Q: Why do people want "unlocked" cell phones?

[Zim Hosein]

Why do people want "unlocked" cell phones?

 

Unlocking a cell phone lets you use it with a different carrier. Meaning that you don't have to buy a new phone when you switch providers. Which saves money in the long run, and lets you upgrade your handset when YOU want to, not when you switch providers.

:beer:

 

[Epic Fail]

so you can use it with other networks and in different countries

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Because you can use them with any GSM carrier.

Cheers Zim :beer:

 

[aphex]

so you can put a sim from ANY provider in the phone...

 

[notfred]

Because they're cell phones nerds. It's similar to the reason that computer nerds want unlocked processors.

 

[veloc1ty]

die in a fire

 

[Zim Hosein]

I see, thanks jumpr, RaynorWolfcastle & aphex :beer:

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: veloc1ty
die in a fire

WTF?

 

Originally posted by: veloc1ty
die in a fire

:thumbsdown: man.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: notfred
Because they're cell phones nerds. It's similar to the reason that computer nerds want unlocked processors.

You're as lovable as ever!

Cheers notfred :beer:

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Unlocking a cell phone lets you use it with a different carrier. Meaning that you don't have to buy a new phone when you switch providers. Which saves money in the long run, and lets you upgrade your handset when YOU want to, not when you switch providers.

:beer:

Except when Verizon gives you 4 Samsung SCH-A670 camera phones for $50 (after discounts and rebates). We had to renew our contract for 2 years but no biggie. We were gonna go with them anyway and 4 new camera phones for $12.50 was more than worth it.

 

[mzkhadir]

because I would like to get this phone

http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=...hp=php1_10179&zone=pp&lm=pp1&pid=10179

but it only works for cingular and I have tmobile and like everyone says not buying a new phone but switching carriers.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
because I would like to get this phone

http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=...hp=php1_10179&zone=pp&lm=pp1&pid=10179

but it only works for cingular and I have tmobile and like everyone says not buying a new phone but switching carriers.

bah...the k750i is better...

 

[Spike]

I unlocked mine so I can pop in a local prepaid sim when I am traveling abroad for long periods of time. Beats paying $1 a min to roam.

-spike

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: jumpr
Unlocking a cell phone lets you use it with a different carrier. Meaning that you don't have to buy a new phone when you switch providers. Which saves money in the long run, and lets you upgrade your handset when YOU want to, not when you switch providers.

:beer:

Except when Verizon gives you 4 Samsung SCH-A670 camera phones for $50 (after discounts and rebates). We had to renew our contract for 2 years but no biggie. We were gonna go with them anyway and 4 new camera phones for $12.50 was more than worth it.

if you wanted four paperweights, why didn't you buy four paperweights...

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Spike
I unlocked mine so I can pop in a local prepaid sim when I am traveling abroad for long periods of time. Beats paying $1 a min to roam.

-spike

I never thought of that, thanks Spike :beer:

 

[MidasKnight]

Originally posted by: Spike
I unlocked mine so I can pop in a local prepaid sim when I am traveling abroad for long periods of time. Beats paying $1 a min to roam.

-spike

Very smart

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: MidasKnight

Originally posted by: Spike
I unlocked mine so I can pop in a local prepaid sim when I am traveling abroad for long periods of time. Beats paying $1 a min to roam.

-spike

Very smart

The best part is the unlocking is free, at least with T-mobile. They will unlock a phone every 90 days after the inital 90 days of service with them. Most other places cost $10-20.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: dartworth

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: jumpr
Unlocking a cell phone lets you use it with a different carrier. Meaning that you don't have to buy a new phone when you switch providers. Which saves money in the long run, and lets you upgrade your handset when YOU want to, not when you switch providers.

:beer:

Except when Verizon gives you 4 Samsung SCH-A670 camera phones for $50 (after discounts and rebates). We had to renew our contract for 2 years but no biggie. We were gonna go with them anyway and 4 new camera phones for $12.50 was more than worth it.

if you wanted four paperweights, why didn't you buy four paperweights...

uhh, they're very nice phones. wtf are you talking about?

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: dartworth

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: jumpr
Unlocking a cell phone lets you use it with a different carrier. Meaning that you don't have to buy a new phone when you switch providers. Which saves money in the long run, and lets you upgrade your handset when YOU want to, not when you switch providers.

:beer:

Except when Verizon gives you 4 Samsung SCH-A670 camera phones for $50 (after discounts and rebates). We had to renew our contract for 2 years but no biggie. We were gonna go with them anyway and 4 new camera phones for $12.50 was more than worth it.

if you wanted four paperweights, why didn't you buy four paperweights...

uhh, they're very nice phones. wtf are you talking about?

It's a decent phone but for me lacks one HUGE neccesity... bluetooth! Samsung has this problem of making really cool flip phones with great cameras but decides that you need to buy the cable to actually get the pics off in their oringinal quality. I almost bought a E315 but got the moto V330 instead because of bluetooth. This allows me to use edge with my pda as well as transfer files and ringtones.

Personally I am not the impressed with the 670 but for only $12.50 each, you can't really complain.

 

[Shawn]

Don't really have any use for bluetooth. And the USB cable cost $10 and we can use it for all of our phones. I can also get free ringers and backgrounds with bitpim.

 

[ghostman]

My Cingular T616 came unlocked (if it wasn't, I'd get it unlocked). Because of that, I was able to take it to London and buy a Virgin Mobile SIM card, replace my Cingular SIM with it and use the phone for my one month there. All incoming mobile calls are free in the UK, so my family could reach me in London from NY at any time with their international rates from their long distance carrier or phone card (as opposed to me finding an affordable international phone service to call back). When I came back, I just swapped my Cingular SIM back in. Then my contract expired and Cingular customer service was pissing me off. So I switched to T-Mobile, ported my number and swapped in the T-Mobile SIM. It's as if nothing changed.

When I get a new GSM phone, my T616 will become the backup phone for both me and my sister - in case either of us break or lose our new cell phones.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: Spike

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: dartworth

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: jumpr
Unlocking a cell phone lets you use it with a different carrier. Meaning that you don't have to buy a new phone when you switch providers. Which saves money in the long run, and lets you upgrade your handset when YOU want to, not when you switch providers.

:beer:

Except when Verizon gives you 4 Samsung SCH-A670 camera phones for $50 (after discounts and rebates). We had to renew our contract for 2 years but no biggie. We were gonna go with them anyway and 4 new camera phones for $12.50 was more than worth it.

if you wanted four paperweights, why didn't you buy four paperweights...

uhh, they're very nice phones. wtf are you talking about?

It's a decent phone but for me lacks one HUGE neccesity... bluetooth! Samsung has this problem of making really cool flip phones with great cameras but decides that you need to buy the cable to actually get the pics off in their oringinal quality. I almost bought a E315 but got the moto V330 instead because of bluetooth. This allows me to use edge with my pda as well as transfer files and ringtones.

Personally I am not the impressed with the 670 but for only $12.50 each, you can't really complain.

Is Edge supported in the US yet? IIRC edge is 3G and we've only got like 2.5g...

 

[feelingshorter]

Originally posted by: notfred
Because they're cell phones nerds. It's similar to the reason that computer nerds want unlocked processors.

no its not, cell phones unlocked is pratical so u can switch providers. processors unlocked = more power so u dont have to spend money to upgrade.