Unlocking Your GSM Mobile Phone

Many people are beginning to realize the benefits of purchasing an unlocked mobile phone or unlocking their existing mobile phone. How you unlock your mobile phone will depend on your phone model as well as your service provider.

What Is Unlocking

Mobile phones are often "locked" by mobile service providers to prevent you from using your mobile phone with another service provider. Once a mobile phone is locked the phone will only work on that service providers network. Mobile phone service providers view locking phones as a way to insure customer retention since the service providers often subsidize the cost of the mobile phone handset. While Americans have become quite accustomed to locked mobile phones, the practice is actually illegal in many countries.

Service providers use several methods to lock phones. GSM mobile phones are locked using a SIM lock while non-GSM phones are locked using firmware (the software that runs the phone). Only GSM phones can be unlocked. For US mobile phone users that means that Verizon and Nextel phones (among others) can not be unlocked to work on another service provider's network.

What Is GSM

GSM is an acronym for Global System for Mobile communications. GSM is the world standard for mobile phone networks with more than 200 countries using GSM technology for mobile communications. GSM is the standard mobile phone technology in use worldwide - except in the United States. In the United States, Cingular and T-Mobile both use a GSM network, while Verizon, Nextel and other providers use a completely different network.

GSM mobile phone networks operate on four frequency ranges. 900 mhz and 1800 mhz frequencies are used worldwide, while 850 mhz and 1900 mhz are used by most US GSM mobile service providers. This means that you need to purchase a quad-band phone if you plan to travel abroad and want to use your unlocked GSM phone when you travel. Quad-band phones are able to operate on all four GSM frequencies.

The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM card) is what gives GSM mobile phones such a flexible advantage over other systems. The SIM card is a small chip that plugs into your phone. The SIM card contains your account information and phone number.

Why Unlock Your Mobile Phone

Unlocking your GSM mobile phone offers you several distinct advantages. Unlocked GSM mobile phones can be used on any GSM network, whether prepaid or contract. Additionally, unlocked GSM mobile phones are more valuable than locked phones

The SIM card in GSM phones provide two significant advantages over other systems. First, you can remove the SIM card from your GSM mobile phone, place the SIM card in another GSM mobile phone, and the new phone will work with your account and phone number. This allows you to use more than one phone without changing phone numbers. Second, you can remove the SIM card from your unlocked GSM mobile phone, insert a new SIM card from another service provider, and your phone will work with your new account and phone number. This is the feature that frequent travelers like to use as they can purchase local SIM cards for use overseas. This is considerably less expensive than paying international roaming rates to your regular mobile service provider. This option also frees you from any particular service provider.

How To Unlock Your GSM Mobile Phone

How you unlock your GSM mobile phone will depend on the model of mobile phone you have.

Some mobile phones can be unlocked simply be entering a special code through the keypad. However, many mobile phones need to be connected to a computer with a special cable to unlock them. Some Nokia mobile phones can be unlocked by entering a code with the keypad. However, you are only allowed several attempts at this before the phone becomes "hard-locked." Once the phone is hard-locked you will need special equipment to unlock the phone.

Your mobile phone service provider can unlock your phone. Service providers have differing policies on unlocking phones. Some providers will not unlock phones at all while others will unlock phones in certain circumstances.

Some independent mobile phone stores have the equipment to unlock GSM mobile phones.

There are companies that specialize in unlocking GSM mobile phones - a Google search will produce plenty of choices here.

Consumer Beware - Mobile Phone Unlocking Pitfalls

There are several considerations to keep in mind when unlocking your mobile phone.

Unlocking may void your phone warranty. If your phone is still under warranty you may want to reread the terms of your warranty before attempting to unlock the phone.

The original service provider may have "branded" the phone by modifying the firmware. This means that the phone may still display the service providers logo. Service providers also frequently disable or limit phone features. Unlocking your mobile phone will not make these features available.

Stories abound of consumers purchasing unlock codes that do not work. Do your homework before paying any company to unlock your mobile phone for you.

Buying A New Unlocked GSM Mobile Phone

You can purchase a new GSM mobile phone unlocked. Unlocked phones can be purchased direct from manufacturers or online at sites like Amazon and eBay. These phones will typically cost more than a comparable locked phone from your service provider because the service provider normally subsidizes the handsets they sell.

Unlocked Mobile Phones For Greater Freedom

Unlocking your mobile phone or purchasing an unlocked mobile phone provides freedom and flexibility. If you plan to travel internationally or just don't like being tied to two-year service contracts you may want to consider using an unlocked GSM mobile phone. If you don't plan to travel and have no plans to change mobile service providers you may be better off buying a subsidized mobile phone from your service provider.