Cell phone

B

BluesFan

New Member
What does it mean to have a cell phone unlocked? Can I use it with any service once it is unlocked? And if so, how do I unlock one?
 
I should remind everyone that unlocking is NOT illegal, and a phone os locked by a company to force them to use their service.

When a phone is locked a company pays for the purchase of the phone, and sells it out to you. This can be done at a discount, or a Profit. Locking a phone is done for a loss, bu they get profit back from you being in the contract for 2 years. ANYWAY, the phone ios locked so it will only work with a spcific service (cingular, At&t etc..)

By unlocking a phone it can be used with any service provider. This rule is not absolute though.. Some services require your phone to have a simcard slot, thus an unlocked phone without a simcard slot could not be used.

Unlocking a new phone can cost between 10-$30 by a local shop or someone with the tools. Use google, but get a professional to do it.
 
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Some one told me they could do it but I don't know if I trust them. Is this something I can do myself? What do I need?
 
You could do it yourself, but you would need to get your hands on some hardware...
You risk damaging the phone... Ask if he has done it before. Ask what method he will use to unlock it. If he is going to simply enter a code, dont due it. If he is going to flash the bios of the phone with a connector that connects to the phone, you are ok. There is no real way he would be able to screw it up.
 
I have found several sites claiming that I can just enter a code to unlock my phone. Why isn't that the way to go?
 
Also, will unlocking my phone interrupt my service? I have verizon now. If I unlock my phone will it still work or will I have to get new service? Will they know I have unlocked it?
 
If you are currently subscribed to a service, why would you want to get it unlocked? Maybe there is something that I am missing, but I thought the purpose of unlocking a phone was so you could use it with whatever service you want...
 
good point..

but yes.. some phones can be unlocked by simple pressing a (correct) code. this has to be done pretty fast tough,. so it will probably not go right straight away. but ive dont that to a nokia, so i could use a other sim card in it.
 
Really I'm just asking all the questions so I will have the knowledge. But I was thinking of buying a different phone to use with my service. I do have a razr from verizon and have been told that verizon has locked out the media player in order to get people to subscribe to vcast. My coworker has the same phone with cinguar and his has a media player. So I was thinking that if mine was unlocked it would have it also.
 
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