What exactly is cell phone unlocking?

[WhiteKnight]

My understanding is that it providers lock their phones so that you can't use them on another provider's network. Unlocking removes this. Is that about right? If that's the case, what do you do when you have an unlocked phone and you want to get a new provider? Do you need a new SIM card?

 

[thereds]

If you are talking about GSM service, then yes.

Every provider has their own specific SIM cards. So to transfer from say vodafone to BTCellNet, you will need to get a CellNet SIM.

One SIM can't be used to access a variety of providers.

If you have GSM phone with a SIM card and want to see a list of GSM providers in your area, go to your NETWORK SEARCH feature on your phone and do a manual search. It will give u a list of providers. If you select one of those providers, and it is not the one your SIM card connects to, you will get an error msg.

 

[WhiteKnight]

What about on non-GSM phones?

 

[bmacd]

correct me if i'm wrong, but non-gsm phones don't use SIM cards...they are programmed via a crystal chip to a certain network...and having the chip re-burned is the only way to switch networks.

-=bmacd=-

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
What about on non-GSM phones?

It's the same concept basically... every provider "lock" their phone so you cannot use it on another network... an unlocked phone means it can be used on any compatible network...