Five Tips: Buy an Unlocked Phone

When you purchase a phone and calling plan from a carrier, the cell you've just bought can most likely only be used on that particular network. That's fine for most users, but if you're one of the gadget elite who wants the latest and greatest handsets, or if you're an international traveler who wants to use a phone overseas, owning an unlocked phone is a necessity. Fortunately, if you own a GSM phone-easily identified by the SIM card in the back-you can remove the SIM and pop it into any other phone running on GSM networks (in America, that's Cingular and T-Mobile), provided that you unlock it. Here are five tips for buying an unlocked phone.

 

Tip #1
Browse Online Stores
Unlocked phones can be purchased online from Amazon and from smaller, more specialized retailers such as Dynamism and Simoncells. The benefit of purchasing an unlocked phone is that you don't have to go through the process of unlocking it yourself. The one negative, however, is that because carriers don't subsidize them, unlocked phones can cost hundreds of dollars more than the same phone you'd purchase from your mobile provider.

 

Tip #2
Unlock a Currently Locked Phone
A GSM phone can be unlocked by keying in a code that can be acquired in some rare cases from a carrier, or by purchasing a "clip" that uses a PC, specialized software, and a connection cable (prices vary by manufacturer and can run between $30 and $400). If you'd rather have a professional unlock the phone, you can use an online service such as Asiatic Treasures Trading to break the carrier's stranglehold for as little as $23 to $35.

 

Tip #3
Check the Phone's Frequencies
Unlocked phones are often used when traveling overseas, so be aware of the differing frequencies when purchasing a mobile. Most phones outside of the U.S. run on the 900-MHz and 1800-MHz frequencies, the international standards. Likewise, if you're importing a phone from overseas, make sure it runs on America's 850-MHz and 1900-MHz signals. An unlocked, quadband phone will ensure international compatibility.

 

Tip #4
Configure the Browser
One of the lesser stumbling blocks associated with purchasing an unlocked phone is that it won't be customized for your carrier's data features; getting Internet and other services up and running will require browser tweaking. Import GSM offers a free, downloadable PDF file that contains GPRS and MMS settings for Cingular and T-Mobile WAP browser settings. If you'd rather have the Import GSM phone experts configure the browser for you, they'll do so for a $20 fee.

 

Tip #5
Check the Insurance/Warranty
Sites like Dynamism and Simoncells offer one-year warranties from their respective manufacturers. Since this warranty may or may not be covered from a buyer's local authorized service center, all repairs and replacements will have to go through the company you purchased the phone from. Import GSM offers a lifetime warranty for 15 percent of the phone's cost, which covers just about every potential mishap except for theft, and comes with free phone rentals while the handset is being repaired.

More Articles & Related Links: