VoIP, also known as Voice Over Internet Protocol, is becoming a great tool in the cell phone industry. According to Webster’s, VoIP is “the technology used to transmit voice conversations over a data network using the Internet Protocol. Such data network may be the Internet or a corporate Intranet.” While long distance originally was a nightmare that haunted us in our sleep, it is finally becoming easier to manage. Luckily, with VoIP sweeping the market, long distance is soon to become more reasonable and convenient.

Consumers love the idea of using VoIP with cell phones because they have the ability to talk affordably, yet still go anywhere they’d like with it. For VoIP through regular phones and computers, the convenience is not there. Staying “plugged in” limits the user, therefore making it frustrating when trying to do other things at the same time. For this reason, cell phones which use voice over internet protocol are going to make many people happy. Recently, many cell phone companies have jumped on the VoIP bandwagon. As a result of this new phenomenon, companies are now offering packages which include this.

Before you change to a service which offers VoIP, you need to calculate if it’s worth using. Most cell phone companies will charge you an extra free, thus if you are not using up your minutes and do not frequently travel, it may not be worth purchasing. Also, if your computer tends to have a lot of internet downtime, you may experience worse connections than your original cell phone service. This could mean your service is minimal and your call could be frequently lost. Thus, the last thing you want to do is cause more strife and have to pay more for it. However, if you do use your minutes and travel, this is a great service for you. You will not only save more money in the long run, but you will end up being more satisfied with such a service.

If you are an interested cell phone user and want to switch over, you should unlock your current cell phone. This will allow you to change services, but still keep the cell phone that you are using. By downloading cell phone unlock codes; you are able to switch services without any of the hassle. Fortunately, this type of procedure is legal and although most companies want you believe that this isn’t possible, cell phone unlock is one of the best features on a cell phone! Nevertheless, even if you decide to wait on a VoIP plan, VoIP will soon be making large splashes in the cell phone industry. Luckily, everyone will be able to experience this phenomenon one day.

Natalie Aranda writes on computer and communications. VoIP, also known as Voice Over Internet Protocol, is becoming a great tool in the cell phone industry. By downloading cell phone unlock codes; you are able to switch services without any of the hassle. Fortunately, this type of procedure is legal and although most companies want you believe that this isn’t possible, cell phone unlock is one of the best features on a cell phone! Nevertheless, even if you decide to wait on a VoIP plan, VoIP will soon be making large splashes in the cell phone industry.

VoIP FAQ:

Question: What are the differences between cell phone service and VOIP?
Specifically, when I hit a number in an email on my iPhone, how does that connect me? Is this some sort of VOIP-cell marriage or does the number just get somehow recognized as a number and get dialed through my regular cell service?

Answer: VoIP is Voice over IP, which basically means that the calls run over the Internet. Most times to use VoIP you have to be plugged into the Internet or use a wifi enabled VoIP phone, like the Cisco WIP310.

Cell phones use a variety of technologies. However, most today run on a 2g or 3g network, which is different than VoIP. Basically these networks run off technologies such as GSM or CDMA which are broadcast from towers. It does not run the same as a regular cell, you have to be in a certain range of a wireless router.

Question: Cell phone with wireless voip phone capability?
can anyone recommend a cell phone that allows to use also as a yahoo voice or skype phone when in range of a wi fi. preferably tri band gsm and or 3g. I am on Sprint GPS and also T-Mobile. I mainly use yahoo voice on my lap top with headset. Would be great if I could use one phone for cell and voip calls.

Answer: Cordia VOIP Magellan plan enable callers to dial the Magellan number that they provided to you and reach you on the landline or mobile phone wherever you are in the world with their local rates.

Cordia VoIP or broadband phone service can help save customers up to 65 percent of their monthly phone bill. In addition, Cordia offers more than 25 international calling plans along with the ability to choose international phone numbers from more than 300 cities in more than 40 countries.

Question: Is there any such thing as successfully sending a text message to a VOIP home phone (not a cell phone)?
I know someone who has a VOIP home phone service and would like to get certain text messages sent to them there and get them via email as opposed to their cell phone. Has anyone ever heard of this idea or if it could be done?

Answer: Yes, it is called “Text to Land line” (regardless if the number you are trying to push the text to is VOIP it will still work.) I know Sprint does it, so do others.

Question: Voip vs. land phones, how about cell phones?
A couple of years ago, I worked for a Voip company as a Tech Support. People were saying that in the very near future, all will be going to Voip mode/ style. This is because 1) much bugs about Voip will be worked out, and 2) this is much cheaper in making phone calls. Are we there yet, or has cell phones taken over?

Answer: Cell phones are gaining acceptance as the ONLY phone for some people. Wireless companies are producing more innovative pricing plans that eliminate or reduce the penalty for yakking for hours on your phone. Having said that, VOIP is gaining ground as well. VOIP is offered by newer providers like Vonage, but AT&T also has a VOIP product that works quite well and is cheaper than traditional phone service. (CallVantage). VOIP as an enterprise communications vehicle in large and small companies is getting pretty attractive. Consider that when you pay for a phone line, you are paying for a 7×24.365 facility that just sits there until someone calls you or you decide to call out for a pizza or something. With VOIP, you get ‘convergence’ which, in part, means that by combining services on a single circuit, you get better use out of that circuit, so you waste less money. And the days of chronic drop-outs, mangled speech, and dropped calls aren’t over, but the end is in sight, if you use a quality provider.

Question: Is a call from my voip phone to a cell phone (same area code) out of state considered long distance?
My husband will be out of state with his cell phone that has the same area code. I have Voicepulse if that matters.

Answer: With VoIP, across the street or across the country… it’s all the same. You should be able to use your free 200 minutes for your calls. From then on, it just depends on their standard per/minute rates. Again, per/minute rates usually don’t care if across the street or across the nation… it’s usuall the same….. at least with the VoIP services I use.

Question: If I use a voip service on my cell phone like justvoip, do I get charged my regular cell minutes?
My Nokia E71 has voip hardware installed and I thought that any voip calls would be made through my cell phone’s wireless connection thereby not costing me minutes on my phones talk plan. Is there any way of getting around getting charged daytime minutes for VOIP calls?

Answer: I know that Rogers have previously said that they do charge you your daytime cell minutes for VOIP calls.

Question: What is VOIP pertaining to cell phones?

Answer: VOIP does not pertain to cell phones. VOIP (Voice over IP) is an internet based phone.

Question: Having problems with receiving text messages on my cell phone when they’re sent from a Voip account?
Can anybody help me out please? My bf who lives in the UK used to text me on my cell phone (I live in Turkey) using his voip account; I recently got a new cell number (same provider) and since then his texts sent via voip cannot reach me anymore.

Answer: If your phone doesn’t support Voice-over IP, it can’t send or receive any file of that type. I recommend that he sends it in a different format.

Many of us want a lot of freedom in the way we use our mobile service. We do not want to get tied to a single service provider. The reason is that you then become dependent on the service provider and have to put up with inconsistent service, increase in rates and many other things that you cannot control beyond a point and this can be very irritating for you.

Buying a sim free iPhone or an unlock sim card phone is the best solution that you can avail of as through this you can get liberated from being tied to a service provider. This phone can be used on the network that you prefer giving you a lot of flexibility. The other reason in going for such phones is the fact that in trying to unlock it using conventional software, you may end up damaging the phone and render it useless. The sim free iPhone ensures that there is no chance of the software crashing.

In a manner of speaking, it is not a sim free iPhone but just a clever use of another card that behaves like a sim but can be removed at any time and used as per convenience.

There are other advantages as under:

a) This will keep the phone unlocked even when the software is updated from time to time.

b) You can use this phone anywhere globally and connect to any network.

c) The unlock facility is a very convenient one as it is similar to the sim card and is positioned such that the sim connectors and the usual sim card do not get affected and cannot affect this card. It is simply a trick to deceive the phone to believe that you are making use of a card to use the phone on a particular network exclusively.

d) As mentioned above, you are at liberty to remove the card and use it whenever you like, giving you the flexibility to make use of your phone at any place and at any time without being bound to a particular network.

e) You can fit any sim card along with the unlock sim card as it is compatible with every card and the fitting is also not inconvenient.

There are thus many advantages in this system and you can opt for this as opposed to unlocking your phone each time through the cumbersome software method. This system really gives you the flexibility and freedom that you always wanted and also keep your iPhone safe from any damage with the original warranty still valid.

Any updates that the company launches is also easily updated without any problems and you do not miss out on any of the regular services.

Sim free iPhone and free iPhones are available only at Simplyfreeiphone.co.uk

Sim Free iPhone FAQ:

Question: Will a 100% factory sim free iphone lock up if jailbroken and the firmware updated through itunes?
Or will it just update to the new iphone version and remove the jailbreak? Thinking about buying an 100% SIM free iphone and need to know the answer to this.

Answer: Not sure what would happen but I can point you to a forum where you will get an answer: forums.macrumors.com. This is a very good website with lots of info & discussions on rumours which isn’t allowed on Apples own boards!

Question: Tell me the website for downloading sim for free iphone software?

Answer: Aimersoft products are good and it’s has free shockwave versions … You can freely download and install on your computer the result video will be added a watermark after the installation without any cost or obligation. If you want to remove the watermark, please buy a Full version. The Full version will remove all the limitations and entitle you free technical support. This Aimersoft product also have many softwares related to iphone software such as Aimersoft Video Converter for BlackBerry, Aimersoft Video to DVD Converter, Aimersoft Video Splitter

Question: I have been thinking about getting a iphone and unlocking it using iphone-sim-free aplication to use t-mobile.
The problem is the new ipod touch is coming out and it will have internet on it for free. I have a very cheap plan with t-mobile. If I use the iphone with my t-mobile sim card will I get charged for using internet and youtube?

Answer: The only thing that doesn’t work on the unlocked iPhones is the visual voice mail.

Any of the other features would cost if you were using the cellular network and not wifi. If you were using the wifi it would be free just like the touch. When it switch over to the cellular part if you didn’t have any kind of data plan with t-mobile it would be charged out on a per-use basis.

Question: Where can I buy a brand new (sim free) iphone and for how much?
I’m trying to get this for a friend who lives in Turkey where they are almost impossible to get and extremely expensive.

Answer: I would try looking at ecost.com, geeks.com or tigerdirect.com. You can find unlocked phones with no contract. Just slide your SIM card in and go. You can also try places like Digital Deals, Ebay, Best Bid Auctions.

Question: Can you use a sim free iphone on vodafone? Where can you get one?

Answer: As you said its sim free so you can stick any sim card in you want. But you won’t get the same services as you get on Iphone as am guessing you have a doggy phone (the phone has been illegally unlocked in uk as iphone is only available from one uk provider). You only get what you pay for ..so just be aware a lot of the functions will not work.

Question: Where is the cheapest place to order a Iphone (sim free)?
Anyone know a good website. Not going to pay over 350.

Answer: For a real one, not a clone, eBay is the best.

Question: If I buy a SIM free iPhone off ebay, and I have AT&T, can I just stick the SIM in?

Answer: If your buying an iPhone that doesn’t have a sim you will need to purchase a new sim card and activate the phone thru iTunes. You will still need to agree to a new 2 year contract and choose a data plan. Your current sim will not work with the phone, it needs a new sim and to be activated thru iTunes.

Question: Iphone unlock failed? I used Iphone Sim-free and it said that the unlock was successful.
However it is saying that I have “no service” when I know that my sim is working on my other phone.

Answer: If you’re on a brand new iPhone then you are most likely running the new bootloader which cannot be hacked at this time. It is being worked on, but you will have to wait. Check the back of your phone and if the 4th and 5th digits of the serial number are great than 44 then you are stuck with using the phone as an expensive iPod Touch until a proper hack has been released. You will hear people talking about TurboSim or StealthSim, but neither of these two methods are legitimate hacks since they only fool the phone into believing you are running on an AT&T sim. If you would prefer to try one of them you can, but paying an additional $100 for one is pointless since you will also have to do some cutting up of your sim.

There are such features in selected mobile, where you can use two SIM cards instead of one. All you need to do is to buy a cover accommodating two SIM cards. This gives you the advantage of holding pay-as-you-go and a pre-paid SIM cards, for example. This may be useful for your office and personal use. In normal circumstances, you can remove your SIM card from your present handset and carry with you and choose to use it with the line of GSM phones available. If you misplace your SIM card, you will be required to inform your service provider immediately to that effect, and follow the instructions given. You may be liable to pay charges for issuance of a duplicate SIM card.

When you buy a GSM phone, it comes in an unlocked state and it can work with any SIM card from any service provider, provided you are using it for GSM bands. It is a matter of slipping-in that SIM card in your phone, activating it and start using it. But, when you enter into a service contract with a service provider, which stipulates that you should be with this particular service for a definite period of time, a mobile handset is usually offered free with the SIM card, where the handset is given to you in a locked state. This would mean that the phone will not work with any other SIM card than the one given to you. You will need to stay with your service provider till the end of the term and after that the service provider may help you to unlock your phone. There are ofcourse ways to unlock a locked handset, which becomes a violation of the contract that you have signed with your service provider. A locked phone features a SIM lock in reality. In such a handset, you will not be able to use any other SIM card other than the one which has come along with your handset. That is the reason why it is sometimes termed as a SIM locked phone.

Any SIM card may be used with an unlocked GSM phone. For a pre-paid SIM card, you do not need to enter into any contracts and more-over there would not be any bills to pay at the end of the month. For instance, if you are traveling abroad and wish to visit a few countries in your trip, you can buy an International SIM card, for the benefit of saving up-to 80% of your cost in calls. This card will give you the facility of free incoming calls, no matter where it generates from, and outgoing calls at local rates. When you make calls to your home, you do not pay the roaming charges, as you would do if you had carried your regular mobile with you. But in this instance, you have to make sure that you have a quad band GSM mobile phone, in order that you may use the handset effectively when you are abroad. If not, you will need to rent one unlocked quad band GSM phone. To know more about the matter, visit http://www.planetomni.com/RENT_INFO.shtml For SIM cards visit http://www.planetomni.com/FAQ_sim.shtml

Since unlocking a locked phone under contract is not taken to be legal, it is always preferable to buy an unlocked phone from the market and you will have the choice to get your SIM card from the service provider who gives you the best deal. Also, this avoids your expenses that you would incur in getting locked phone and trying to have it unlocked from such vendors offering to do the job for you. There is a pitfall here too in buying an unlocked handset. You should be able to distinguish between a carrier unlocked phone and a factory unlocked one. The main draw-backs of carrier locked phones are -

? Use of pirated software to unlock a locked phone.

? In such phones, you may observe that even if you try to connect with a correct IP address, to your provider’s WAP or GPRS services, the phone may not allow the setting, may not comply with your request or automatically will try to connect to another service provider.

Therefore, it is always a good choice to buy factory unlocked mobile handsets from known vendors. For more details visit http://www.planetomni.com/

When you buy a prepaid SIM card for your unlocked GSM phone, there are a few things that you should remember:

Barring some of the countries, unlocking a locked phone, when under the contract terms, is seen to be a breach of contract. But in countries like Poland, the law says that the service providers are not allowed to word their contracts with the customers, which forbids them to remove the SIM locks in their handsets.

For more details on how to use SIM cards in an unlocked mobile phone, visit www.planetomni.com

Cell phone use overseas. In 99% of the world the local cellular service standard is called GSM. We use this in the states as well. When combined with a SIM CARD (which usually goes under the battery of the phone) the phone is able to communicate and the SIM CARD also holds the telephone number and memory for pre-paid credit. Rates can be extremely low using this system. For example in 99% of all SIM CARDS incoming calls are free and calls to the states can cost a trifle. Such as, from the UK to the USA 7 cents/minute, from Israel 22 cents, from Australia 27 cents. Yes, USA Dollar cents! There are today even prepaid service providers in the USA offering rates of 10 cents per minute to call anywhere in the US to any type of phone. No contracts, no credit card checks, no bills. Pre-paid always means no minimums no contracts, no obligations. You only pay for the calls made. You’ll need an unlocked GSM tri-band or quadband UNLOCKED phone. You can buy factory unlocked phones and sim cards for more than 170 or the 193 countries on earth from http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

Sim Card FAQ:

Question: Does a cell phone have to have a sim card in order to work?
I want the boost mobile Motorola I465 Clutch phone. It doesn’t come with a sim card. Do I have to have a sim card in order for the phone to work? I can’t find any info about it on the web.

Answer: Boost is not a GSM network and Boost phones do not have sim cards.

Question: Will a different SIM card change a cell phone to a different carrier?
I have a Motorola Tracfone. Will a SIM card from a different carrier ‘unlock’ this phone and allow it to attach to a new servicer?

Answer: NO, it will not unlock the phone, but if the phone is already unlocked that will work.

Question: About to bring Iphone in to get new sim card. Should I the hide jailbrake?
My sim card went bad got to get a replacement sim card.

Answer: You don’t even need to take the phone in. Just walk into the store get the sim card and walk out. Oh yeah, don’t forget to pay for it, unless they’re giving it to you.

Question: Can I switch my sim card from at&t to an iphone without extra charges?
I have an unlimited data and texting plan on at&t network on my LG xenon. I want to buy a used iphone from ebay, but I was wondering if I could just put my sim card into it and still have the same plan without any extra charges?

Answer: You would have to change your plan to an IPhone data plan which is $30. Be careful when buying “IPhone’s” on ebay. There have been several customers come in and say that they bought an “IPhone” and they send them a fake.

Question: Can I buy a unlocked sprint phone and put in a t-mobile sim card?
I would like to buy my daughter a phone for her birthday. She would like to have the samsung exclaim but I would like to keep her under our family plan. She has mentioned buying an unlocked phone. Is it possible for us to purchase a unlocked Samsung Exclaim and put in a t-mobile sim card?

Answer: No. Sprint phones cannot be unlocked. Only GSM phones can be unlocked and Sprint is not a GSM network. You will have to get a T-Mobile phone or an unlocked GSM phone.

Question: Where are pictures stored in cell phone or the sim card?
I have a Motorola V300 cell phone. I am going to change my SIM card and phone number. I have some pictures in my phone. I don’t know where they are stored, in SIM card or phone memory. If I cahnge my SIM card do I loose my pics or will they still stay in the phone?

Answer: Pictures are stored in the phone. The sim card stores contacts and your phone number. If you want to save those pics, buy a memory card or send them to your email address.

Question: How do you unlock a sim card?
I have an O2 sim card that is on a contract, and my phone just broke. I have an orange phone and I was told I can put my O2 sim in that till I get a new phone, but I have to unlock it first. Anyone know the easiest way to do that?

Answer: Sim cards are not unlockable but it can be cancelled through informing your service provider or government telecommunication company. Its the phone that you unlock. You can use any sim card on that unlocked phone including your original 02 sim. Unlocking your phone doesn’t mean that you have to unlock your sim too to use it with the same phone.

Question: What do you do if a sim card is rejected?
Do you need to buy a new sim card? Because I have a Samsung Propel and I thought the PUK code was some kind of security code and I pressed it and it kept asking for a code but than my sim card got rejected.

Answer: You’ll have to see your phone provider and get them to provide a new sim card for you. If you’ve entered in the PUK wrong three times it burns the simcard; as its a security feature. Your carrier may or may not charge you for a new simcard.

In the last decade, mobile phones have stopped being juts a device for voice calls but have become a gadget for data communications. First, there was SMS or Short Message Service, a service that allowed people to send alphanumeric messages to mobile phones using the GSM network. Now the mobile phones have been packed with so many features including full keyboards, multi-media support capacity, internet connectivity and other mobile applications.

Palm Inc. was among the first to introduce Smart phones with emailing and internet connectivity and full keyboards that made it easy to use the mobile phone as an extension of one’s office. Today, the Treo Smart Phones from Palm Inc. are among the top choices of business executives and other professionals because of the mobile applications that allow people to use their phones for a variety of purposes. All high technology features of the Treo Smart phones would be for naught if it weren’t for its ease of use. The latest Treo Smart Phones with Windows OS are even more easy to use than the first Smart phones introduced years ago. The Windows OS also allow the Treo Smart phones to handle Windows documents better allowing you to work seamlessly between your PC and your mobile phone. Both the Windows OS and the Palm OS also make the Treo phones among the fastest mobiles in the market, allowing for a great computing experience and a seamless internet connection. One of the most popular PDA phones from Treo is the Treo 650.

If you bought a Treo 650 Smartphone locked to a specific GSM provider and you prefer to use with another service provider, then there is a way to unlock your mobile phone. You can even do it remotely without the need to ship your mobile phone to the unlocking company. There are remote unlock codes that you can get from websites and you can just use the code to unlock the phone at home.

The first step you should do is to sync all your data with your PC. The phone comes with a hot sync cable for this purpose. This is important because you might delete some information from your phone without meaning to. This will save you the hassles of losing any important data.

After you have complete backed-up your data, you can already start unlocking your phone. Insert a SIM from a different service provider in your mobile phone. When you turn the Treo 650 on, a message saying ‘SIM NOT ALLOWED’ will be displayed on the phone’s screen. Just click OK and use the stylus to enter the code that was provided to you by the ‘unlocking company’. To enter the code press * # * # (CODE provided by the unlocking company) #. After you have entered the code, the message ‘SIM LOCK REMOVED’ should appear on your screen. You are now free to use any SIM from other service providers and even use foreign pre-paid cards on your phone when you travel to other countries.

There are also unlocking processes that include the use of software. Usually, you will be provided by a step-by-step guide on how to unlock your phone when you acquire an unlocking code. The whole process should take less than 5 minutes.

Ahmed Foaud is the author of this article on Palm Treo Smart Phone. Find more information about How To Unlock The Palm Treo [http://www.treoexpress.com/2007/09/18/how-to-unlock-the-palm-treo] here.

Unlocking the Palm Treo FAQ:

Question: How can I unlock my Palm Treo 650 Alltel Cell Phone to work on other carriers?

Answer: A unit designed to run on Alltel will not work on all other carriers. It will work only on those carriers using the same frequency as Alltel. If your new carrier meets this criteria, they can do the conversion for you.

Question: How do I unlock my Treo Palm?
I have my mothers old phone, and I was going to put my Orange SIM card into it, but its saying “Network Locked, Please put in Unlock Code” and I don’t have one and I was wondering if there was something I could do to find it

Answer: All SIM unlock codes are tied to the particular device IMEI and are carrier specific. The request for that code would need to be made from the carrier that the phone was originally manufactured for. Each carrier has their own guidelines as far as what requirements have to be met before that code will be given out. This is a free process in the US.

Question: Can I unlock my Sprint palm treo so that it works on other networks?

Answer: No CDMA phones are locked to a specific network and cannot be unlocked.

Question: How to unlock a palm treo 700p?
Does anyone knows how to unlock a palm treo 700p? Is not SIM is CDMA technology. I want to use it for Verizon. Used it for Sprint before. No unlocking code available from Sprint.

Answer: Sorry, but CDMA phones can’t be unlocked. You MIGHT be able to find someone who can flash it to work with Verizon, but it’s very unlikely. Even then, its ESN number will not be in Verizon’s database, so they will most likely not activate it.

Question: Can I still do regular text messaging on a palm treo 650 with cingular? Or do I have to do SMS?
I’m looking into buying an unlocked Palm Treo 650. I noticed it has many great features, but if it can’t do regular texting maybe I should reconsider!

Answer: Regular text messaging on a cell phone is SMS. It might not be called that on all phones, but that’s the industry standard format for sending text messages over the cellular networks.

Question: How do you unlock a Palm Treo (Sprint) phone?
I have At&t, but I got a Palm Treo given to me. Is there any way to unlock it so I can use my sim card or something on it…not sure how it works but is it possible?

Answer: No, it’s not possible. Sprint and Verizon use entirely different mobile phone technologies that are not compatible with each other.

Question: Can anyone help me unlock a palm 650 treo?
I can’t seem to figure it out online.

Answer: If you are AT&T/Cingular customer, you can login to your at&t online account and go to your current device and it should ask you if you want to unlock your phone. (It asks for most of the phones) Follow the instruction and you should be able to do so. I had SonyErricson and I did that last year for FREE. If you can’t find that call customer service and tell them you need the unlock code and they will ask few details to make sure that you are doing it for right account and will email you the code and instruction on how to unlock.

Question: I exceeded the 5 times you can use to unlock the palm treo 650? What should I do!?
I bought the phone off ebay and tried to unlock it from some sites that claimed it was the last digits of the imei number and stuff but it didn’t work and they say that you can only try 5x. So what should I do now because I really need to unlock the phone.

Answer: I would suggest a ‘hard reboot or reset’. This is done by holding down the red key while punching in the small hole to the left of the battery (take the back off but hold the battery in.)

If this does not work, then I would suggest you take it to a local phone store and see if they can get it to work.

Too often these are sold on the Internet because they are stolen. If your is one of these, then you will most likely never get it to work.

Most consumers think they have to dispose of their cell phones if they change service providers. But that isn’t always the case. An unlocked cellular phone is probably not something most people have heard of, but in reality a phone that can be unlocked can save a consumer a lot of time and hassle.

An unlocked cellular phone is a GMS, or digital, model that enables the transferring of the SIM, or subscriber information module, into it. These phones are not necessarily readily available in the United States, but they can be found through such companies as T-Mobile, Cingular, AT&T and some retailers that sell phones.

Anyone with a GMS type phone can have it turned into an unlocked cellular phone, enabling it to pick up new SIM information for service and billing. The unlocking process will either be done from the start, or codes can be obtained that will enable the phone to accept new information and function correctly.

The advantages of an unlocked cellular phone can be fantastic for those who are attached to their phone models. They include:

Freedom: An unlocked cellular phone gives customers an ability to use the phone they want, rather than a phone a service provider touts. This can save in upfront fees during a purchase of new service.

Preference: If a customer has an unlocked cellular phone they really like, a switch in service doesn’t mean having to give up that model. This is great for those who are very comfortable with their model phone and its perks.

Information saving: Many people nowadays use their cell phones as portable telephone books and with some offering PDA abilities, the information stored on them is vital to carry on with a new contract. When an unlocked cellular phone is used, there’s no reason to be concerned about losing the information during a new service contract or having to spend hours transferring the data.

Figuring out the ins and outs of an unlocked cellular phone can be a little tricky, but there are even some companies out there that can help talk a customer through the process. Some cell phone makers will even provide the codes necessary to unlock a phone that’s presently locked. As long as the phone is owned by the consumer, and not the service provider, the process is legal.

Changing cell phones can be a real problem for some people. When a GMS phone is used, this problem can be eliminated. An unlocked cellular phone gives consumers the freedoms to have the phones they want and the service plans they want, as well.

For more information on unlocked cellular phones try visiting http://www.cellphonesinfosite.com, a website that specializes in providing advice, tips and resources on cellphones such as the trendy pink cellular phone that you can use to help organize a more budget friendly purchase.

Unlocked Phones FAQ:

Question: How will buying and using an unlocked phone affect my AT&T contract?
As of today I’m eligible for a phone upgrade through at&t, but I really don’t like any of the phones that they’re letting me upgrade to, so I’m thinking about buying an unlocked one.

Answer: This is one of the things I love about AT&T, you only have to renew your contract if your buying a new phone at the two year agreement plan. If you provide your own phone you do not need to renew, you just pay your monthly fees, you can even change plans and not renew.

Question: How do I get a plan for a foreign, unlocked phone?
If I buy the Sony Ericsson W601i Walkman phone (which is a foreign phone and is “unlocked” and has “no US warranty”) how would I be able to get a phone plan for it? And am I limited to certain phone companies…like can I use Tmobile or Verizon?

Answer: Yes, you can get plans without buying a phone (if you already possess one). And yes, your unlocked phone (which requires a SIM) is limited to GSM Carriers such as T- Mobile or AT&T. Verizon does not use SIM Cards, and therefore not compatible with your phone.

Question: I have a red blackberry 8100 phone right now that is broken. I have heard about buying unlocked phones. What I am wondering is could I buy an iphone unlocked put my sim card in and still only pay my blackberry fee? Same thing with a blackberry bold? Will I pay a new bill or the same one? And what is the procedure for switching?

Answer: Get and unlocked phone and swap out the sim. Sim cards will hold your info and such. Your plan and carrier are tied to your sim card. Just swap out the sims and thats it. If you want to get an iPhone unlocked then you can buy it without a contract (for a ridiculous price) from an AT&T or Apple store. It won’t be unlocked it will just be without a contract. You can unlock it if you have the OS 3.0 update with ultrasn0w (Google it). If you are in the US, and want to use it with T-Mobile, don’t expect to get 3G (faster internet).

Question: Where do I get service on a brand new Unlocked Phone?
I would prefer to have Alltel, and on their website they claim to be a CDMA carrier. What does this mean? Will I be able to use a brand new unlocked phone on their network? If not, what service carriers will I be able to use?

Answer: Unlocked means it will work with any GSM carrier, NOT CDMA. GSM company’s like AT&T that use sim cards. Sim cards will work in an unlocked GSM phone.

Question: If I put my SIM card in an unlocked phone will I still have my phone# and all of my contacts?

Answer: Yes, you’ll have everything that’s on your SIM card.

Question: How do I activate my T-mobile SIM card with my unlocked phone?
I just got an unlocked phone in Europe and I want to use it with T-mobile. I just heard that I could buy a SIM card on Ebay or I think I could just walk into a T-mobile store, purchase a free phone with a SIM card and use that SIM card in my unlocked phone. But than how do I activate it with T-mobile? Can you walk me through the process.

