Unlocked Cell Phones

The cell phone industry is very restrictive, forcing consumers into draconian contracts and tying their phone purchases to the company they signed with. In order to secure a better deal, many consumers opt to go with unlocked cell phones. Why would you want to have unlocked cell phones? Once a cell phone is unlocked, it can be used with any wireless carrier, not just the carrier that you originally bought the phone from.

This means that you can choose from a much wider pool of available phones without worrying about contracts. Having to sign a contract just to have a phone is very restrictive, and unlocked cell phones provide a means of getting around that restriction.

To begin with, not all phones can be unlocked. Most phones that operate on the GSM network can be unlocked. The GSM, or Global Standard for Mobile Communications, is a very widespread format that is used both in the United States and abroad. In fact, GSM is used almost exclusively in Europe and other regions of the world. GSM phones use SIM card technology to identify themselves on the wireless network, meaning that any phone can take on your identity once the SIM card is put in place.

This ease of identity transfer, however, only works in theory. Cell phone service providers have stepped inbetween the SIM card and the phone to introduce a level of restriction to the technology. Cell phones purchased from a carrier will almost always have a locking code built into them, forcing the phones to work only with hardware sold by that provider. It is easy to find out whether your phone has been locked or not. Simply remove your SIM card and place it in a GSM phone sold by a different carrier. This is a quick and easy way to figure out who has unlocked cell phones.

Phones that have been locked will display an error message if a foreign SIM card is inserted. Unlocked cell phones will simply work right away when a new SIM card is placed into them. If you have a locked GSM phone, however, do not give up hope. Unlocked cell phones are easy to come by on eBay, but if you want to unlock the phone that you have, it can sometimes be done quite easily. Check online for websites that send out unlocking codes for a small fee. These websites will indicate whether or not your phone is compatible with this service. Cell phones that have the blocking code written into their SIM cards can be easily altered with a code that is emailed or texted. Some GSM cell phones have the restrictions written into their firmware, and in that case, the phone will most likely have to be mailed in.

Unlocked cell phones give some power back to the consumer. With unlocked cell phones, consumers can make their own choices as to what phones they want to use. Furthermore, you can avoid excessive international rates by using unlocked cell phones when you travel. Purchase some minutes and a SIM card from a foreign carrier, and you will pay local rates while abroad using unlocked cell phones instead of exorbitant international rates that you would be forced to cough up with a locked phone.

As you purchased the phone, unlocking it is perfectly legal. You can do whatever you want with your own phone. Only serial number alterations are illegal, as that opens up the possibility of cloning someone elses cell phone service and receiving their calls on your phone. Unlocked cell phones open up freedom that the cell phone companies don't want you to have.