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.

Mobile phones use a card called a SIM card. This stands for Subscriber Information Module, and each one contains a unique serial number. The SIM card identifies the person who is using the phone. The mobile phone companies lock the phones so that a SIM card from another company can not be used. When your phone is leased from the company, this locking is fine, as you are supposed to use the phone’s network anyway, but when you are the owner of the phone, it might be a problem. It is not easy to sell a locked phone, and if you do sell it, you can expect a much lower price. The buyer will have to unlock it.

While most phones can be easily unlocked from your own home simply by downloading the proper software and the right code, Samsung unlocking is a bit more complicated and must be done in person by qualified techs. There are quite a number of websites that sell the codes to unlock the phones. Some of these companies will allow you to mail your phone to them, and they will do the Samsung unlock for you, and then they will be returned. During this operation, the SIM card is not needed and you may borrow another phone, and use card in it.

The unlocking company will normally be able to unlock the Samsung phone, and return it by several choices of transport. The return package can be by regular mail or by express mail. The total cost for this service usually runs in the neighborhood of twenty five dollars. The work done is guaranteed 100% by the service provider.

There is a great deal of competition between the networks providing cell phone service. In many cases this competition is good, and it benefits the customer. It has led to the amazing number of features that have taken cell phones past being merely phones to being cameras, internet terminals, and music centers. The concept of locked phones is not one of these good benefits, but a way to restrict the customer, and force him to use one service. Although Samsung makes good phones, they have gone the furthest to lock those phones. They can be unlocked, however, and if you own the phone, you certainly will want to do it. The Samsung may be harder than most to unlock, but it is not impossible.

Natalie Aranda writes about technology. While most phones can be easily unlocked from your own home simply by downloading the proper software and the right code, Samsung unlocking is a bit more complicated and must be done in personal by qualified techs. There are quite a number of websites that sell the codes to unlock the phones. Some of these companies will allow you to mail your phone to them, and they will do the Samsung unlock for you, and then they will be returned. During this operation, the SIM card is not needed and you may borrow another phone, and use card in it.

Unlocked Phone FAQ:

Question: Can you buy an unlocked phone online and put your sim card in it and have it work?
I’m currently with Unicel (a small washington town service provider that shares towers with cingular) and I recently broke my phone, a Sony Ericsson W300i. I found the most amazing phone online, a Sony Ericsson Z610i, except I’m not certain this phone will even work in the US.

Answer: I purchased my phone unlocked and use it with T-Mobile service – works out great for me. Call your service provider and ask what frequencies they use. Usually phones are tri-band or quad-band. Your phone is a tri-band. So as long as your service uses one or all of the three that the phone uses, you’ll be good to go.

Question: What are the benefits of buying an unlocked phone?
I heard that you can buy the Blackberry Storm (a phone I’m really interested in) unlocked, for a higher price than the locked one. What’s the benefit of doing this, cheaper monthly plans or what? I don’t plan on using it for calls that much (but still a little), but mainly just texting and using the multimedia features and web browser.

Answer: An unlocked phone can take SIM cards from any service provider that uses SIM cards. The main benefit would be for people who want to use the phone but their service provider doesn’t offer the phone, travel internationally (they can purchase foreign SIM cards and not pay international roaming fees), and those who will want to sell their phone in the future (an unlocked phone is worth much more money).

The unlocked phone will not have any different features on it or reduce the price of a rate plan.

Question: Where is the best place to get an unlocked cell phone?
My cell phone, a basic V220 from Motorola, is pretty much on it’s last legs. The screen is damaged, the antenna is gone, and the camera works about half the time. I am not looking for anything fancy, I just want a reliable, durable unlocked phone that I don’t have to take a bank loan to buy.

Answer: You can try ebay, craigslist or amazon.

Question: If I have a wi-fi enabled cell phone that is unlocked do I have to buy minutes from anyone to use wi-fi only?

Answer: Wifi is free, you do not need to buy minutes from anyone to use it. You could even use the phone for Wifi without putting a SIM card in but the phone might have the annoying message ‘Insert SIM’ but usually/hopefully it won’t.

Question: How do you use a phone that is supposed to be Unlocked?
I bought a unlocked phone from e-bay and I tried putting in the numbers provided on the back of the phone. The problem is Alltel uses hex numbers and stuff like that. This phone doesn’t provide this. So what do I do send the phones back or try calling Alltel and see if they would do something which I probably doubt.

