What is Unlocking my cell phone

Unlocked cell phones for dummies

What is a SIM Card

A GSM phone is not directly linked to you. Instead, it has a removable card, called a SIM (subscriber information module) and this SIM has a unique number on it. This is what identifies you to your wirless provider


Normally cell phone service works so that the unique number in your cell phone (its ESN) is used by the cell phone service provider to identify you and your information. The wireless carrier 'knows' that a particular mobile phone's serial number is your device and knows to send phone calls to that phone when someone dials your cell phone.

The important thing about this is that you can put your SIM into any compatible cell phone (and just asbout all gsm phones are compatible) and that phone will now behave as your phone, because your service provider sees your unique number from the SIM in the phone. They dont care that you've switched phones, all they care about is if they can deliver service to your SIM
And now for the really breathtaking part of this. Just as, in theory, you can transfer your SIM to any phone, the opposite is also true. Any phone is compatible with any SIM. So, if you've already purchased an expensive mobile phone that you like and have leanred the features, if you transfer from one mobile phone carrier to a differnt one, you don't have to shell out money for a new phone. You can keep the phone you've grown to like, and all you need to do is swap the first service provider's SIM with your new service provider's SIM.

But, some networks 'lock' their devices, meaning that their devices have been programmed to only work with their sim. Overturning that programming - unlocking your phone so it can work with any compatible network - is what this is all about.
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What is GSM Technology? Is it different than normal cell phone service? How do I know if I have GSM or not?

GSM is a type of mobile phone network. The more common type of mobile phone service In the states is CDMA technlogy, but just about every other country in the world uses primarily or only GSM.

For you as the consumer of your phone, there is no difference at all between using a phone on a CDMA network or a phone on a GSM carrier. Unfortunately, the two different networks are not compatible with each other so you cant switch between phones if your moving between GSM to CDMA or vicea versa

If you have a T-Mobile or Cingular then you are using a GSM phone.


Can I just buy an unlocked phone without signing up for service?

Yes, there are several ways to acquire an unlocked mobile phone without needing to sign up for a year or two of service that you mightn't want. You can simply buy a used GSM phone on the internet or a friend or somewhere like that.

If you buy a used phone from an individual always make sure it unlocked before commiting to purchase.

You can also purchase Unlocked Cell Phones from online stores such as my favorite,J-Cellular or Best Buy


Online store for Unlocked Cell Phones.Supplying the latest GSM cell phones !