People switch carriers for a number of reasons, including lack of coverage and poor cell signal. The most obvious benefit to unlocking your phone is that you can use it with another carrier. By using local SIM cards instead of paying these fees directly on your bill, you can save hundreds of dollars per year on international calls alone. Some carriers charge high rates for international calls and texts when traveling abroad.

Save money on international roaming charges.

Overall, an unlocked phone is more valuable if you want to sell it. An unlocked phone means that you could sell your phone to anyone, without having to check for carrier compatibility. If you’re on a monthly payment plan or leasing plan, or if you want to switch carriers at any time, it’s often cheaper to unlock your device than to buy another one. Here are the top 3 reasons to unlock your phone: It’s a great way to get more value from your device, while also saving money on service. Unlocking your cell phone allows you to use any carrier SIM card in your phone. Keep in mind that the unlocked phone may not work completely the same on another carrier network because of different technologies. That could make a big difference to you when you decide to purchase a used phone. If the phone is locked, it can be used only on the carrier it’s locked to. If you purchase a new phone, it’s still ideal to make sure it’s unlocked in case you want to switch carriers. Why? If the phone is unlocked you can use it to receive mobile phone service from the carrier of your choice.

It’s a good idea to check a used phone to see if it’s locked before you purchase it. Or to prevent theft on newly purchased phones. Carriers will install software on the phone to lock it to their network.Ĭarriers lock phones to their service so phone buyers can’t purchase a subsidized phone from a carrier at a discount and then quickly move to another carrier for service. If a cell phone is locked, it means that the phone can only be used on one specific carrier’s network, like only on Verizon service, or only on AT&T. What Does it Mean if a Phone Is Unlocked? Also, if your phone needs a boost, don’t worry because weBoost cell phone signal boosters will work with any cell carrier. The steps differ for iPhones and Androids, but we’ll go through them both below. There are a few ways to tell if your phone is unlocked. You don’t want to get into a situation where a used phone you’ve purchased doesn’t work on your cell carrier.

But if you’ve had it for a while or if you’re planning to purchase a used phone, you should check to see if it’s locked or not. If you’ve purchased a cell phone recently, it’s likely already unlocked.

Verizon locked sim iphone