Answer: Alltel uses CDMA signal technology, like Sprint and Verizon. The entire phone is tied to the network through what is called the ESN, and you cannot just change carriers from one to other without resetting the firmware in the phone. This doesn’t actually “unlock” the phone, it changes the lock from one carrier to the other, still using the same signal type. So you can “flash” the firmware between Sprint and Cricket, but at that point the phone will *only* work on Cricket.

A phone that is “unlocked” is normally associated with a GSM network, like TMobile or AT&T. The account is tied to the SIM card, and can be removed from the phone and placed into another phone, and still work. While the phones are not tied to the account, the phones ARE tied to a network.

Check the listing for the phone you bought, because there is something not right.

Question: Can I keep my phone number if I activate an unlocked phone?
I’m looking to get an unlocked phone. I had T-Mobile before and now I have verizon. I’m probably going to reactivate my T-Mobile SIM card but is it possible to keep my current phone number?

Answer: You will have to port your number to T-Mobile, but you will be able to keep the same number.

Question: Can I upgrade my cell phone with an unlocked phone? Will it still work the same?
I currently have a motorola v3 razr and want to upgrade to a newer version like the Razr v3i; Cingular won’t let me upgrade until next year but if I purchase an unlocked phone and switch out my sim card will it still function normally? Or do I have to stay with the current version I’ve been using?

Answer: If you saved every thing on your sim card then of corse you can upgrade. If you had t-mobile all you would have to do is pay a little cost (depending on what kind of phone you want) and upgrade.

Question: How do I activate an unlocked phone when I don’t have a sim card?
For example: what if it is a W510 Motorola and it is an unlocked phone but I don’t have a sim card for t-mobile.

Answer: Any GSM phone needs a sim card to work. The phone should already been activated, just pop in the sim card.

If you are considering buying a new cell phone, you may have heard about phones that are unlocked and wondered why you should buy unlocked cell phones.

There are three main reasons why you want an unlocked mobile phone over one that is locked. In a lot of cell phones there is a small card called a SIM card. This card activates the phone and allows it to operate as a particular number. You can also store your address book contacts on a SIM card. Your phone service simply goes where the SIM card goes. If you buy an unlocked phone, you can take the SIM card and put it in the new phone and your service will work the same.

So what are the advantages of an unlocked phone? First, if you travel overseas you will want to have an unlocked cell phone. You can buy prepaid SIM cards that are designed to work in the country you are visiting. This is often much cheaper than having to deal with out of the country calls through your cell phone carrier and you might find the service more reliable as well.

In some cases, you might get a free phone when you sign up for your cell phone service if you sign a contract. But when your contract expires, you can no longer use your phone because it is locked. If you buy an unlocked phone, you can switch cell phone providers without losing your phone. You’ll just have to get a new SIM card from your provider and then your phone should work fine. An unlocked phone also comes in handy if you have more than one phone. For instance, if you have one phone that has a camera feature and one that doesn’t and your spouse needs the camera phone that you usually use, you can simply switch SIM cards. You’ll still get your calls delivered to you on your spouse’s phone. This also works if you have phones on different providers as well, such as your personal phone and business phone. You can easily switch the SIM card out if you want to use a different phone than you usually do.

The other advantage of buying an unlocked phone is that you can give it to someone else or sell it when you are done with it. If you have a nice phone but want to upgrade, there is no reason to simply throw the phone away. If it is unlocked, you can pass it on to your spouse or kids. You can also sell it and put the money towards your new unlocked phone. Having a phone that is unlocked gives you a lot of options, both now and for the future.

Natalie Aranda writes about technology. If you are considering buying a new cell phone, you may have heard about phones that are unlocked and wondered why you should be unlocked cell phones. There are three main reasons why you want an unlocked mobile phone over one that is locked. In a lot of cell phones there is a small card called a SIM card. This card activates the phone and allows it to operate as a particular number. You can also store your address book contacts on a SIM card. Your phone service simply goes where the SIM card goes. If you buy unlocked phone, you can take the SIM card and put it in the new phone and your service will work the same.

Unlocked Phone FAQ:

Question: How do I activate an unlocked phone? Can I just put my current SIM card in it?
I want to get a new phone, but don’t want to pay the fees that they charge for ending your contract at the T-Mobile store. I would like to buy an unlocked phone off of eBay, but I’m not sure how to get the new phone set up. To activate an unlocked mobile phone, do I just put my SIM card into the new phone? Or do I have to go to the store and get it activated?

