What is a locked cell phone?

Why is it locked? Can I unlock it? The definition of a locked cell phone is a cell phone that is programmed to only work with 1 GSM carrier. Almost all wireless carriers such as Cingular, T-Mobile, VoiceSteam, etc started a marketing ploy a few years ago of enticing customers to buy their service by paying for most, or all, of the cost of a new cell phone (instead of the customer having to buy it) if the customer would commit to a one or two year contract to use their wireless service. That's why so many companies offer you a FREE PHONE if you sign up with them for a contract! The wireless carriers did not want that expensive phone to be able to be used for free at a later time by the customer with a different carrier, so they got the cell phone manufactures to program the phones to be locked so they only work with their service and no one else's. For example, if Cingular paid for your FREE PHONE when you activated service with them, Cingular locks it so it could only be used on ...  more

A locked cell phone is one that has been altered in order to use only one particular cellular network. This is often referred to as a service provider lock or "SP lock" for short. All GSM network operators lock the GSM cell phones they sell or offer with their cellular services. This is the hidden cost of the otherwise "free" or heavily-discounted phone you might receive directly from a network operator by signing a service contract. The cost of providing you with a "free" or low cost phone is subsidized over time through more expensive phone rates when you make calls domestically or roaming overseas. In the end, you end up paying much more for your "free" phone and service than you would if you purchased a package. An unlocked phone is therefore one where this software restriction has been removed. Buy Unlocked GSM Phones at these merchants.