Should I get an unlocked cell phone instead of the usual locked phones and plans?

Similar questions: unlocked cell phone usual locked phones plans.

Consumer Electronics > Cell Phones & Accessories.

You can usually get a better deal with locked phones and plans First of all, I assume you're referring to carriers such as T-Mobile and Cingular that uses GSM. For carriers such as Sprint and Verizon, your phone is specifically tailored (frequencey and such) with the carrier that you're pretty much stuck with the carrier anyway. Usually you can get a better deal on the phones with some plan.

The phone is "locked" to the carrier, but after the 1-yr or 2-yr commitment, you can request to unlock it without any surcharge. If you have some reasons that you'd like to have it unlocked one way or another within the 1-yr window, say, you'd like to use your phone while traveling to Europe or Asia, I heard that you can usually sweet talk to the customer representatives and they will usually unlock it for you anyway. So effectively, even if you get a locked phone, you don't lose much flexibility anyway.

Sources: My experience orion_orange's Recommendations Motorola RAZR V3 Black Phone (Cingular) Amazon List Price: $299.99 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 315 reviews) Motorola RAZR V3 Phone (T-Mobile) Amazon List Price: $249.99 Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5 (based on 298 reviews) palmOne Treo 650 PDA Phone (Cingular) Amazon List Price: $599.99 Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5 (based on 135 reviews) T-Mobile MDA Smartphone (T-Mobile) Amazon List Price: $429.993 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 90 reviews) T-Mobile SDA Smartphone (T-Mobile) Amazon List Price: $299.99 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 63 reviews) From time to time, Amazon.com has a better phone deal than what the carriers themselves offer...

In my experience, it's not worth it. But it depends on how much international travel you do. Speaking as someone who does not really ever travel internationally, I'd say no.

I have purchased unlocked GSM phones online with the idea that I will have the "freedom" to switch carriers domestically, travel internationally getting prepaid SIMs, etc. This hasn't worked out so well for me, but that is probably a function of my lifestyle as well. I do not really travel internationally, although if I did I would probably just pick up a cheap GSM handset and/or rent one anyways so sticking a prepaid SIM in my phone wouldn't be worth it.As far as changing plans in the US - I don't do it much, so waiting out the contract when I occaisionally want to upgrade my phone isn't really an issue. The downside that I've run into with unlocked GSM phones is that they tend to be international models (UK, etc. ) and I have had some warranty problems.

I purchased a brand new unlocked RAZR when they first came out, which lasted all of maybe 3 months before it had keypad problems. Unfortunately it was a UK model and the US service centers didn't seem to know about its serial number and it was a whole fiasco and I ended up just scrapping that one and getting another one from Cingular for $50 when I renewed my contract. So in my experience I'd say it's easier to just stick with the bundled phones from the carrier.

I suppose one critical exception would be if you really want or need a phone that your carrier doesn't offer. In that case you don't have much of a choice.

It depends on your needs It really depends on yourself. Do you do a lot of travelling? If so, then it would most useful to you if you would get an unlocked phone (GSM of course) because then you can use local SIM cards (as opposed to roaming) do you switch carriers often?

If so, then unlocked is the way to go unlocked phones also have higher re-sale value and market basically if you plan to stick with the same carrier and will hardly ever remove your SIM card, then there is really no point in getting an unlocked phone. Of course the unlocked (said grey) market of mobiles will definetely offer you more choices as to what phones you can use.. something that suits your needs more than what the carrier provides. I hope this answers your question..

Locked phone If you can find the phone you want from yoru carrier then go ahead and stay with a locked phone. The only real differeance of having a unlocked phone is that you can use any phone you want with any carrier. But by using a phone that is unlocked vs one that is provided by your company you will loose out on the added protection as most companies will replace your phone or ever so often let you upgrade to a newer phone for a small fee..

No Although the freedom of not being locked into a contract is nice, but why not get the $200-$700 free perk that will come with the service plan that you are going to pay for anyways.

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