Answer: Just put your sim card in it. Only At&T and Tmobile phones operate with sim cards so there is no need to call or go to the store for them to activate it.

Question: If you update a debranded and unlocked phone will it put the sim lock back on and re brand the phone?
I bought a nokia 6500 slide on orange. Last month I left orange after 4 years and went to o2. I got the phone unlocked and debranded so when I turn it on it has no orange screens or any orange menus. So if I use the nokia update software, will it rebrand and lock the phone again? Or will it just take it as a normal nokia?

Answer: If its debranded, it will be detected as a generic model. So when updating, Nokia won’t detect the network but simply updates the firmware to Nokia.

Question: I have an unlocked phone and a 400 text plan. When I open the messenger it says it will use my airtime and cost money. Would I be charged even though I have the text plan?

Answer: First, which instant messenger program did you try downloading? Different instant messenger programs work differently. Some programs send instant messages as texts while others send them as data. However, all programs need data to connect to their respective instant messaging service. I would recommend avoiding those programs unless you have a data plan on your account (preferably an unlimited data plan).

Question: How do unlocked cell phones work?
I need a new cell phone because by accident I spilled water on it. I searched for a new one on ebay because it is too expensive to buy one without a 2year contract. Has anybody bought one of those cell phones on ebay? Also, what is gsm?

Answer: If you buy an unlocked phone from another provider, you sometimes will loose features on it. Like Internet might not work and picture messaging might not work. Other then that, unlocked phones are pretty good. GSM is a cell phone network that AT&T uses. Ebay and craigslist are good web sites to buy unlocked phones on. You’ll find some good deals on there. You might want to look on amazon.com too.

Question: Do the new unlocked phones work for the wireless cell phone company METROpcs? If so which phones work in miami?
I’ve heard of certain frequencies the phones require to work on certain spots due to tower outputs of frequency. Nokia has an estimate of 15 new unlocked phones, which would work with metro today?

Answer: They do not. MetroPCS is cheap enough to make sure that ONLY their phones are usable with their service. You can’t use other phones with their service, nor can you use their phones for other services.

It doesn’t matter if it’s unlocked. MetroPCS doesn’t have SIM cards, and you will not be able to activate your unlocked phone.

Question: What kind of unlocked phone do I need to input sim card?
Going on a trip to europe. Would like to have a cell to call another person while I am there in country. If I buy an unlocked gsm phone on ebay how do I know it will accept those prepaid sim cards that can be bought?

Answer: Buy a quadband phone so you can use any SIM worldwide.

Question: How do I go about changing my SIM card to an unlocked phone?
For example I want to get an LG Viewty, so should I just get a crappy phone with a sim card, and add it to the Viewty and it’ll work? How do you do this?

Answer: Yes that’s how it works, as long as the phone is unlocked. SIM cards do come separately too. I bought one for $20 when mine broke and everything besides the MMS, Internet, and E-Mail will work, but those can be fixed by calling your phone company and asking them for the settings

Question: If I buy an unlocked phone, how do I connect it to the number I already have with a carrier?
I’m currently with Verizon Wireless. I’d like to buy a better phone, but their selection is small. I’m considering an unlocked phone but not sure how that works. Can I use the unlocked phone and still keep the same number and carrier service?

Answer: First off, Verizon wireless is a CDMA network, not like AT&T or T-mobile which are GSM. For GSM networks you just take out the sim card of your current phone and put it into the unlocked phone and start making calls and what not.

The PDA, or Personal Digital Assistant, is a coined name give to handheld computers. Many of these PDA devices are being combined with cell phones and sold as single units. The PDA/cell phone combines all of the characteristics of a mini-computer with a state of the art GSM cell phone to give you the best of both worlds in the palm of your hand. Unfortunately, the PDA cell phones also come with a common and controversial problem common to GSM phones. The cell phone service provider often locks the cell phone with an internal blocking program that does not allow a SIM card from another service provider to be used. This prevents the owner of the phone from exercising his free choice to change providers or to purchase pre-paid SIM cards for use in traveling. This especially restricts the use of your phone when traveling in another country.