Answer: Once you have a T-mobile phone in your possession, you can buy a sim card for it. You still need a T-mobile plan in order to be able to use it. Just call T-mobile with the sim number, they will activate it.

Question: Where can I find a cheap unlocked phone for cingular?
I lost my phone and it has only been the 1st year of my 2 year contract. Cingular (now the new at&t) said that the cheapest phone they have for my situation is $169!

Answer: I would recommend looking on ebay. If you want an unlocked one, just look for any unlocked GSM phone.

Question: Can you get in trouble with your carrier for using an unlocked phone?
I am traveling to Guatemala and I want to be able to use my phone there. I have t-mobile, and I have an unlocked iphone.

Answer: No, you cannot get in trouble with T Mobile for using an unlocked phone. When you signed a contract with them, you basically stated that you accepted the equipment you purchased and you would not be able to upgrade to new equipment until whatever date is stated in the contract. There is nothing in any wireless contract which prohibits the use of an alternate cellular device.

It wasn’t that long ago when we all thought that cell phones were just expensive toys and cheap unlocked cellular phones were no longer available; many individuals just want a basic model that will make a call. If you’re searching for where to purchase manly cheap unlocked cell phones, the Internet is actually the simplest place to search Cell Phone Unlocked. Probably the best source for purchasing cheap unlocked cell phones is on eBay or through eBay affiliated stores.

Most importantly unlocked cell phones are in such elevated demand that third party companies will unlock Your Mobile Phone at price. However the procedure of unlocking a regular cell phone may be difficult and it may permanently damage your cell phone.

Although it may not seem possible with the high-tech status of phones today, cheap cellular phones are still available; it is still possible to find models if you don’t mind looking around. Most importantly shopping online isn’t only suitable and cheap, it also provides you the maximum selection of cheap cell phones.

Unlocked phones can provide a huge range of benefits. Unlocked cell phones basically not organized to a definite carrier. Unlocked phones work with any SIM card and locked phones have to be bought with a specific service provider. “Unlocked” applies to cell phones that can take any SIM card, also known as GSM cell phones.

For those looking for a phone that will work in another country, many other countries use GSM technology exclusively, so these unlocked phones can be used both in the United States and elsewhere in the world. If you are an international traveler, the unlocked phone is definitely the route to go. If you are traveling overseas for a business trip and just need a simple, basic phone to use while you are abroad, then why not buy a cheap unlocked cell phone?

When deciding if an unlocked cell phone is right for you, consider your personal needs. If you need a phone to use for overseas travel of whatever nature then a cheap unlocked cell phone will be ideal, especially if you don’t want end up paying ridiculous overseas network charges!

Visit us at http://www.cheap-unlocked-cell-phones.com for more information and the great product selection

Unlocked Phones FAQ:

Question: Can I use an unlocked phone for a company that uses CDMA?
Do all unlocked phones have sim cards? Can I use a phone with a sim card for a carrier which uses cdma? If I have a cdma phone, can I transfer my carrier, or do I have to buy a new phone?

Answer: GSM / iDEN based phones are unlocked and they use simcards only. A CDMA carrier won’t be using simcards and their technology is different from GSM carriers so you can’t use a GSM phone with a CDMA carrier. If you have a CDMA phone then you need to contact the CDMA carrier and they will set up the phone on their network.

Question: How does having an unlocked phone enable you to not have roaming charges from that network?
I have a unlocked cingular phone and will be traveling overseas. With an unlocked phone will I not pay cingular roaming charges?

Answer: If you have an unlocked phone with no SIM card in it, it’s not going to work at all. Most phones in the US will not work in Europe or Asia, unless it is a world phone. You have to have an account or be registered with the other service providers overseas in order to use their networks, and if you have an AT&T card in it, it will go through the international networks, then through your phone.

Question: Does your phone number change when you buy an unlocked phone?
I’m with AT&T right now, and I want to buy an unlocked Blackberry Curve. If I do, will I still have my old phone number, or will it be different?

Answer: When you buy the unlocked phone just put your sim card in and your number is the same as before. Remember the secret to your phone working is in the sim card and an att phone or unlocked phone that takes a sim card.

Question: Bought unlocked phone, will it work worldwide?

Answer: As long as your phone uses a SIM card and supports a quad band frequency. If it supports a tri band it will work in almost all countries worldwide. However if your phone is a dual band it will only work in the US, Canada and most of South America.

Question: Can an unlocked phone access the internet?
If I were to take my SIM card out of my Cingular phone and place it in an unlocked phone, such as a PDA phone, would that new phone be able to access the internet, even if my current plan does not have internet access included?

Answer: No. The internet is an additional data service that your account has to pay for. Just because the phone has a web browser, doesn’t automatically turn on that service.

Question: Can an unlocked phone work with a prepaid sim card?
I have a prepaid phone but will my sim card work with an unlocked Motorola RAZR?

Answer: I’ve been using my SIM card in unlocked phones for about 5 years with T Mobile prepaid service.
No problems to report thus far and I buy new unlocked phones every 9 months or less.

Question: I have an Unlocked Blackberry Pearl (8120) and want to use Boost Mobile’s network… Will my phone work?
I have an Unlocked Blackberry Pearl (8120) and want to get the Boost Mobile $50 everything plan but don’t want to switch phones. Will a boost mobile SIM card work with a Blackberry Pearl 8120 unlocked phone.

Answer: A boost mobile sim will only work in a boost mobile phone or a nextel phone. If a boost mobile sim is put into a blackberry the talk and walkie talkie will work but the email and data related functions will not. A boost mobile sim in a nextel device will likely have issues with downloads [ringtones, games & apps] since they have different storefronts loaded into the phone.

Question: Which Service Provider will work with my S500i unlocked phone?
I bought my unlocked Sony Ericsson while I was living in Europe. Now I moved back to the states and would like to get a monthly plan for my phone. Many of the places I have gone such as altell, tell me I cannot get a plan from them and use my phone because it has to be their phone.

Answer: Only T-Mobile and AT&T will work with your Sony Ericsson S500i.

If you are a cell phone lover, chances are you are aggravated with at least one aspect of your cell phone plan. Of course we all wish something about it was better – whether it be the sound quality, roaming charges, or the amount of service we get. But what if we had the opportunity to unlock our mobile phones? We have all wanted to switch services but keep our old beloved phone. Luckily, technology has now given us the means to do so. Better yet, it’s legal!

Mobile phone unlocking is a great way for people to get the most from their cell phones. We have all tried out a service that just doesn’t provide us with enough features, yet we haven’t wanted to go through the hassle of switching phones. Fortunately, mobile phone unlocking is extremely easy and legal! Although most cell phone companies want you to believe that they put cell phone locks on their devices, it is actually false. Of course no company wants you to leave! Every bright business wants to not only keep you as a customer, but keep your monthly cash that you send to them so frequently. Therefore, you have every right and ability to unlock your phone if needed. However, some companies will try to lock it permanently, so it was crucial to stay alert.

Another benefit to mobile phone unlocking is that it could save you a lot of money in the long run. For instance, if you were an avid traveler and wanted to save money on international phone rates, you could change your service. If you kept the same service, you would be charged for roaming fees, thus leaving you with an unnecessary bill. By unlocking your cell phone, you could spend more money on other features!

