By Kent German (October 10, 2007)
While they were relatively unknown just a
couple of years ago, unlocked cell phones have become a hot
commodity in North America. But even as they grow in
popularity, many cell phone users don't have a clear idea of
what unlocked phones are and exactly what they can do.
Fortunately, CNET is here to help you make sense of it all.
A few basics
So what is an unlocked phone? Frankly, the
best way to answer that question is to first tell you about
locked phones. A locked phone is a handset that can be used
only on one carrier. Any phone you buy directly from a U.S.
carrier will come "locked" to that provider. So for example,
if you have a T-Mobile locked phone, you'll be able to use
that handset only with T-Mobile service and not AT&T.
Locked phones have long dominated the cell phone market in
North America, and if carriers have their way, they'll be
around for a long time. As carriers see it, locked phones
may not give you a lot of freedom, but in exchange you're
able to buy a phone with steep discounts and service
rebates. That's why you're able to pay $49 for a brand-new
camera phone that's actually worth $299. You may be locked
to one carrier, but you saved a lot of money in the process.
Conversely, unlocked phones lack any
settings that tie them to a specific carrier. So if you have
an unlocked phone, you can use it with either T-Mobile or
AT&T. Not only do unlocked phones give you more freedom to
choose a carrier, but you also don't necessarily have to
give up a much-loved handset if you decide to switch
wireless providers.
What's more, the variety of unlocked phones is much wider
than the choice of locked handsets. You can get models with
unique designs or high-end features such as powerful cameras
or music players. You're no longer restricted to buying only
those models that your carrier decides to sell. Sound
convenient? Well, yes, it is. But before you get too
excited, it is important to remember that not all unlocked
phones are created equal.
Because the United States uses two cell
phone technologies, even an unlocked phone does come with
some restrictions. Depending on whether your phone uses
GSM or
CDMA, you'll find that you'll have lots of choices or
almost none at all.
GSM
The first cell phone technology, called GSM, is used by
T-Mobile and
AT&T. GSM unlocked phones give you the most freedom
because they use a small, plastic chip called a
SIM card, which typically is located behind the phone's
battery. SIM cards are issued by your carrier and contain
your identity as a subscriber. When you insert your SIM card
into a phone, that handset is activated and assumes your
number.
While locked phones will accommodate SIM cards only from a
certain carrier, unlocked phones will work with SIMs from
any provider. So, if you're a T-Mobile customer and you pop
your SIM into an unlocked handset, you'll be able to make
calls as normal. But if you put that same SIM into a locked
AT&T phone, you'll be able to dial only emergency services.
An unlocked GSM phone is also advantageous
to frequent globetrotters. In most countries throughout the
world, you can buy a prepaid SIM card from a local carrier
and use it in an unlocked handset. That phone will then have
a local number for that country, which can save you a lot on
international roaming charges. For more information on using
a phone abroad, check out our
Quick guide to world phones.
CDMA
The second major technology, which is incompatible with GSM,
is called CDMA.
Verizon Wireless,
Sprint Nextel, and a number of regional carriers such as
Alltel and
U.S. Cellular use CDMA. Though CDMA phones also can be
unlocked, it's not as easy to transfer them to another
carrier because they don't use SIM cards. Without the SIM
card, you must get the new carrier to activate the phone for
you and assign it to your number. Not only does that involve
extra steps on your part, but also it's unlikely that
carrier will oblige you. Most of the time, CDMA carriers in
the United States will not activate a phone that they didn't
sell you, even if it's technically compatible with their
network.
CDMA customers also don't get same benefits
when traveling abroad. CDMA is used in far fewer countries
than GSM, so even if you have an unlocked CDMA phone,
chances are greater you won't be able to get service abroad,
much less have it activated.
So to sum it all up, unlocked phones can be quite beneficial
if you use GSM, but not so much if you use CDMA. If buying
an unlocked phone is important to you, it's best that you
chose a GSM carrier. That's why we'll be focusing on GSM for
the remainder of this feature.
If you think an unlocked cell phone sounds
like a great idea you'll be pleased to know that new
unlocked handsets aren't difficult to find. Just remember
that since carriers sell only locked handsets, you won't be
able to pop into your local AT&T store for unlocked models.
