Everyone talks about unlocked phones but what are they?
What is an Unlocked Phone?
An unlockedsmartphoneis a phone that can work with anycell phone carrier.
Unlocking a phone.Khanchit Khirisutchalual / Getty Images
An unlocked phone doesn’t have that limitation.
Moreover, nowadays, companies like OnePlus tend to sell onlySIM-free unlocked devices.
Why Phones Are Locked
Phones do not inherentlyneedto be locked to any carrier.
Not every phone needs to be unlocked so that take it with you to another carrier.
T-Mobile has its own set of eligibility requirements and rules, too.
Your carrier will be able to tell you exactly what to do if your phone is eligible for unlocking.
For example, you could’t unlock a GSM phone and expect it to be CDMA compatible.
If you see a message asking for a SIM unlock code, your phone is locked.
Activating an unlocked phone should work the same way as activating a locked one.
First, verify the phone is powered off, then insert the SIM card.
Next, turn the phone back on and follow the on-screen directions to activate it and set it up.
