FAQ
Q: What does unlocked phone mean?
A: An unlocked phone is a cellular phone whose software is not "locked" to the use of the SIM card with which it was sold. In fact, you can buy unlocked phones without SIM cards of wireless plans - those can be purchased separately.
Q: Are unlocked phones legal?
A: Why yes. It is perfectly legal to buy an unlocked phone. If you plan on unlocking your current phone, you should contact your cell phone provider. They may unlock it for you remotely. Some companies allow you to unlock your phone after an initial service contract has run out.
Q: Who uses unlocked phones?
A: A person might buy an unlocked phone if he or she plans to use pay-as-you-go and/or monthly service plans. With an unlocked phone, a user can insert a SIM card as needed from one provider or another. This is particularly helpful to those who travel.
Q: How do I know if I can unlock my phone?
A: If your phone is on a GSM network, it uses a SIM card. The presence of a SIM card indicates that your phone can be unlocked! Locking means that your phone is programmed only to work with the SIM card it came with. However, it can be programmed back to its original, unlocked state. Contact your phone company to find out how.
Q: Do unlocked cell phones have all the same features as regular cell phones?
A: Of course! A regular cell phone may in fact be an unlocked one. It depends on the manufacturer and whether they've made a deal with a provider. Every cell phone has its own unique set of features. "Unlocked" refers only to a minor programming feature in the phone's software, and does not indicate anything about the rest of the phone's functionality.
Q: Why would I want a SIM card reader?
A: A SIM card reader is important if you have a lot of data on your cell phone that you need to back up. It's always good to back up data, especially since we store more and more on our cell phones these days. We include a discussion of SIM card readers on this site because SIM cards are such an integral part of the unlocked cell phone phenomenon.