I want to buy a new phone without having to extend my service contract. I see all the phones on e-bay but some are locked and some are unlocked. What is the difference and does the phone I buy have to be one or the other?
2006-11-08 08:48:41 · 5 answers · asked by Stephanie W 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cell Phones & Plans
Unlocked phones mean that they are able to be transferred to another account, locked phones mean the settings cannot be changed for other providers.
You want to make sure you buy a Sprint Phone, because Sprint phones use certain frequencies, while for Example Cingular uses others, so if you get a Cingular phone it won't work with the Sprint Network and you have a piece of junk.
2006-11-08 08:51:43 · answer #1 · answered by cubsfreak2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are looking to purchase a new phone, and you have Sprint's service, you can only buy a Sprint branded phone. Most other phones that are "unlocked", can only be used with GSM service providers, which are T-Mobile, and Cingular. GSM service providers use a sim card, where as Sprint does not. Hope this helps.
2006-11-08 18:56:29 · answer #2 · answered by slowone415 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It'll have to be a Sprint phone, or compatable with Sprint's networks.
Most unlocked phones are GSM-- and those will not work with Sprint.
2006-11-08 17:13:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unlocked phones means that they can be used with sim card of any operator across world.
If it is locked by lets say t-mobile, it can only use t-mobile sim
2006-11-08 16:56:07 · answer #4 · answered by Sachin A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes..i just bought my replacement (recomended by both Sprint and Samsung that I go to eBay) on eBay. It has to be unlocked otherwise you wont be able to program it.
2006-11-08 16:51:21 · answer #5 · answered by RM706 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