| An unlocked cell phone is a cell phone that can be | | | | experience with these procedures. This method should |
| used with any GSM compatible carrier worldwide, as | | | | work fine with some phones, but others may still have |
| long as you are in possession of a SIM card provided | | | | some settings which cannot be undone, so it's 100% |
| by a carrier. | | | | foolproof. |
| There are a few ways to get your hands on an | | | | Buying it unlocked. It is possible to purchase cell phones |
| unlocked cell phone: | | | | in their original factory-made state, before the device |
| Using unlocking codes found over the internet. Every | | | | has been altered. This way you can be sure that the |
| phone could be locked by using certain software | | | | phone would work with any GSM carrier around the |
| codes or being hard coded with specific propriety | | | | world. |
| settings. It is possible to undo these changes on some | | | | It doesn't matter which brand you are looking for, be it |
| of these devices, but amateur unlocking may not be | | | | unlocked Blackberry Smartphones, unlocked LG |
| complete. In some cases, trying to unlock the phone | | | | cell-phones, unlocked HTC devices or a coveted |
| using the wrong code may even damage the device. | | | | iPhone that works under any GSM carrier, nowadays |
| Unlocking the phone in a store or by a technician. This | | | | it's easy to find cell phones from any manufacturer to |
| is pretty much the same as using the codes yourself, | | | | suit your tastes and needs without having to commit to |
| only that technicians have more knowledge and | | | | a specific service provider. |