Can you buy a cell phone and then use it with any carrier??

Answer 1

You have to buy an an unlocked cell phone. These are examples of unlocked cell phones.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?cat=1807&keywords=cell%20phones&noredirect=1
Or if you already have a cell phone for about 30 bucks as skyline mentioned you can buy an unlock code for your particular model. Here is the google search for unlock codes.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGIH,GGIH:2006-46,GGIH:en&q=unlock+cell+phones

Answer 2

Not necessarily. A few conditions must be met. The phones must operate on the same frequencies your carrier uses. The phones must also be capable of using the same digital technology your carrier uses, i.e. GSM, CDMA, TDMA (going extinct), iDEN or Analogue (pretty much extinct). Also, particularly with GSM and certain PCS phones, the phone may be locked and you will either have to find a phone that is unlocked or get the code or some other way of unlocking it if you wish to take it to a carrier it wasn't designed for. Some carriers do not let phones from other carriers be activated on their service. The most common example of this is Sprint PCS. Virgin Mobile in the US also does not, nor does Revol. Telus in Canada does not, either.

Answer 3

normally you cannot, unless the cell phone is unlocked, then you can just insert any sim chip in the phone and get it to work with that carrier. You can buy them unlocked online, but it will cost more money.

Answer 4

no, each carrier has their own specific chip built into the phone

Answer 5

No. They are made to work only on that companys network.

Answer 6

Sometimes

Answer 7

no because you are assigned to the company's provider after u buy it

Answer 8

Nope. You have to unlock it first. But I doubt it