Android unlocked cell phones

What Is an Unlocked Phone?

Everyone talks about unlocked phones but what are they?

When dealing with an unlocked or locked phone, the question is whether or not the device can work on a specific wireless network that’s different than the network the phone was designed to work on.

What is an Unlocked Phone?

An unlocked smartphone is a phone that can work with any cell phone carrier. Some phones are not unlocked and so they can only be used on one provider like Verizon, or with just AT&T, or T-Mobile, etc. An unlocked phone doesn’t have that limitation.

However, a phone’s compatibility with a network is only relevant for cell phone carriers, not wireless networks like Wi-Fi; any phone, as long as Wi-Fi is working, can connect to a Wi-Fi network regardless of whether or not the phone is unlocked or locked.

What It Means to Have an Unlocked Phone

Most cell phones and smartphones are tied, or locked, to a certain cellular carrier, such as Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, or Sprint. Even if you don’t actually buy the phone from the carrier, the phone is still tied to a carrier. For example, you could purchase an iPhone from Best Buy, but it still might require that you sign up for service from AT&T or your respective carrier.

For many people, purchasing a locked phone makes sense: The carrier offers a discount on the handset in exchange for you signing a service contract with them. In addition to the discount, you also get the voice and data service that you need to use the phone.

However, not everyone wants to be tied to a certain carrier’s network, for a variety of reasons. For example, if you frequently travel overseas, it may not make sense to be tied to a phone that won’t work internationally (or one that will cost you an arm and a leg to use in foreign countries).

Other people are unwilling to sign the lengthy service contracts (two years, typically) that many carriers require. That’s why purchasing an unlocked phone can be a desirable alternative; they can purchase the phone unlocked and then activate it with any company.

Or, maybe you don’t get very good service where you live and you want to switch to a network that has better coverage, but you don’t want to leave your phone behind. Unlocking the phone, in this case, would let you keep your device but get the better coverage you desire.

Moreover, nowadays, companies like OnePlus tend to sell only SIM-free unlocked devices. This way, they have control over software upgrades; they don’t need to get the update tested from a network provider every time they want to roll out an update.

Why Phones Are Locked

Phones do not inherently need to be locked to any carrier. All phones could, in theory, be released as unlocked so that you could activate them with any mobile carrier. However, for a carrier to maintain business, they might lock their phone to their network so that if you want the phone, you have to pay for a plan with them.

For example, if the iPhone were locked to the Verizon Wireless network and only worked with Verizon service, then you’d have to switch over to Verizon in order to use the iPhone. However, if you were to unlock the iPhone so that it could work with other carriers, you could unsubscribe to Verizon’s service and use your iPhone with AT&T, Sprint, etc.

How to Unlock Your Phone

There are often very specific rules that you have to follow before you can unlock a phone. For example, the phone can’t be reported stolen or missing, needs to have been paid for in full, and might need to have been active on the carrier’s network for so-many days.

Not every phone needs to be unlocked in order to take it with you to another carrier. However, if you do need to unlock your phone, you have to contact the carrier that the phone was last used with.

For instance, to unlock an AT&T phone, you need to fill out AT&T’s device unlock procedure so that they can remove the lock and let you use it with another carrier. However, Verizon is a company that doesn’t lock most of their phones, so no special code is needed in order to use a Verizon phone with another carrier.

T-Mobile has its own set of eligibility requirements and rules, too. Your carrier will be able to tell you exactly what to do if your phone is eligible for unlocking.

How to Find an Unlocked Phone

If you’re ready to buy a new phone and want one that’s already unlocked for use on the mobile carrier you already use, you can usually find one online.

For example, Amazon has an entire section for unlocked cell phones where you can filter the results by brand like Apple or Huawei, by operating system like iOS and Windows, and by other criteria like storage, screen size, features, price, color, etc.

You can also buy unlocked phones virtually anywhere you can buy locked smartphones, like Best Buy, Walmart, Gazelle, etc.

More Information on Unlocked Phones

A locked phone is locked even if you pay full price for the phone. It might make sense that a phone is carrier-locked only if and when you’re making payments, and then it will be unlocked when it’s fully yours (when you make the last payment), but that’s not the case.

While an unlocked cell phone can work on any mobile carrier’s network, unlocking a phone does not switch it between radio communication technologies like GSM or CDMA. For example, you can’t unlock a GSM phone and expect it to be CDMA compatible.

The term «locked phone» also refers to the simple act of password protecting your phone or putting it into lockscreen mode where you can no longer see the homescreen icons. In this case, to «unlock the phone» just means to enter the password or to reach the homescreen where you can launch apps.

If you have a SIM card from another carrier lying around, try putting it in the phone and see if it works. If you see a message asking for a SIM unlock code, your phone is locked. You can also try contacting your carrier and asking them whether or not your particular phone model is unlocked.

