What Does It Mean To Unlock A Cell Phone?

When you buy a phone, most companies offer a competitive package with internet and roaming features. The package is usually affordable but it ties you to a single service provider usually under a contract. Originally, this was a very successful marketing strategy as companies would provide a service package and a discounted phone for customers who would be saving on the phone plus getting several perks in the service package. However, to ensure that these customers stayed with them, the phone provided by the company was locked or tied to a single SIM card. This process was referred to as SPC Lock of SIM Lock. Over time, smart programmers figured out how to buy the locked phone and then unlock it with the use of specific computer programs. As a result, these unlocked phones generally can now be used with other service providers or SIM cards and they can be used anywhere in the world.
Advantages of an unlocked phone

• With an unlocked phone, you can literally use the phone anywhere and with any SIM card. For example, if you were traveling to Europe, you can now remove your US SIM card and replace it with a local European card to save money.

• An unlocked phone can be sold at a higher rate as it can be used with any SIM card.

Disadvantages of an unlocked phone
If you are buying an unlocked phone directly from the service provider, you will have to pay a higher retail price for it. An added problem is that you could be voiding the warranty supplied with the phone as companies may not want you to be investigating the equipment during the warranty period. There is also no guarantee that the company will release you from the contract that you signed for the locked phone. Some companies may charge you a fee in order to be released from the contract. Most service providers warn the consumer that unlocking a phone is done at the user's risk. This is because a single wrong step can convert expensive phones into a useless device that completely shuts down. This process is called bricking and the parent company will not help you in repairing the damaged phone. Another problem with unlocking is that most locked phones are tied with software to the service provider. That means if you bought a locked phone from AT&T, it was configured for software updates from that company. After unlocking the phone, there is a chance that the unlocked phone will not be able to run software from other service provider. There is also a chance of increased security problems with the phone.

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