Thread: What does it mean to have a phone unlocked?

What is all the unlocked phone stuff about? I dont understand it. If I have an unlocked storm, from VZW, can I use it in other countries the way it is? Do I need a sim card from somewhere else? I guess I dont get it.

Thanks

A locked one will only accept sim from the original provider, which might be very expensive when abroad...

If you want to see if your phone is locked:

options/advanced options/SIM card - type: mepd
if net/network is set to inactive/disabled

your phone is an unlocked one

So if I go their type in mepd and everything says disabled What then? Is it all unlocked?

If you need to unlock your device, please use a reputable unlocking service. Sometimes it may seem a good deal, but a good unlock service will offer gurantees and support for their service.

Alan

ANother simple way to test - if ur phone is unlocked -is to insert a SIM card of another provider (other than whose name is printed on ur device). If you can make calls then your phone is unlocked.
However CDMA is a different ball game. Unlike GSM, CDMA uses PRL and other parameters to config/activate the handset on a new network. In such a case, you need to get your handset programmed by the new network provider which may not be always possible. I recall that somewhere in 2007 or so, USA passed a law making it mandatory for service providers to unlock the phone when the customer is leaving the nW or the country. SPrint/Verizon started unlocking CDMA handsets then.

Originally Posted by clive

ANother simple way to test - if ur phone is unlocked -is to insert a SIM card of another provider (other than whose name is printed on ur device). If you can make calls then your phone is unlocked.
However CDMA is a different ball game. Unlike GSM, CDMA uses PRL and other parameters to config/activate the handset on a new network. In such a case, you need to get your handset programmed by the new network provider which may not be always possible. I recall that somewhere in 2007 or so, USA passed a law making it mandatory for service providers to unlock the phone when the customer is leaving the nW or the country. SPrint/Verizon started unlocking CDMA handsets then.

Right, all I had to do when I left the US with my Verizon phone was call up customer service and they gave me a code to unlock my device.