It’s a long story but last Friday, I drove the kids to Jackson, left Ryan with Chris who took him to Fort Wayne to spend the week with his grandparents, and I drove Chris’ carpool coworkers home. So I’m chatting with them and I mention that I had just bought a new cell phone but I had to switch carriers from AT&T to Sprint in order to get the phone I wanted. And Chris’ coworker says to me, you can buy Unlocked Cell Phones that work with any carrier and all you have to do is take the SIM card out of your current phone and put it in the new phone and you are all set.
I did some poking around on Google trying to figure out exactly how Unlocked Phones work, and I have to admit, I don’t quite get it. I mean, I understand taking the SIM card out of one phone and putting it into another one, but what I don’t get is this. Let’s say I had done that, bought an Unlocked LG Rumor, taken the SIM card out of my old phone and put it in the Rumor. It would just keep working with my regular AT&T phone plane? AT&T would just keep billing me? Is it the SIM card that tells AT&T that the phone is in use and how many minutes are used, and all that? I don’t plan to buy an unlocked phone, but now I’m just determined to understand how it works! Anybody have one?
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No, I don’t. But I kind of wish I could have that option. My cell phone broke so I went ahead and bought a blackberry to replace it because, ultimately, it’s what I wanted. Unfortunately, I use a LOT of direct connect minutes with my husband and best friend on our nextel plan and so sticking with Nextel really is the only option – HOWEVER, they only have one direct connect enabled blackberry on the market and it’s HUGE and not at all cute or stylish like all the OTHER blackberry models. *sigh*
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Twitter: Qtpies7
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The SIM card is the only part that the phone company used to track you. I can switch SIM cards around all our phones in our plan and it will be charged to whomever’s card is in the phone.
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Twitter: bcmom
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I don’t even know where to look for that card. I like my phone and my plan, so I guess it’s not important for me right now. But you never know when the information might come in handy.
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We buy unlocked phones all the time…. However, it depends on the phone you want, even tho it takes a sim card (which will be needed if you want to stay with AT&T, Sprint does not use a sim card) you may not be able to use all of the services on the phone if your carrier does not carry the services. As well you have to make sure the MHZ is right on the phone as well.
If you just switch your sim from one phone to another it’s not going to change your plan at all, unless you use services that are not included in your plan. As well some features may need to be on a different plan for them to work. You mentioned an LG Rumor, that’s actually a sprint phone and a CDMA phone, it will not work with your AT&T service if you want that phone you would have to switch to sprint, OR you could go with the LG F9200 which is the AT&T version if you wanted to stay with AT&T.
Hope I’ve helped some.
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All my thunder has been stated in the comments above.
You look like you’re 35, but it’s that great humidity in Michigan that keeps you looking young.
Would it be inappropriate to say “Go Blue”?
Twitter: Table4Five
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Qtpies, thanks for explaining that!
Twitter: Table4Five
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Anna, I just learned that not every phone uses a SIM card, it’s kind of like the memory card in a camera, and it’s in the back of the phone. But yours might not have one.
Twitter: Table4Five
says:
Gina-Thanks for helping me understand how it works! I had a phone with AT&T, but I wanted the LG Rumor so much, so I switched to Sprint (my contract was up with AT&T). But it’s still good info to have!
Twitter: Table4Five
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Morgan-Did you just say I look like I’m 35? You are my NEW FAVE COMMENTER! *blushes*
Twitter: Table4Five
says:
Morgan-Did you just say I look like I’m 35? You are my NEW FAVE COMMENTER! *blushes*
And yes, since I am a Michigan State Alumni, please don’t say “Go Blue”. This is Spartan Country!
Well, I learned something today. This is all really interesting stuff…but until we can afford an actual cell phone plan, it’ll have to wait. Ugh, prepaid phones.
I never heard of unlocked phones. That is so good to know. Remind me when I need a new phone k?
Here in the Philippines, almost all of us own unlocked cellphones as most customers here are on prepaid plans.
I’ve always wondered how that worked too. Nice to know for future reference.
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Companies have nothing to do with phone and even there are software on internet which can unlock the locked phones(Don’t stare me), I have done that. Companies only have sim cards and they can do with it whatever they want.
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Yeah, but this will not work for Sprint or Verizon, because they are not on a GSM network. The SIM card provide you id data, the phones themselves are made to work on any AT+T, Cingular, and T-mobile network for example. But yeah, this has actually been around for awhile.. It just doesn’t work with Sprint and Verizon (they don’t use GSM or a SIM card at all). GSM is also on another frequency band that CDMA (sprint and Verizon networks)
good article, thanks for sharing it
I bought an unlocked cell phone and it was probably one of the best decisions I made. Not only could I use it on all networks, but I could use features that the networks block.
I actually do own an unlocked phone. I also sell the new google android phone with quad band unlocked. an unlocked phone with dual sim cards.
http://www.zzzcellphone.com/category/unlocked-phone
I rarely buy a locked phone. Unlocked phones are more beneficial for me since I travel a lot. When I’m in another country, I just swap a prepaid sim card on my phone rather than be burdened by the expensive roaming charges that some carriers bill you.
I have an unlocked phone and I find it very handy and useful. I can bring it when I travel because I can just change my SIM card anytime.
I also have an unlocked cell phone. I find it great coz whenever you go overseas I can buy prepaid SIM cards that are designed to work in the country I am visiting. This is often much cheaper than having to deal with out of the country calls through your cell phone carrier and you might find the service more reliable as well.
Twitter: helsonsu
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I have unlocked phones too.. Now I use both of them
I think unlocked phones is better than locked phones
but i depends on it user
good luck
nice articles
^^
.-= unlocked phones´s last blog ..Canon Camera Manuals =-.
i cant unlocked my own cellphone T_T
but i had been helped by my freen to unlocked that
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A lot of smaller phone shops in my area actually offer unlocking services. Some are impossible to unlock, but others seem relatively easy. I think it all depends on how new the phone and what sort of make it is.
.-= Badger´s last blog ..Mobile phones abroad – Roam at your own peril… =-.