What are the benefits of unlocking a cell phone?

[SOSTrooper]

I've had maybe 4 or 5 cell phones over the past years and I've never unlocked any of them, because simply, I didn't know what the benefits are. So now I'm curious as to what are the benefits of unlocking a cell phone (more specifically a Verizon cell phone)?

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Can't unlock a Verizon cellphone, only GSM (T-Mobile, Cingular) phones.

 

[acemcmac]

You can move it to another carrier without restriction

 

[Epic Fail]

You can use an unlocked phone in another country with GSM service.

 

[episodic]

I always wondered what the buzz was about this. . .

 

[MazerRackham]

It's all about flexibility. More flexible in usage, and also more flexible when you want to sell it. This is especially true of quad-band GSM phones, such as the SE w810i I'm about to buy online tonight Can't decide if I want to splurge and get a 4GB due card with it... I'll at least get a 2GB one.

 

[SOSTrooper]

I read that since Verizon forces people to pay 25 cents to send a picture from the phone, unlocking it (or perhaps correctedly termed flashing the firmware in this case) allows easy phone to PC transfers of all files. Is that something unlocking a cell phone can do by the meaning of flexibility?

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: MazerRackham
It's all about flexibility. More flexible in usage, and also more flexible when you want to sell it. This is especially true of quad-band GSM phones, such as the SE w810i I'm about to buy online tonight Can't decide if I want to splurge and get a 4GB due card with it... I'll at least get a 2GB one.

Get a K790A. Much better camera and slightly improved interface.