What is an Unlocked Cell Phone?

We receive the question quite frequently from customers asking - what does it mean if a cell phone is unlocked. This guide is meant to be an easy to understand primer on unlocked cell phones.

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If a phone is unlocked, it means the phone can be used with different phone carriers. Only GSM phones or phones that use sim cards can actually be unlocked. If you are looking to use your phone openly with various GSM service providers you will want to make sure the word "Unlocked" is stated in the title and / or description on eBay. When a phone is unlocked you can take out your sim card from your existing GSM phone and place it into another unlocked GSM phone. To learn more a little bit more about what GSM means, continue reading below.

Can Verizon / Alltel / Sprint / Nextel phones be unlocked?

To answer this simply, no they can not... All the carriers mentioned above operate on CDMA networks and therefore can not be unlocked. Keep in mind that only GSM phones can be unlocked. Some CDMA phones are now dual compatible with GSM Sim cards in order to be used internationally, but for the most part CDMA phones can not be unlocked.

Can my AT&T / Cingular / T-Mobile / Rogers  phone be unlocked?

Yes, almost all phones from these carriers can be unlocked. A number of sellers online can provide you an unlock code remotely for a small fee (between $2 - $50 typically). These phone providers operate on what is called GSM technology and use SIM Cards.  If you have an AT&T phone and you want to use your current service plan with another AT&T phone, all you have to do is take out your sim card and place it in the other AT&T phone and you can use the phone without calling anyone to activate it. 

Your phone number and personal information are stored on the sim card and you can use it from one unlocked phone to the next. If your phone uses a GSM Sim Card, it can be unlocked. Locking a phone is a carriers way to prevent its customers from switching over to phones with other carriers. Once a certain carrier has you, they do not want to let you go easily. Carriers also have deals with large cell phone manufacturers to make certain phone exclusive to them and they pay big $$$ to try and prevent people from easily being able to use their phones on other networks.

Are Unlocking Cell Phones Illegal?

Absolutely not! In November of 2006, the United Stated Copyright Office issued a statement that you have a right to unlock your cell phone. While cell phone providers are not happy about this and try to make it hard to switch from carrier to carrier, it is completely legal to unlock your cell phone.

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TheBlueDot