The greatest part about mobile phone unlocking is that is simple to access! Surprisingly, there are cell phone unlock codes you can use to do this procedure. Many websites online offer such codes that usually are quite affordable, ranging from $5-$10. However, some phones may need more than a cell phone unlock code. For instance, if you have a certain Motorola model, a data plug may have to be used to connect to a programming unit. This will reprogram your phone and allow you to pick another service.

Although mobile phone unlocking is a great way for people to switch services, not all phones can be unlocked. The only phone companies that have this feature are AT&T, Cingular, and T-Mobile. If you are not using a GSM company, chances are your phone has no ability to unlock. Nevertheless, if you have the opportunity to unlock your mobile phone, and you want to change services, then it is a wonderful opportunity. We now have the freedom to do what we want, when we want it. Cell phone companies are no longer holding us with these plans that cannot be changed. We finally have realized the secret and for that reason, cell phone unlock codes will always be our favorite feature.

Natalie Aranda writes on culture and technology. The greatest part about mobile phone unlocking is that is simple to access! Surprisingly, there are cell phone unlock codes you can use to do this procedure. For instance, if you have a certain Motorola model, a data plug may have to be used to connect to a programming unit. This will reprogram your phone and allow you to pick another service.

Unlocked Phone FAQ:

Question: What do I need to make an unlocked phone work?
I don’t really know much about unlocked phones. Assuming I currently have absolutely no phone service, what steps would I have to take after buying this phone to have full service? What kind of plan would I have to get? Somebody told me that unlocked phones already have free talk, so you only need to get a data plan.

Answer: “Someone” is wrong. You need voice service and a text plan if you plan to text. Go visit AT&T and T-Mobile to see what they offer. T-Mobile generally has less expensive plans but service can be spotty. If you sign a contract, you will probably get a free phone that you can sell. However, you can go month to month if you choose.

Question: Can I use an unlocked phone on my current t-mobile plan?
I currently have a plan on t-mobile with a blackberry with unlimited minutes and text messaging. But I want to get an unlocked phone “XPERIA”. Could I just pop out the sim card in my blackberry and just put it in the xperia? Would I still get the unlimited minutes/messaging on the xperia?

Answer: Yes you can put your sim in an unlocked “XPERIA” & yes you will still get your unlimited minutes etc as all the info on your account is on your sim card not on the phone.

Question: Does buying an unlocked phone effect how my phone works?

Answer: Generally, no. If your provider includes software on their locked phones (like an email reader or IM client) you may lose those, but other than that you should be fine.

If you are having issues connecting to the internet (WAP) or texting, its usually because you have wrong settings in your phone for the provider you are using. Technical support from your cellular provider should be able to remedy that.

Question: Can you lock a phone after its been unlocked?
I have an unlocked phone made for t-mobile that I used when I had cingular but now I’m with T-mobile and I was just wondering if I can lock it again so I will be able to send picture texts and stuff.

Answer: When they unlocked your phone did they just remove the network lock and leave the t-mobile branded software in the phone? If so you should still be able to see the tzone icon and you would be able to connect on the internet send pics etc.
If the t-zone and all other t-mobile branding of your phone is gone you will need to reflash the phone with a t-mobile monsterpack of software for your phone.

Question: Do carriers care if you have an unlocked phone?
I want to contact fido support but I have an unlocked phone, and I’m afraid they’ll refuse service to me or something because I bought an unlocked phone. Do they care at all?

Answer: I know at T-Mobile we don’t. I mean, some things we can’t help with because we don’t know about that phone’s specifics, or because it’s not covered under warranty, but we still try to help. Unless they have a rule specifically forbidding the use of other phones, I doubt they’ll care.

I can see when my customers are using non-T-Mobile phones, there’s a tool to see what phone models they’ve used. I don’t know if all carriers have a tool like that.

Question: Does any sim card work in an unlocked phone?
My phone company doesn’t have any phones with a qwerty keyboard, and I’m locked in with that company for at least 2 years, so i was thinking of buying an unlocked phone on ebay (like a Samsung U740 or an LG rumour) and just putting my SIM chip in – would that work?

Answer: That’s what they say. When you get an unlocked phone, it’s supposed to work with any SIM.

Question: Will my cellular one SIM card work on a unlocked phone?
I wanted to know if my Cellular one SIM card will work on a unlocked blackberry pearl phone, I tried it but when I get a call I can hear the other person but they cant hear me?? Should I get a T-mobile sim card?

Answer: It should still work, maybe try a tmobile sim card in the phone and see if it works if not call cellular one and tell them you are having a problem with people not hearing you. Sometimes it can be a problem with the sim card.

Question: Does a SIM card from other phone work in an unlocked phone?
I have an unlocked motorola L6 phone and I’m planning to buy a cheap GoPhone (AT&T) and put that SIM card into my unlocked phone. would that work?

Answer: Any SIM will work with an unlocked phone.

When you are in the market to buy an unlocked cell phone, it is a good idea to have a basic idea of what “locked” actually means. The term locked when used with mobile phones means that the phone is programmed internally to operate on a particular system. This is usually the system that sells you the phone and provides the service. There are also two kinds of cell phones. These are the GSM and the CDMA types of mobile phones. The GSM is the type of phone used almost everywhere in the world, but the CDMA is a bit more common in the United States.

While it is possible to unlock a cell phone, many people prefer to buy unlocked cell phones. Any one who has watched television in the last couple of years is going to be aware of the tremendous competition between the various mobile phone service providers. These companies are most anxious to lock you into using their service and this is the purpose for locking them. When you own an unlocked phone, you are going to be able to select your own service, and use what is really your property in the way that you chose to use it.

GSM phones are very easy to unlock, and the CDMA phones are a bit harder. In either case, buying an unlocked mobile phone might make a little more sense than buying a phone and then unlocking it later. Ebay is one of the best sources for the purchase of unlocked mobile phones, but you need be a bit careful here. Some sellers on Ebay do not fully understand the concept of locked or unlocked. This is not really an attempt at dishonesty. They are not necessarily tech types, and simply do not understand. The best solution is to send a question to the seller and make sure that they understand exactly what it is you are asking of them.

Unlocked phones are also sold outside the United States and in some countries such as India; it is customary to unlock cell phones before selling them all the time. With the global internet market, this is a viable option for the purchase of an unlocked cell phone. Once again, the important issue to consider is making sure the seller understands exactly what you are looking to receive. Once you have your unlocked cell phones in your hands, it is an easy matter to determine if it is truly unlocked. All you need to do is try it out and it will tell you its status. If it is unlocked you are going to be able to use it to connect with whatever service you wish to use.

Natalie Aranda writes on shopping and technology. When you are in the market to buy unlocked cell phones, it is a good idea to have a basic idea of what “locked” actually means. The term locked when used with mobile phones means that the phone is programmed internally to operate on a particular system. This is usually the system that sells you the phone and provides the service. There are also two kinds of cell phones. These are the GSM and the CDMA types of mobile phones. The GSM is the type of phone used almost everywhere in the world, but the CDMA is a bit more common in the United States. While it is possible to unlock a cell phone, many people prefer to buy unlocked cell phones.

Unlocked Phone FAQ:

Question: How does an unlocked phone work? And how do you do it?
I want an unlocked phone phone cause I don’t really like the tmobile phones (apart from the sidekick which i have already had for 2 years) but how do you do it?

Answer: An unlocked phone is one that can be used with any GSM carrier.

So in other words…if you wanted an AT&T phone for a T-Mobile Sim, you’d look for an unlocked AT&T phone. This means that you can use it with T-Mobile.

Question: Can your conversation be listened to more easily by a third party if your phone is unlocked?

