What is the difference between a locked and unlocked wireless phone?

Question

I'm buying a locked phone and was wondering how easy it would be to use it on another wireless carrier's network.

Answer 1

Well a locked phone is a phone that would not work if you stuck another sim card into it. But verizon on the other hand does not have sim cards, at least my dads doesn't. But cingular and tmobile i know for sure or sim card users. And a unlocked phone allows you to insert sim card from other companys into it. You can either buy a cord to unlock it or send your phone in to get it unlocked for around 25 bucks and a couple days. But i would buy your own if you don't want to mail it in. Good luck! Oh yea and a SIM card is basicaly the little chip you get when you get a new phone, the chip is what knows the plan you have and details like that.

Answer 2

When your phone is locked you can only use one phone carrier or network but when its unlock you can use any network or carrier on your phone.

Answer 3

It truly relies upon on what sense of the word "locked cellular telephone" you advise. A locked cellular telephone ought to easily be locked to a particular service (ie: my samsung solstice is at present locked to in basic terms artwork with AT&T). yet another meaning ought to be that the keypad/touchscreen has been disabled(locked) till a definite button mixture or button is pressed. My reccomendation could be so you might apply a friends SIM card (in case you have a chum who's on suggested service), otherwise purchase a prepaid SIM card (could run you approximately $10-$20) and use that to objective the telephone.

Answer 4

You cannot use a phone with another carrier unless it is unlocked.

Answer 5

with an unlocked phone, you can use any provider like t-mobile, cingular,,etc.. if not unlock you can only use the phone company provided.. it costs only 25 dollars and 3 days to unlock a phone.