The good news is that the PDA cell phone can be easily unlocked to allow the use of alternate SIM cards. It is going to be necessary to engage the services of a cell phone unlock service to do this correctly. The unlock service can be located on the Internet. They will be able to assist in the unlock process in two different ways. The first is to send you via email a software program that can perform the unlock process. You will need the USB cable that connects your PDA cell phone to your personal computer and is usually provided when the cell phone is purchased. You will also need the software CD that was provided with the PDA phone. How to unlock a cell phone if you do not have this equipment is not a major problem. The unlock service provider will be able to perform the unlock for you if you send the phone directly to them.

It is interesting that most unlock services will actually charge less to physically unlock the phone and send it back to you than they will charge for the email containing the code. This is because they must pay a royalty fee every time they send a code and this cost is passed on to you. The only advantage to doing the unlock your self is that it can be done quicker if you do not have to send the phone in to the unlock service. The unlock service does not need your SIM card to perform the unlocking procedure. You can remove the SIM card and use it in a back up cell phone until your unit is returned.

Natalie Aranda writes about technology. The cell phone service provider often locks the cell phone with an internal blocking program that does not allow a SIM card from another service provider to be used though many consumers prefer unlocked cell phones. This prevents the owner of the phone from exercising his free choice to change providers or to purchase pre-paid SIM cards for use in traveling. The good news is that the PDA cell phone can be easily unlocked to allow the use of alternate SIM cards. It is going to be necessary to engage the services of a cell phone unlock service to do this correctly.

Unlocked Phone FAQ:

Question: What are my chances with an unlocked phone?
I’m looking for a phone on ebay but I keep seeing one’s that say unlocked. Should I get an unlocked one or are they bad?

Answer: There’s absolutely nothing wrong with getting an unlocked phone. They can accommodate any carrier that requires a sim card to use their service. You can even set up features like the internet on them too.

Question: How do you get Internet on an Unlocked phone?
I want to send pics and check email and stuff, how do I get internet on my unlocked phone?

Answer: Make sure that it has the correct bands for data. Edge and gprs should all be quadband anyways, but 3g should be 2100 if you live in europe and 850/1900 in the us. Other than that, you must order a data plan from your provider.

Question: Can an unlocked phone become a prepaid phone?
I have an unlocked AT&T Blackberry Pearl and was wondering if there is anyway I could make it a prepaid phone.

Answer: I know that Cricket Communication will do it but I am not sure about any other company.

Question: How do I connect a bluetooth headset to a unlocked phone?
I have a Samsung SCH-V890 and I want to connect to it a Bluetooth which is Motorola. The phone is for Cingular and I unlocked it for T-Mobile. Does that have to do with any Bluetooth connecting to it? The reason being is that I can connect my phone to other phones but just not to a headset.

Answer: It shouldn’t matter. It sounds like your phone is saving the bluetooth connections that your making. You might need to clear out those saved connects to make room for the new headset.

Question: How do I use an unlocked phone I bought on ebay?
I bought a motorola a630 off of ebay that is unlocked. When I received the phone, it says t-mobile on it but I was assured that it would work with other companies, including cingular. However, when I put my sim card in, I can send and receive text messages but I can not make or receive phone calls. What should I do?

Answer: Call cingular and ask them to register your phone. Get the IMEI from the device. Very easy … enter *#06# and you will get a 15 digit number. Give it to them and they will add that to your profile and it should be fine.

Also, if your “new” cell phone is not capable of 911, no company will register it and allow it onto the network. All older phones without 911 capability are being gradually phased off the system as people replace them.

Question: Can I use an unlocked phone with a prepaid service from a major carrier?
I do not like the limited choices that T-mobile gives with its prepaid plans. Can I choose an unlocked phone and use T-Mobile’s pay-as-you go plan?

Answer: Yes you sure can! You can use any phone you wish as long as it is unlocked!
Just put your T-mobile sim card in any T-mobile branded phone, or in any unlocked cell phone and it will work fine!
You may have to have T-mobile send you their “wap” setting if you plan on using the internet on a phone that isn’t theirs, but they will send it to you without a hassle…just call them up, give them your make and model of your phone, and they send it via text message…that’s it!

Question: Can I buy an unlocked phone and use it in a different country?
I’m not quite sure how this stuff works, but if I were to buy an unlocked phone here in Canada would I be able to use it in New Zealand… by getting a sim card there or something? Or what is the best thing for me to do?

Answer: Yes, unlocking a phone will allow you to use it with a SIM card from another provider, even in another country. There are a couple of things to check on when you choose the phone, beyond being unlocked.

One is to make sure you’re buying a phone that actually takes SIM cards. In Canada, Rogers does use SIM cards, but Bell Mobility and Telus do not, for example.