Answer: No, your conversation cannot be listened in on more easily. Anyone with a scanner covering the frequency as high as that of your cell phone CAN listen in providing they have the capacity to descramble. Very unlikely.

Question: What phone can you recommend for me that includes a touch screen, a qwerty keyboard, and it’s unlocked?
I want and unlocked phone because tmobile have horrible phones.

Answer: You can get the iphone 3G it has it all. Or you can get the samsung propel, it isn’t touch screen but it has a qwerty keyboard.

Question: If I buy an unlocked cell phone, will it work with my current Cincinnati Bell provider on the same network?
I was thinking about buying a new phone, but not from my Cincinnati Bell store, which is my provider. Can I buy any unlocked phone and it worked just fine, or would I have to take it to them, and pay for it to be unlocked? I don’t know much about the process. What is the “GSM850/1900″ and how do I change it to Cincinnati Bell?

Answer: GSM850/1900 is the network type – which is GSM and how high it is. Pretty much all new phones have this or better.
Cincinnati Bell is on the GSM network (as is T-Mobile, AT&T). You just have to insert your sim card and find your network in the settings.

Question: Can I use my SIM card from my current phone carrier in an unlocked phone?
I want to buy a new phone, but not from my local cell phone provider store. So can I buy an unlocked one and use it with my SIM card?

Answer: Yes you will be able to do that as long as the cell phone has a SIM card slot in them.

Question: I have a touch screen phone which is unlocked and requires a sim card would a Boost sim card work in it?
I have an unlocked phone, its actually from the uk, its unlocked, any sim card works in it – but would a Boost sim card work in any unlocked phone?

Answer: I don’t really know, you should try. I think it will but you may need to go with that prepay plan from boost.

Question: Can I use any unlocked phone with Verizon?
I need to buy a new phone but my contract isn’t expired. Can I buy an unlocked phone off of amazon or an other web retailer and have it activated by Verizon?

Answer: If it is an unlocked CDMA phone and not a GSM phone. CDMA networks include Alltell, Verizon, Sprint, and Cricket. Do not buy an unlocked phone that is GSM, or has a SIM card, it will not work.

Question: If I were to buy an unlocked phone, would I be able to use the internet?
I have a T-mobile Prepaid plan. I want to get an unlocked sony ericsson walkman phone that has internet access, however, I don’t know if I will be able to use the internet.

Answer: I think one usually has to have an internet plan to be able to use the internet, but I’m not 100% sure. If your phone isn’t programmed to access the internet (via the SIM), it doesn’t matter what type of phone you have. For example, you can have a sidekick, but unless you put a sidekick plan on it (for example, T-mobile’s “sidekick unlimited”), you can’t access the internet with it (other than perhaps the very basic T-zones).

You may have heard people talk about unlocking their cell phone. Why would someone do this and why is a cell phone locked in the first place? The answer to this question is simple. The company that you purchased the phone from wants to make sure you only use their network, and so the phone is locked into that network. Most people would rather use it on whatever network they prefer and so the need arises for the phone to be unlocked. The mobile phone industry is highly competitive, and most of the profits in the industry come from the use of the network rather than the sale of the phone itself. That is why so many network deals include either a free phone or one at greatly reduced cost when a contract is signed to use the service for an extended period of time.

It is completely legal to unlock a cell phone, and unlocking the cell phone increases its value should you decide to sell it. Once they are unlocked, they may be used on any network.
How do you know your phone is locked? The way to determine this is to borrow a SIM card from a phone that uses another network. Simply plug it in and turn it on. If you can place a call, you know your phone is unlocked. If you get a message that says the card can not be read, then the phone is locked.

How do you unlock a Motorola cell phone? Motorola makes a device called the Motorola Smart Clip. It is used to reset the security and user codes on Motorola model cell phones. The smart clip is a simple, one button device that does not require any technical know-how to operate. Unlocking the phone is absolutely safe for the unit, and it also does not in any way void its warranty. It simply unlocks what are called SIM locks from the phone, and then the unit will accept SIM cards for other networks.
The Smart Clip can also be used through an LPT port to connect to your computer. Once you have unlocked your Motorola mobile phone, it is possible to buy prepaid SIM cards that allow you to make calls all over the United States while you are traveling.

Many models can be unlocked without the use of a Motorola Smart Clip, or any type of smart clip device. The codes to do this can be found on the internet. There are many sites that offer this information. You need only to know the model information. You can then search these sites for the right codes, and enter them into your phone. However, you might not be able to totally unlock the phone as some have multiple locks, and the available codes are not able to unlock them all.
In conclusion, it is an easy matter to unlock the Motorola mobile phone models, and there is every reason to do so. Since most phones require long term agreements with the service provider anyway, there is no reason not to unlock your phone and enjoy the increased calling options that then become available to you.

Natalie Aranda writes on technology and communications. How do you unlock a Motorola cell phone? Motorola makes a device called the Motorola Smart Clip. It is used to reset the security and user codes on Motorola model cell phones. The smart clip is a simple, one button device that does not require any technical know-how to operate. Mobile phone unlocking is absolutely safe for the unit, and it also does not in any way void its warranty. It simply unlocks what are called SIM locks from the phone, and then the unit will accept SIM cards for other networks.

Unlocked Phone FAQ:

Question: How much extra would you pay for an unlocked phone/PDA on ebay?
I have PDA phone I want to sell on ebay. My cell phone provider will send me the unlock codes for a phone once every 90 days. I’m trying to decide whether to use this to unlock the phone before I put it on ebay or to use it to unlock the phone I am keeping for my personal use instead. I’m trying to assess how much more I would get on eBay if I got the phone unlocked first before I sell it versus the hassle of trying to get my current phone unlocked if necessary through some third party service.

Answer: If your going to sell it on ebay, the best idea is to unlock it, because then its able to cover more plans. I’d probably pay most at fifty bucks over the normal price. But don’t stretch it. Start the bid low, and someone will probably pay more than its worth. Once two bidders get in a fight it can be a brutal thing, but good for you profit wise. If you start it low it gives the bidder even more of a reason to bid. If your really concerned about getting your moneys worth, then set a reserve on it for the lowest you would want to be paid for the phone.

Question: Does anyone know if US cell phones will work in Guatemala? Or will we need an unlocked phone and a chip?
We are traveling from LA to Guatemala–we have regular US cell phones and have an unlocked phone we purchased in Thailand–over there we just had cards inserted as we traveled. Just curious which works in central America!

Answer: It is much simpler to buy a cheap phone once you arrive in Guatemala. They are inexpensive.

Question: If I want to buy an unlocked phone from ebay, can I use it on my cell phone provider? Will they be able to service it if it gets broken?

Answer: Unlocked phones only work on GSM networks. In the USA, that’s AT&T and T-Mobile.

Will they be able to service it if it gets broken? Nope. You didn’t buy it from them, so it’s not their problem. When buying aftermarket, that’s the risk you take.

Question: If I were to buy an unlocked phone online, would my service provider insure it?
I’ve decided to purchase an unlocked Nokia e63 online, since my service provider (Cincinnati Bell) doesn’t carry it. Would Cinci Bell be able to insure my phone or not, since I didn’t buy it through them?

Answer: They will only insure a phone you buy from them. You do need to make sure that the phone will work with your sim card.

Question: Can you use an unlocked phone with virgin mobile?

Answer: Unlocked phone works with any carriers who use SIM card.

