Unlocked Cell phones

[andlcs]

Hello,

I'm going to USA and I plan to buy a cell phone there. Is it still possible to buy an unlocked GSM phone in USA? Because I can't find it anymore in newegg, for example.
How hard is to find unlocked cell phones in non-online stores? (for example in a shopping mall).

thanks

 

[uli2000]

It's pretty hard to buy a unlocked phone in a retail location in the US. Unlike most countries, almost all cell phone users are on subsidised plans. Therefore, companies lock the phones. Its not like Europe where pay as you go is more popular, so phones are not as likely to be subsidised and locked to a single network. Tiger Direct used to have unlocked cell phones, and there is allway ebay. Howardforums has alot of vendors on there that sell unlocked phones. Look over there and see if anyone has a retail location near where you are going to be.

 

[tehach]

I bought a new, unlocked Razr on eBay. Couldn't find anything off-line.

 

[shortylickens]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...ory_tlc.asp?CatId=1807
also
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...3&Nav=|c:1809|&Recs=30

You WILL NOT find unlocked phones in stores. Stores are all about walk-in sales.
Look at the prices.
No one it their right mind wants to pay so much money for those things. And they darn sure wouldnt do it just walking around in a mall.

Thats why they came up with annual contracts and cancellation fees. You have to make the final price free or dirt cheap.

Also, stores usually charge full retail for items. Even if somebody did want to buy a phone outright they wouldnt pay MSRP. They would go online and get it cheaper.

 

[GTaudiophile]

My phone is unlocked and I bought it directly from Sony Ericsson North America.

 

[bigal40]

I know that you can get most sony ericsson phones unlocked straight from SE but your best bet is ebay.

 

[kevinf2090]

another way is to find like an asian owned cell phone dealer. they can usually get unlocked phones for you

 

[erwos]

eBay is your friend. You can also sometimes find stuff in FS/FT - that's how I got my SDA.

 

[gcy]

Amazon have unlocked phones too. If you are here for a short stay you can buy one of those cheap pay as you go cell phones.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: uli2000
It's pretty hard to buy a unlocked phone in a retail location in the US. Unlike most countries, almost all cell phone users are on subsidised plans. Therefore, companies lock the phones. Its not like Europe where pay as you go is more popular, so phones are not as likely to be subsidised and locked to a single network. Tiger Direct used to have unlocked cell phones, and there is allway ebay. Howardforums has alot of vendors on there that sell unlocked phones. Look over there and see if anyone has a retail location near where you are going to be.

You are 100% wrong. If you're in any major city, you can find an Asian store. All of them sell unlocked phones, well 95% of them at least. I can drive 10 min and hit up like 5 Asian stores.

My past 4 phones have been unlocked phones:

- SE W810i
- SE K750
- SE K700
- Moto V600 (T-Mobile branded but unlocked)

If you thought getting a cell phone means going to an official Cingular or T-Mobile store, then to me you're like the people who only buy electronics at B&M stores and have never heard of Newegg =).

Oh, and Asian places are cheap. Even when you talk about branded phones, they are CHEAP as hell. NO official store can match that.

When I got my Moto V600, it was $199.99 even on Amazon. $39.99 for me in Aug 04. That was what... 4 months after it came out? (1 year T-Mobile)

My K750i was $100 at an Asian store when it was clearly $350+ on eBay. I got a 1 year plan with it.

There's no way you can be getting good deals going to official stores and there's no way you can be getting the best phones.