Another is to make sure the phone can access the same frequency bands used by the provider in the other country. GSM 1900 is one most commonly used in North America, though many phones can access 3 or all 4 of the frequency bands. I think you’d likely want 900 or 1800 for New Zealand. If you make sure you’re getting “quad-band” then you’re covered for sure.

Question: If I buy an unlocked blackberry phone from a different carrier than mine, will the t-mobile data plan still work with the unlocked phone?

Answer: It should work without a problem. However, if you happen to buy a phone with a PIN (blackberry data network identification for each phone) that is not working, you’re out of luck.

This was especially a problem with preproduction blackberry bolds that people were selling. Research in Motion (RIM) removed the pins from their networks and so people who bought the preproductions ended up losing all access to data.

Make sure you buy from someone who is reliable, otherwise your data services may not work.

There are two major communication systems used for cell phones. The CDMA system is a coded response system that ties a phone and its user together to a particular system and to a particular number. The CDMA system is widely used in the United States and a few other countries in the World. The second system is known as GSM. This stands for the Global System for Mobile Communication. The GSM system is becoming more popular in the United States and is the common standard in over two hundred other countries in the World.

The GSM cell phone uses a SIM card to communicate with a particular network. The network providers have the ability to lock the cell phone so that it will not respond to a SIM card from an alternate provider. They do this for competitive purposes, but the practice is deemed unfair by many. When the cell phone is purchased and owned an individual, he should have the ability to change the SIM card and use the phone on any network that he prefers to use. This allows the phone to be used when traveling, especially in foreign countries without paying excessive roaming charges.

So, the question is: how to unlock a cell phone? The first step is to determine the type of phone. If it is a CDMA phone, it does not use a SIM card and there is no need to unlock it. The second step, once you are sure it is a GSM phone, is to determine if it is really locked. The simple way to do this is to borrow a SIM card from a friend with a different service provider and see if this SIM card works in your phone. If you insert the new SIM card, and the phone thinks it is now your friend’s phone, it is not locked. If it is locked, you will get some sort of error message.

The next step is to explore the internet and find a reputable company that provides the unlocking code. The company will charge a rather nominal fee to email you the code. The code merely needs to be keyed into the phone to unlock it. You will usually get a rather encouraging message from the phone itself, but in any case, you can test it by using another SIM card as you did in the previous determination process.

Unfortunately, some models of cell phones can not be unlocked with a simple code. The cell phone unlock service that provides the codes can determine if your model can be unlocked by code or not. If not, the phone needs to be connected to a piece of hardware via a USB cable to be unlocked. You will need to send the phone away to have this done although this can usually be done rather quickly in an emergency. You can all purchase the hardware and the unlocking software and do it yourself. This method might be the more expensive choice.

An unlocked cell phone is the basic right of its owner. The locking of a GSM phone to make it impossible to choose your own provider is an unfair practice. Fortunately, this is one injustice that can easily be corrected.

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer. So, the question is: how to unlock a cell phone? The first step is to determine the type of phone. An unlocked mobile phone is the basic right of its owner. The locking of a GSM phone to make it impossible to choose your own provider is an unfair practice.

Unlocked Phone FAQ:

Question: What happens when a contract on an unlocked phone expires?
Are you free to maintain service with your current carrier or can you switch to a different carrier? Will there be an issue unlocking the phone again? I want to purchase an unlocked phone and be able to use it for more than two years with no hassles.

Answer: You will be on a month to month with your current carrier…no contract. You can switch to a different carrier at any time with no penalty. You will be able to use the same phone. You only have to unlock the phone once and it’s good.

Question: How do I get an unlocked phone to take my sim card mobile provider?
I recently bought a unlocked blackberry storm and when I turned it on, the phone can still call out and is still on a plan. When I put in my sim card I could transfer my phone book but the phone did not switch to my tmobile service. My phone number does not appear and it still says verizon. How do I get my sim card to override the verizon plan or do I have to wait til verizon turns off the service to the phone?

Answer: If you’re putting your SIM card into the phone it will be using your service and not anyone elses.

When companies lock phones they generally install company software on it. That’s why you may be seeing Verizon branding on the phone despite using the T-Mobile service. It doesn’t mean you’re using Verizon, it just means that the branding is Verizon. As a note, you may need to enter in settings for the T-mobile service if you’re planning on using internet/sms/mms on the phone since the Verizon information should block you from using those services.