Question: How do you pay for an unlocked phone?
I know that having an unlocked phone means that you can take it to any carrier (i.e. Tmobile and AT&T). But when you come to them for a plan, do you have to sign a two year-contract with them or are you free to choose from their other options like prepaid or in the case of Tmobile a one year contract.

I’m interested in the Motorola Ming (A1200) and I just wanted to know if it performs better with either carrier.

Answer: You can usually pick a plan that offers a free phone, and just use your phone instead. I think the phone features and the plan features are what you need to look at when performing better with either carrier.

T-mobile has better prepaid plans and AT&T has better normal plans. Additionally, the data plans at T-mobile are much better.

Question: Will any unlocked phone I buy work with any sim card?

Answer: If you have a Sim Card and the phone is Unlocked GSM then you are fine. But remember unlocked phones do not have the same features as Locked phones.

I just bought a Nokia 8801 from Amazon. The phone is great, except I can’t send Picture messages and can’t get on the Internet. I know that simply calling customer care they can send the settings to your phone, but that is a hassle unless you have T mobile. I have found they are the only customer service that treats you right.

Question: What’s the best place to buy an unlocked cell phone?
I dropped my cell phone (RAZR) in the water and it’s ruined. Other than eBay, what’s the best place to buy an unlocked phone (preferably new or refurbished)?

Answer: If you simply need a replacement for AT&T service, buy a prepaid RAZR from AT&T (currently $130 shipped free) and swap out the SIM card. If you need it for another provider, you can get it unlocked for a few bucks more (there are a number of unlock providers on Ebay). T-Mobile used to have a prepaid RAZR for ~$100, but it isn’t on the web site now. Another source of unlocked phones is TigerDirect.

When you buy a mobile phone from Cingular, they are going to lock their phone internally so that only calls processed through the Cingular network will be received by the unit. If you wish to change to another service provider you are going to have to perform what is called a Cingular unlock. There is no worry about the legal aspects of doing this. Unless your contract specifies that Cingular retains ownership of the phone, you are free to unlock it. It is your property. Once you unlock your Cingular phone, you are going to be able to take advantage of any special deals being offered by competing companies. It is also going increase the resale value of the unit.

When you are ready to perform the unlock, you are going to have to acquire the unlock code. There are a large number of websites that specialize in Cingular unlock codes and they can provide the code for your individual model. You need to be prepared to pay for the code, but the price is not excessive. You can take a little bit of time and shop around for the best deal. Once you are provided with the code, it is a simple matter of typing it into the mobile phone via the keypad. This is a distinct advantage of the Cingular phones. Other phones often require hooking your phone to your computer via a USB cable and downloading the unlocking software.

Once you have typed in the code, you will usually receive a message from your phone that lets you know it is now unlocked, but if this is not the case; there is an alternative way to check. Each unit has what is called a SIM card that identifies the phone and the service provider. You will need to borrow a SIM card from someone with a cell phone that is connected to a different service and install it into your phone. If it recognizes the new SIM card you will know it is unlocked.

It is a good idea to record the unlock code once you receive it, and to store it in a safe place. It is possible to relock phones via remote signals, and although this is not done often, you are not going to want to pay twice for the unlock code in the event it does occur. Once you have finished the unlock process, you are free to use whatever service you prefer, and will have a more valuable unit should you wish to sell it at a later date.

Natalie Aranda writes on technology. When you buy a mobile phone from Cingular, they are going to lock their phone internally so that only calls processed through the Cingular network will be received by the unit. If you wish to change to another service provider you are going to have to perform what is called a Cingular unlock. There is no worry about the legal aspects of doing this. Unless your contract specifies that Cingular retains ownership of the phone, you are free to unlock it. It is your property. Once you unlock your Cingular phone, you are going to be able to take advantage of any special deals being offered by competing companies. It is also going increase the resale value of the unit.

Unlocked Phone FAQ:

Question: How do I send files or get on the web with an unlocked phone?
I have an unlocked Samsung phone. I am not able to send pictures or other files or emails, I guess, because it’s not recognized by my carrier, Cinguar. Is there a way to configure it to work?

Answer: You will have to manually update your phone to try to access media net. I do suggest going to the wireless att support website and look for the samsung phone closest to yours. Click on device tutorials and look for browser settings. Or you can always call customer care and ask them to walk you through it. We do it all the time, we just can’t promise that it will work!

Question: Will an unlocked phone work on the Sprint Network?
I’m thinking about buying an unlocked phone internationally online, however I want to be sure that it will work with Sprint. Does anyone know if this is possible and if not, which networks unlocked phones work with?

Answer: Sprint just came out with the Samsung Ace, and it has a SIM Card inside for Sprint, meaning you can use Sprint as GSM

Question: Can I use my cingular sim card in an unlocked verizon phone?
My cingular phone has stopped working and I am looking into buying a used unlocked phone off ebay. If I want to buy a unlocked verizon or sprint phone, will that work with my cingular sim card?

Answer: Verizon and Sprint utilize the CDMA network. As a result, they do not use SIM cards. SIM cards are unique to only GSM carriers, such as AT&T and T-Mobile. As a result, there truly is no such thing as an unlocked Verizon phone as the phone is programmed specifically to use on the Verizon network. Likewise for Sprint.

To ensure you get a proper phone, purchase an unlocked GSM phone.

Question: How do I set up an unlocked phone?
I really want to buy this unlocked phone. When I get it what do I do. Do I just put my SIM chip in it and that’s it or is there something else.

Answer: Make sure the phone is unlocked and works on the GSM band supported by your carrier, after that all you need to do is swap the sim cards nothing else.

Question: Will All the features on an unlocked phone work?
I have a contract with t-mobile, but I am planning on buying an unlocked at&t i-phone from ebay. If I do buy the iphone, will I be able to use the features like internet, text msg, and all of the other iphone features? And also, will I just have to insert my t-mobile sim card in the iphone to get it to work?

Answer: Nobody can give you an absolute answer to that. The only thing that can be said with any certainty at all is that an unlocked device will make and receive calls. We can usually get text messaging working without too much trouble. Anything and everything data related is a crap shoot though. We may not be able to get any of it working or we may be able to get some things to work and not others. Definitely the visual voicemail will not work as this is an AT&T feature for the iPhone.

Question: Is it illegal to have an unlocked phone?
I want to buy an unlocked phone but i don’t want to get in trouble with my carrier…or the law.

Answer: No, it’s perfectly legal. But if something happens to the phone your carrier won’t help as you didn’t get it from them, so it’s not their problem.

Question: Can I receive picture messages on an unlocked phone?
I have AT&T. If I buy an unlocked phone that is originally on the T-Mobile network, will I be able to receive pic messages? I know I can send/receive txts without a problem but I am not sure about pics.

Answer: There is no promises you will receive picture messages. I know AT&T customers that used a tmobile phone on AT&T and picture messaging did not work. Most likely texting and calling features will only work.

Question: Can an unlocked phone still be used with myfaves?
I want to buy a refurbished Nokia 5300 Xpress Music Lilac that’s been unlocked. I have a t-mobile account with myfaves and wanted to know if the phone will still be compatible with myfaves even though it’s unlocked to be used on any GSM network?

Answer: Yes, it can. T-Mobile likes to claim you need to have a myfav’s phone, but the only reason for that is so you don’t mess up setting up your fav’s. Your fav’s can also be setup on the website.

Once they are setup, its strictly a billing issue (oh yeah, there’s the cute quick dialer, but its not a needed piece).

The big goal is so that you don’t think you have someone on your fav’s list, then your mad at t-mobile at the end of the month for running so many minutes because they really aren’t on your list.