Yes, any SIM card should work in an unlocked phone, provided the phone’s wireless technology (usually GSM) is compatible with the network. If the SIM you’re trying to use is the wrong size, you can get an adapter or request a new SIM from the carrier.

Activating an unlocked phone should work the same way as activating a locked one. First, make sure the phone is powered off, then insert the SIM card. Next, turn the phone back on and follow the on-screen directions to activate it and set it up.

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Unlocked Cell Phones

To understand what an unlocked cell phone is, it is important to first understand what a locked cell phone is. A locked cell phone is one that can only be used with one cellular service provider. In contrast, an unlocked cell phone can be used with any cellular service provider.

When a cell phone is locked, it only recognizes a SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card that the cellular service provider that the cell phone is locked to (a SIM card is a microchip that stores data and provides cellular service once inserted into a cell phone) issued. With regards to locked cell phones, a SIM card can only be transferred between cell phones that the same cellular service provider issued.

If a cell phone is unlocked, it can recognize any SIM card, regardless of which cellular service provider issued it. For example, a locked Apple iPhone will only work with an AT&T SIM card. However, if an iPhone is unlocked, it can be used with a SIM card from any cellular service provider (such as T-Mobile).

Advantages of Unlocked Cell Phones

The most popular reason that people want an unlocked cell phone is to increase their options for choosing a new cell phone service provider. Continuing with the example of the Apple iPhone, when this phone was released, it was in very high demand. However, there were many consumers who wanted to purchase the Apple iPhone but because they were already tied into a contract with a cellular service provider other than AT&T, they did not want to pay an early termination fee for breaking their current contract or become locked into a new contract with AT&T.

For consumers who wanted an Apple iPhone but did not want to be forced to take either of the actions described above, their best option was to purchase an unlocked Apple iPhone. By doing this, they could take the SIM card out of their existing cell phone, put it into the Apple iPhone, and keep their existing cellular service provider while still getting the new cell phone that they desired.

The other reason that people want an unlocked cell phone is to keep their existing cell phone when they switch to a new cellular service provider. Because a user can unlock his/her existing cell phone, if he/she has to switch to a new cellular service provider for any reason (such as his/her employer choosing to switch the cellular service provider for all employees in his/her company), he/she can replace the old SIM card with the SIM card that the new cellular service provider issues and maintain the existing cell phone instead of settling for a less desirable phone.

Downsides to Unlocked Cell Phones

The first downside to unlocked cell phones is that they only work with cellular service providers that run on a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network. Cellular service providers that run on a GSM network use SIM cards in their cell phones, while cellular services providers that run on a CDMA network do not. Because SIM cards are necessary for an unlocked cell phone to function properly, it is simply not possible for cell phones that CDMA cellular service providers issued to be unlocked. In the US, AT&T and T-Mobile both run on GSM networks, while Sprint and Verizon run on CDMA networks.

The second (and arguably most significant) downside to unlocked cell phones is their price tag. The reason that cellular service providers can sell new, popular cell phones at low prices is because they lock customers into a two year contract. By subsidizing the initial cost of a new cell phone, they can attract new customers and make a profit over the course of each customer’s two year contract. Therefore, while users may see a new phone advertised for $99, when it is purchased without a two year contract, it may actually cost $300.

The final drawback to unlocked cell phones is that it may result in users being unable to take advantage of certain features that a cellular service provider offers. For example, many cellular service providers install exclusive software on the cell phones that they sell directly to their customers, and if the customer purchases an unlocked cell phone, he/she will not have access to this software on his/her cell phone.

Obtaining Unlocked Cell Phones

There are four methods for obtaining an unlocked cell phone. The first method is purchasing a new unlocked cell phone. The easiest way to purchase a new unlocked cell phone is on the Internet. There are many different unlocked cell phones available on well known websites like Amazon and eBay (before purchasing an unlocked cell phone from an eBay seller, take the time to review and evaluate their transaction history). If finding an unlocked cell phone on these major websites becomes troublesome, a quick Google search of “cell phone name unlocked” should yield a retailer that sells the desired unlocked cell phone (as with eBay sellers, be sure to review any unfamiliar retailer’s reputation). Phone manufacturers may also sell unlocked cell phones directly through their website.

The other three methods involve unlocking an existing cell phone. If the terms of the user’s contract is complete and he/she wants to unlock his/her cell phone, his/her cellular service provider may be willing to help unlock the cell phone. If this option is not available, there are companies that unlock cell phones for a fee (ranging anywhere from $5 to $100). Finally, if the user is technically savvy, he/she may be able to search and find a free guide online for unlocking his/her specific cell phone.

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Unlocked Cell Phones Android

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Things to Consider Before You Buy an Unlocked Smartphone

Unlocked phones make it much easier to change your cellular service carrier while keeping the same phone. If you’re thinking of having your phone unlocked by your carrier, keep in mind that purchasing an unlocked smartphone can be a much easier, and more reliable, option than attempting to unlock a previously locked phone.

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