store and get them to install a new SIM card? Their service advisers are not very helpful when I call them about this.

 

[ACMarina]

Re: What does \"unlocked\" mean WRT cell phones?

I think that you have to unlock a phone before it can work period. I don't know about the different phones working with different carriers, though. Some of the carriers seem to say that they won't, but they may have some monitary motives to their speech. .

 

[unnerv]

Re: What does \"unlocked\" mean WRT cell phones?

Generally most carriers lock their phones so they can only be used with their service since they are subsidizing part of the cost of the phone in return for your contracted plan. A phone that has been unlocked has had this security feature removed so that it can be used by any carrier that uses the same technology, ie GSM. If you have an unlocked phone, you can request just a replacement SIM, which depending on carrier can vary up to $20 or $30. At that point you should be able it just insert the sim into the unlocked phone and carry on with business as usual. Usually the only reason to go for an unlocked phone is if you plan to be changing services. Otherwise you can usually find a carrier specific used phone much less expensive than an unlocked one.

 

[paulr]

Re: What does \"unlocked\" mean WRT cell phones?

Yes, unlocked means the phone will work with any carrier. Locked means it only works with the carrier that issued it. Carriers in the US often issue free or low-cost handsets to get you to sign up, but lock the handsets to keep you from leaving.

GSM carriers will often unlock the handset if you ask them to, after you've been a customer for a while. Non-GSM typically won't think of unlocking under any circumstances. I don't know why the attitudes differ like that.

There are also unlock kits you can get, or people who you can send your phone to who will unlock it for a small fee, depending on the type of phone it is.

 

[gadget_lover]

Re: What does \"unlocked\" mean WRT cell phones?

Verizon will reflash the prom of a competitor's handset so you can subscribe to their network. This unlocks it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I've bought several phones that were technically compatible but had been locked by their previous providers.

Daniel