What are unlocked cell phone handsets
What are unlocked cell phone handsets
Unlocked cell phones are sought after by many because after all, who wouldn't want to own the cell phone of their choice on their terms? An unlocked cell phone is any cell phone that isn't coded or 'locked' to only function with a certain plan or provider. Companies that make cell phones such as Motorola, Samsung, and Nokia merely make the actual phones; cell phone plan providers such as T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T are the ones who generally sell phones tied to their network.
The problem with locked phones is that they only function on the network of the provider with whom you have a current cell phone contract with. Many people try to override this by simply taking their SIM chip (a card that stores one's contract information, numbers, plan type, and more) and placing it in a phone from another provider. Some providers don't use these chips making it near impossible to use their phone with over services while some phones are coded not to accept SIM chips from another provider.
This locking of phones restricts one's ability to get the best phone for their needs or wants and essentially locks someone into using only the phones their provider offers. These phones may not be the one you want, may be poor quality, or maybe just don't have the same features and abilities of that cool new phone everyone else seems to have.
Unlocked cell phones get rid of this restriction and allow you to use the phone on any network you choose as long as the phone is compatible with the network being accessed and as long as you have a functioning SIM chip from a current provider that fits in the phone.
Getting an unlocked cell phone used to be a skill only techies could do, but nowadays many cell phone makers produce and cell unlocked versions of their popular models to electronics stores and online to anyone who wants them. Then people can take their SIM chips and 'plug' this phone into their current cell phone plan. You'll generally pay more upfront for an unlocked phone because most providers offer discounts on handsets if you buy it from them in a contract.
You'll also run into limitations with an unlocked phone at times. Some networks only work with certain phones or have content on their networks only accessible by certain phone models. Also many cell phone providers have fought back foolishly against unlocked cell phones by contracting with cell phone makers for exclusive phone models only available through the plan provider. A popular example of this exclusive phone for one provider is Apple's iPhone that is only available with an AT&T phone contract and impossible to legally buy unlocked as of mid-2008. Also many phone models may be available to anyone, but a certain network might have the maker design a slightly different version of the model for their customers.
Unlocked cell phones are really something that should be made available to everyone, the restrictiveness of cell phone contracts and phones being available only with certain providers take power away from the customers. Computer for example can generally connect to any internet provider you wish and most software is designed to work with a wide array of computer makes and models. The consumer chooses the computer that fits their needs, then the software and internet plans that meet those needs without being forced into one plan or the other.
Cell phone plan providers need to see that unlocked cell phones give users a choice and allow them to access the network that best suits their needs with the device that they want. Too many people either settle for subpar phones because of their contract or plan while others go to a provider only because they have the hottest new phone handset; only to be disappointed by service or plan rates. Unlocked cell phones work on most networks and most providers, but for now they tend to cost a little more and take a little researching before being able to talk on the go.
Written by MaxwellPayne
 BlackBerry Torch 9800 4GB Black ATT Smartphone  $167.50 (18 Bids) Time Remaining: 32m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 Refurbished Samsung A687 GSM Unlocked ATT T Mobile Purple Phone $39.99 Time Remaining: 24d 18h 4m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Click To Buy Now |
 EUC Apple iPhone 4 16GB Black UNLOCKED SMARTPHONE ATT EXCELLENT MINT CONDITION $315.00 (21 Bids) Time Remaining: 47m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 NEW SAMSUNG A897 MYTHIC UNLOCK GSM TV TOUCH PHONE 003 $69.99 Time Remaining: 5d 4h 40m Buy It Now for only: $69.99 Click To Buy Now |
 USED BlackBerry Torch 9800 Unlocked ATT T Mobile 8GB Nice $180.60 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 37m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 Samsung SPH M920 Transform Black Sprint Smartphone Nice Android $52.99 Time Remaining: 19d 18h 22m Buy It Now for only: $52.99 Click To Buy Now |