Instead, you'll have to shop in independent cellular store,
or you can look online. But keep in mind that because you're
not getting any carrier rebates, you will pay full price for
most unlocked models. Higher-end phones such as the
Nokia N95 can run you as much as $700.
The Nokia N95 is a great phone, but it won't come
cheap.
In stores
Though you won't find an unlocked phone in a carrier store,
they are widely available in
retail locations run by a third party. It may be
difficult to determine whether a store is affiliated with a
carrier, so it's easiest to just ask if they sell unlocked
models. Also, an unlocked phone can make a nice souvenir
from a trip to Europe and Asia. Since unlocked models are
more common in those regions, it's easy to find a wide
selection.
Online
Unlocked phones are widely available form online retailers.
Just pick out the model you like, then click the Purchase
button. You also can buy unlocked phones on eBay or other
auction sites. But be careful with what you buy online,
particularly from anonymous sellers.
What about a SIM card?
If you have an unlocked phone and need service you sign up
with a GSM carrier as normal. Just tell them you'll be using
your own phone and that you only need a SIM card. Carriers
love new customers so you shouldn't have a problem. But if a
customer service rep tells you (incorrectly) that using an
unlocked phone is not allowed, then try another carrier
store. Or better yet, sign up on the service provider's Web
site.
Can I unlock a phone purchased from my carrier?
The good news is that you can unlock a GSM handset--all you
need is an unlock code. The bad news is that it's a bit more
complicated than just flipping a switch. Also, it's
important to note that not all functions will work right
away. See the next page for details. Here are the most
common methods.
Get it from your carrier
Believe it or not, carriers will unlock phones for you. It
all just depends on who and how you ask. As far as we can
see, no carrier has a set policy; it all just depends on the
circumstances. You may get a nice customer service rep who
is willing to give you the code or you may talk to a more
strict one who's not so cooperative. One good piece of
advice is that if you're off your contract, they'll be much
more likely to do you the favor. And if you're successful at
getting the code, you may have to pay a fee.
Try online
Unlock codes are available form online sources, sometimes
for a fee. CNET's
Download.com has a selection of options.
Other sources
Independent gadget shops can also unlock a phone, but we
can't make any recommendations. Again, we can only say
caveat emptor.
Once you buy an unlocked phone, you'll need
to adjust the handset's settings in order to fully utilize
it. Here are the things you need to know:
-
Though you'll be able to make calls
right away--after inserting your SIM card, of
course--messaging, data, and Web browsing functions may
be inoperable. In order to use those features, you'll
have program the phone with your carrier's data and
multimedia settings. You can get these from your carrier
or sometimes from the manufacturer, as well.
Nokia and
Sony Ericsson offer tools on their Web sites that
will send the settings to your phone in the form of a
text message. The settings will vary by carrier and
model.
-
If you're using the phone in North
America, it's essential that it support either the GSM
850 or 1900 band (though accessibility to both is best).
Don't bother purchasing a phone that uses only the 900
or 1800 bands, as those frequencies are used only
outside the United States and Canada. You can find a
phone's bands by looking at its list of technical
specifications.
-
If you're hoping to use UMTS
3G services your phone must support the 1900 band
for use in North America.
-
Unlocking a phone with your carrier's
permission may void any warranties. Or worse, you may
have problems with the phone itself. Just this month,
many
Apple iPhone owners who unlocked their phones
suddenly
found them unusable when Apple issued a service
update.
-
When using an unlocked phone, the
standby screen and menu interface may appear differently
than on one of the carrier's locked phones. This is
pretty much just an issue of aesthetics and not
operability.
-
Some higher-end features in unlocked
phones, such as push-to-talk and GPS services, may not
be compatible with your carrier's network. Check with
your carrier to make sure.
-
Unlocked phones may not be able to
support any games, wallpaper, or applications that you
downloaded from your carrier's wireless Internet
service.
-
Your carrier won't guarantee that it
will support an unlocked phone if you're experiencing
connection problems. Also, it won't repair or replace a
broken unlocked phone. If you have any problems, you'll
have to seek help from the manufacturer, the seller, or
another source.