Question: Do the new unlocked phones work for the wireless cell phone company Verizon? If so which company works?

Answer: CDMA networks do not use sim cards and only the carrier’s own phone will work on its network. The major CDMA networks are Sprint and Verizon.

Unlocked GSM phones will work on any GSM network. The major GSM networks are AT&T and T-Mobile.

Question: How can I unlock my 3 sim card so I can use it in an unlocked phone?

Answer: Sim cards are not locked. The phone itself is. So if you purchased an unlocked phone theres nothing you need to do except put the sim in it and start talking!

The only thing you will have to do is get the internet settings as well as the picture messaging setting for your carrier. Without it, you will not be able to go on the internet or send/receive picture messages. To do this, just call your service provider from a different phone and talk to tech support so they can help you put the settings in it.

Question: Can I have an unlocked cell phone locked to a particular service?
I’m experiencing probs with my recent ebay purchase of an unlocked phone jumping from service to service (T-Mobile, Cingular) and dropping calls. My understanding is that this can be an issue with unlocked phones. I basically want this problem fixed.

Answer: I’m afraid an unlocked phone can’t be locked again. Also, this wouldn’t be the issue with why you’re having difficulties with your service. All your phone is doing is searching for the strongest signal, T-Mobile and Cingular are both options for your phone to use, it’s just trying to keep the stronger of the two. Most likely the phone you purchased on ebay has issues, antenna issues most likely. Depending on the sort of phone it is, you might see if you can replace the antenna, it may have been dropped which jars the electronica inside, and can cause general problems, and might have frankly been the reason for unloading it on ebay to begin with. Taking it to a local sales office or calling customer service to explain your issues are your best options at this point.

Question: How do I get verizon to turn on my unlocked phone?
I am a verizon customer but I want a phone they don’t offer (The sony walkman phone). I’ve recently read that the Walkman phone is GSM and it may not work if my carrier is NOT GSM. Is verizon GSM?

Answer: Currently, Verizon does not support GSM phones. It uses CDMA technology. Do not buy a GSM phone unless you would like to use it with a different provider.

Question: What is the difference between a locked and an unlocked phone?
I live in an area where Cingular is the only option for cell phone, but I really want a Sidekick 3. If I buy an unlocked Sidekick 3 and put my Cingular sim card in it, will it work in my area?

Answer: An unlocked phone is one that the carrier (T-Mobile) imposed subsidy lock has been removed. That being said in the sidekick 3 works on the 850, 1800 & 1900 frequencies so you should encounter little challenge with reception.

Question: How can you program an unlocked cell phone to Cingular?
I bought an unlocked phone off of ebay and it won’t pick up signal anywhere. Someone told me it is because all the cell phone companies use different frequencies and I need to program it to the carrier I have. I have Cingular and would really like to get this phone to work, because if not, then I just wasted $180!

Answer: Take it in to your cingular dealer…they can program the phone to work for you and they should do it for free.

Who doesn’t have a cell phone these days, most of us probably can’t do without them anymore. Those who are looking to buy a cell phone have 3 options, buying unlocked phones, cell phones with service or prepaid phones. Buying a new phone is for most of us about the look of the phone, but when it comes down to choosing an unlocked phone there are some important issues to look out for.

1) Travelling Abroad
Many countries use different frequencies that the cell phones operate on. Unlocked phones come in an US or an international version. If the phone is for local use then an US version is sufficient but if you have to travel abroad a lot you need to make sure you look out for what is known as an international version.

The international unlocked phones have what is called four bandwidths. This is very important as some countries you may be travelling to use different bandwidth from state to state. An example would be roaming, so make sure to buy a ‘quad band’ phone. Most of the unlocked phones you will find online are tri band and therefore are not legally classed as true international cell phones. You will find that most truthful sellers online will tell you if the phone is international, but most are US only.

2) Internet Access
Internet access and receiving emails on a mobile phones is something that is commonly used. If this is an important feature to have on your phone then make sure to avoid China bought unlocked phones. They often do not work on your local web or WiFi, unless this is specifically specified. Although there are other unlocked international phones like the LG Shine (KE970) who will work in the US but you won’t be able to access the internet. So be sure to check this out carefully before buying your phone of choice.

3) Pay As You Go One question that is often asked is if you can use an unlocked cell phone with Pay As You Go. The simple answer is yes, but be ware that not all do. Although generally all you need to do is put your SIM card in, and you're ready to go!