Many of you have heard the term "Unlocking", but are not sure as to what that means. This article will help to answer some of the basic questions you may have about unlocking your cell phone.
First, you should understand why cell phones are locked in the first place. Networks, also known as service providers or carriers lock phones so that you are forced to use their network at their rates. No other SIM card will work in their phones. With this, you cannot take advantage of better rates from other providers and you're subject to roaming charges.
When you unlock your cell phone, you are free of these restrictions. You are free to use any SIM card with any service provider. You can insert and use SIM cards purchased while abroad that allow you to take advantage of better rates for calls and SMS messaging. You no longer have to pay roaming charges, and you can switch back and forth between carriers/networks. Unlocking also increases the resale value of your cell phone. Unlocking is a guaranteed safe procedure for your phone and cannot harm it.
Now, let's clarify what a SIM card is. S-I-M stands for a 'Subscriber Information Module'. It is a chip that you insert into a GSM handset and is what allows the phone to work within a given network. Non-GSM phones, on the other hand, has a unique serial number that the provider supplies to it. There is no place to insert a SIM card on these. It identifies who you are, knows to send calls to you when your number is dialed and also controls your calling rates according to your contact or pay-as-you go plan that you signed up for with the carrier.
You may wonder if your phone is already unlocked. To find out, simply borrow a SIM card from a friend that comes from a alternate carrier from yours. If the phone works, your phone is unlocked. If you get an error message, it means you've got a locked phone. Once your phone is unlocked, it will remain unlocked, even in between switching SIM cards and such. The only way your phone can become locked again, is if you reprogram it.
Now you're probably wondering how technical must I be to unlock my cell phone. There are a couple of methods t choose from to achieve unlocking your cell phone. There's the Cable Unlocking method. This method requires you be familiar and comfortable with computers and cables for successful unlocking. There is also the Code Unlocking method. This is a simple method where you order the code online, the unlock code is then emailed to you along with easy to follow instructions, and requires only that you be able to enter the code unlocking number on your keypad. So, if you can dial a telephone number, you can unlock your cell phone using the Code Unlocking method.
