Facts to Consider Before Purchasing an Unlocked Cell Phone
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HTC DROID INCREDIBLE 2 Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) |
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The Droid1 Incredible 2 by HTC2 is the next evolution of the future of smartphones. The super-sleek phone is less than a half-inch thick, yet it packs powerful components such as a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 8-megapixel camera, and a large 4" high-resolution screen... |
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Samsung Behold T919 Unlocked Quadband Phone with 3G Support, GPS and 5MP Camera - US Warranty - Brushed Espresso Sale Price: $78.39 |
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This finger-touch phone sports 3G and a 5-megapixel camera in a typical slab form factor running Samsung's TouchWiz UI with drag-and-drop widgets. Other key features include memory card slot, video capture, and voice control. |
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Palm Pixi Plus Verizon Cell Phone ~ No Contract Sale Price: $46.51 |
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3G-enabled smartphone with intuitive Palm webOS platform, touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard; easy integration with Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and more GPS-enabled for turn-by-turn directions; can be used as a 3G Mobile Hotspot for up to five Wi-Fi connected devices 8 GB internal memory; 2-megapixel camera/camcorder; Bluetooth stereo music streaming; Wi-Fi-enabled Up to 5... |
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Samsung T139 Unlocked Phone with Camera, Bluetooth and Speakerphone - Unlocked Phone - US Warranty - Gray Sale Price: $34.99 |
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Dual-band GSM with EDGE data connectivity; 1.38-inch wide internal screen with 128 x 160-pixel resolution and 65K color depth. 1-inch monochrome external screen (96 x 96 pixels) displays current time, signal strength, battery life, and incoming calls... |
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Featuring a premium design with a 3.2-inch touchscreen display clad in an aluminum unibody construction, the HTC Freestyle is the first of a new generation of quick messaging phones from AT&T to run on Brew Mobile Platform... |
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BlackBerry Storm 9530 Unlocked GSM + CDMA Cell Phone with 3.15 MP Camera (Black)- FACTORY-REFURBISHED Sale Price: $110.00 |
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BlackBerry Storm 9530 Unlocked First BlackBerry touchscreen phone packed with messaging, document editing, and multimedia features; international GSM Access V Cast, Music and Video services via fast EV-DO data network; GPS-enabled for turn-by-turn directions; use phone as a modem for your laptop 3... |
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Wireless Extenders zBoost YX545 SOHO Dual-Band Cell Phone Signal Booster for Home and Office (White) North America and Canada Sale Price: $217.70 |
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Satisfy all your cellular phone needs with the Wireless Extenders YX545 zBoost zP Wireless Booster, which works with both cellular frequencies (800 and 1900 MHz) and can extend cellular coverage up to 3000 square feet... |
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One of the most asked questions we receive at Search4cellphonedeals.com is can I use any unlocked cell phone for my carrier? The short answer is, no you cannot. There are several things to consider before you run out and buy an unlocked cell phone.
First let’s look at what an unlocked cell phone is. Some cell phones are designed to use a Subscriber Identification Module card or SIM card for short. A SIM card is a microchip that stores subscriber data. The SIM card is issued by a carrier and provides cell service by activating any phone into which it is inserted. A locked cell phone, however, will only recognize a SIM card from a particular carrier. If the cell phone is unlocked, it will recognize a SIM card from any carrier. The "lock" is a software setting that keeps the cell phone "loyal" to one carrier. This is done by the major carriers to ensure you don’t get a FREE cell phone under a two-year contract and then not pay on the contract and use that cell phone with another provider. It is in this way that the cell phone providers can justify giving individuals a FREE cell phone that would have otherwise cost the consumer money.
There are plenty of places that sell unlocked cell phones but simply buying one of these phones does not guarantee that it will work with your carrier. Before buying an unlocked cell phone, you have to know what network your cellular provider operates on. There are two here in the United States. The first is Global Systems for Mobile Communications or GSM for short. If your cell phone has a SIM card, your provider uses GSM. Currently carriers on the GSM network include, AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile. Typically if you buy an unlocked cell phone any SIM card should work equally as well in that phone regardless of the provider. The other network is called Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA for short. CDMA phones do not have a SIM card and thus even if you purchase an unlocked CDMA cell phone you still have to get your carrier to activate it for you. The drawback here is that the provider still decides if you can use a specific cell phone. Currently carriers using CDMA in the United States include Verizon Wireless, Alltel Wireless and Sprint PCS.
The easiest way to determine if your provider will let you use an unlocked cell phone you have your eye on is to simply call them. Every provider has an 800 number that can be obtained by simply going to their web site. This is especially important for anyone who is considering buying an unlocked CDMA cell phone.
Unlocked cell phones have become so in demand that there are now companies out there that will unlock your cell phone for a fee. The fee varies by company and again may or may not free up your cell phone to be used elsewhere. There are also numerous hacking sites on the web that will show you how to unlock your phone, but be warned, the carriers will render a cell phone that is determined to be unlocked improperly inoperable. If you want an unlocked cell phone, the best thing to do is to buy one from a reputable company.
Now that you know the facts, start looking for your dream cell phone. Remember it is probably best to leave your locked cell phone alone and look elsewhere for an unlocked cell phone that will work best with your GSM (if you have a SIM card) or CDMA cell phone. Avoid the places that tell you any unlocked phone will work with any carrier and be sure to double-check with your provider before you finalize your purchase. It’s your money, spend it wisely.
For more information or to find out where to purchase unlocked cell phones, please visit http://www.search4cellphonedeals.com/New_and_Refurbished_Unlocked_Cell_Phones.html
Jimmy Collins is dedicated to helping others find the perfect new or used cell phone that fits their lifestyle and budget. He founded search4cellphonedeals.com after a frustrating 4 hours of trying to find his step-daughter a new cell phone, all the while thinking that there had to be an easier way.
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