 BlackBerry Bold 9650 Black US Cellular Smartphone $79.00 (24 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 10m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 LG 610 MYSTIQUE LG610 LOTUS ELITE US CELLULAR 3G CELL PHONE NEW Flash Page Plus $99.95 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 24m Buy It Now for only: $99.95 Click To Buy Now |
 Apple iPhone 4 16GB Black ATT Smartphone MC608LL A + AppleCare $250.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 17m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 Excellent Condition LG VX8300 Black Verizon Cellular Phone $24.95 Time Remaining: 26d 19h 19m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 Click To Buy Now |
 Samsung Galaxy Epic 4G SPH D700 1GB Black Sprint Smartphone $61.00 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 52m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 LG VX11000 ENV Touch Verizon Wireless Bluetooth GPS Camera Cell Phone VX 11000 $44.95 Time Remaining: 24d 17h 25m Buy It Now for only: $44.95 Click To Buy Now |
 iPhone 3G 8GB Black with cracked screen $22.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 37m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 MOTOROLA DEVOUR A555 VERIZON WIRELESS CAMERA CELL PHONE $34.95 Time Remaining: 9d 19h 31m Buy It Now for only: $34.95 Click To Buy Now |
 Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB Black Unlocked Smartphone $167.50 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 25m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 HTC Merge 8GB Black US Cellular Smartphone $74.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1h 6m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 LG ENV3 VX9200 BLUE Verizon Cellular Phone CLEAN ESN GOOD PHONE $29.95 Time Remaining: 29d 18h 4m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 Click To Buy Now |
 New Nokia N8 3G WIFI GPS 16GB 12MPix GSM UNLOCKED SMARTPHONE BLACK $212.50 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 29m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 NEW SAMSUNG IMPRESSION UNLOCKED A877 SIMPLE MOBILE ATT $66.00 Time Remaining: 4d 22h 7m Buy It Now for only: $66.00 Click To Buy Now |
 Motorola Karma QA1 Phone Black ATT $31.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 35m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 NEW SAMSUNG A897 MYTHIC ATT UNLOCK T MOBILE TMOBILE GSM TV CELL PHONE 003 CR3 $69.99 Time Remaining: 5d 4h 46m Buy It Now for only: $69.99 Click To Buy Now |
 NEW HTC Touch Pro2 Tilt 2 T7373 3MP GPS WIFI WINDOWS MOBILE 65 SLIDE SMARTPHONE $86.00 (16 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 19m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 NEW LG ENCORE GT550 GSM UNLOCKED CELL PHONE QWERTY TOUCHSCREEN TMOBILE ATT $63.87 Time Remaining: 8d 16h 44m Buy It Now for only: $63.87 Click To Buy Now |
 ATT Black Apple Iphone 3gs 8gb a1303 100 functional $137.00 (31 Bids) Time Remaining: 30m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 NEW LG VX5500 VERIZON CELL PHONE BLUETOOTH SLIM FOR POST PAID $41.98 Time Remaining: 23d 22h 54m Buy It Now for only: $41.98 Click To Buy Now |
 Apple iPhone 4 32GB Black ATT Smartphone MC610LL A $255.00 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 50m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 LG ENV3 VX9200 Red Verizon Cellular Phone CLEAN ESN GOOD PHONE $28.95 Time Remaining: 29d 17h 49m Buy It Now for only: $28.95 Click To Buy Now |
 Lot of 2 Nextel Boost Motorola i860 Black Blue TESTEDw OEM HlstrsReady $38.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 29m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 NEW MOTOROLA CITRUS WX445 ANDROID GOOGLE CELL PHONE $54.99 Time Remaining: 23d 23h 7m Buy It Now for only: $54.99 Click To Buy Now |
 Apple iPhone 3G 8GB Black ATT Smartphone in original box $51.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 45m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
Question by EW: CEll Phone?
Can any cell phone use a pre paid card?
Best answer:
Answer by Taz
no, they have special software inside of them that allows the minutes to be deducted as you use them. Good question though
Add your own answer in the comments!
LG Octane Phone (Verizon Wireless)Keep in touch with your friends and family with this mobile phone that features a full QWERTY keyboard for easy texting and a 3.2M...
Samsung Captivate Android Phone (AT&T)Part of Samsung's Galaxy S series, this high-end Android smartphone sports a huge 4-inch OLED display, fast 1 GHz processor, and 5...
Samsung Infuse 4G Android Phone (AT&T)The unlocked Infuse 4G is Samsung's thinnest Smartphone at just 8.99 mm (0.35") at its thinnest, so it's easy to slip into a purse...
HTC EVO 4G Android Phone (Sprint)That's right. The phone that captivated international trade show CTIA is here, and we've packed it full of features! A large vibra...