What is with these unlocked cell phones?

Question

Can I buy an unlocked phone and then get it activated by my cell phone company without the company forcing me to change or upgrade my current plan?

Answer 1

There are actually a couple questions here. Unlocked phones as explained in some of the other answers refers to not having a "subsidy lock". A "subsidy lock" means that the wireless provider has had the equipment locked to their network in an effort to minimize financial loss when providing phones at a significantly discounted price or sometimes for free with a new contract. If you have an unlocked phone of the correct technology you can get it activated.
The second part about not changing your plan will depend on a few things. Primarily if your old phone is the same technology or not. Changing phone technology will frequently require changing rate plans. If both old phone and new phone are the same technology you should be able to switch phones. Be sure to notify your provider so they can note the new phone's identification (IMEI) in their system. That will help confirm that data services will work correctly and if you carry insurance on your phone you can make sure the right phone is insured.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You can buy an unlocked cell phone but you should conduct some research/web search prior to purchasing it. You have to make sure that the technologies are compatable, i.e the phone you want and the service you have currently - - 3G, CDMA, GSM, EV-DO, etc.
The other thing to take in to consideration is that some of the features on the phone you want might have software/features that are compatable with that of the ORIGINAL carrier the phone was UNlocked from. Those features might be the ability to download ringtones, wallpapers, animations and games.
DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR PURCHASE.

Answer 4

Yes if the cell phone is unlocked, That means for example you have cell service with us cellular and the phone you bought is a t-mobile phone but it is unlocked. You take your phone to us cellular and they can obtain a number that you program into your t-mobile phone and it will allow you to use it with your us cellular service.
If the phone is the same provider as your current service then just put your sims card into it and it will work.

Answer 5

confident, unlocked means that the cellular telephone might want to be utilized on any community. now if u come to a decision to purchase a telephone on ebay becareful and browse the astounding print less than the outline, be confident the broking is a ability enterprise or more effective effective, and seem at on the comments others have left them even as procuring merchandise off them. i tell u this from adventure the first telephone i purchased off ebay screwed up and the 2d one develop into operating astounding as plenty as 3 months then i had to pass the keep to actual get it swaped for a sparkling telephone. by using utilising how I actual have verizon. good fulfillment!

Answer 6

Some companies such as Cingular lock their phones so if you buy a phone from them you can't use it except with them. Unlocked phones can be used with any company that uses the same technology. for example nextel will only work with IDEN tech and verizon, sprint, US Cellular will only work with CDMA, TMobile, Cingular, CellularONE will only work with GSM. know what you are buying and what you need before you get it.

Answer 7

or all u would need to do is get a new sim for the phone. which u can get from most phone shops if u want to go pay as u go.
if u want to go contract then there might be a few problems with that.