Unlocked cell phones

[xero]

I have an account with T-Mobile and my phone is a Sony Ericsson T610.

Recently, it's started to show signs that it's about to die, and I've been looking for a replacement.

I'm considering buying this unlocked Sony Ericsson K750i (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16875210505), but I don't know anything about unlocked phones.

Do unlocked phones work with any provider? Can I return it if it doesn't? Does anybody have experience with unlocked phones and T-Mobile?

Any information at all would be helpful. :(

[Yukfo0]

any "GSM" unlocked phone will work with t-mobile (take out your chip and put it in new phone, phone book and everything will be saved)
now, all the functions may not work (like internet) the t-mobile website should have compatablity list, i know cingular does
www.simoncells.com for gsm phones

[Gr8Shot]

what does it mean that it's unlocked

[pho-nam]

what does it mean that it's unlocked
That a new upgraded phone is now available. They must of used some game genie to unlock it...

[Rimuladas]

most cell phone service providers lock certain features of the phones so you have to pay to use them. Like verizon locks the bluetooth feature and ringtones and wallpaper so you have pay for them. You can get unlock codes so all those features work. Also, you with an unlocked phone, you can normally go to any provider, and not be stuck with their lame as versions of phones.

[tice]

If you have a SA account SA Mart is usually a good place to get cheap(er) unlocked phones.

[dook]

unlocking a phone has nothing to do with features. it has to do with compatability. IN THEORY all GSM phones are compatible with all networks but when you buy a phone from t-mobile they obviously don't want you running off and using it with a different company, so they lock it to their network. An unlocked phone is just one that you really can put your SIM chip into and use with anybody.

If you're buying a new phone, get one that's unlocked. The t-mobile store, for instance, might say that you can't get an unlocked phone but that's bullshit. Just look on ebay or any of the retail retail cell phone shops (not the company shops, but the ones that sell all phones). These stores will also unlock your locked phone for a small fee (5-10 dollars usually).

[Janus]

so then you take the phone to a provider and have them give you service through their network?

[jiggaspai]

some companies will tell you if they take foreign (unlocked) fones

[Rimuladas]

your right i was uncorrect in the features part, i got it confused with something else i read on a new phone with different companies.

In essance i found this that should answer your question:

There are three main reasons why you might want to unlock your phone.

Because you want to change the wireless company you get service from in the US, and want to keep your present phone.

You've changed to a different service provider and got a new phone, but you want to unlock your old phone so you can use it in an emergency just by swapping the SIM over if your main phone gives problems

Because you want to travel internationally and don't want to have to pay the very expensive international rates your present wireless company would charge you while internationally roaming

[dook]

so then you take the phone to a provider and have them give you service through their network?

yes. you don't need to buy a phone from them to have their service if it's GSM.

some of you sound like you need a reason to get an unlocked phone. i'm trying to think of a reason why you'd want a locked one.... unless you work for verizon. any phone out there can and should be unlocked, you just need to buy it from the right people and not from the provider.

[Rimuladas]

I agree with Dookie. For example, Verizon offers a new RAZR phone but locks alot of the features and changes the whole menu layout. They went away from the motarolla menu system and alot of people are pissed about this. They charge you to down load ring tones, wallpaper, games. They lock the bluetooth so you cannot transfer items from your computer to it.

Am i right in saying that if you bought an unlocked RAZR from a 3rd party that had the origional motarolla menu, and inserted your SIM card, you would get all the default RAZR features to work with Verizon?

[Success@Failure]

Last i check Verizon doesnt run a SIM card. They are kinda like Sprint.

In anycase Xero, i got a unlocked w800i and it works great man. I got it on a Cingular plan which i hate but all in all the phone its self works fine. Its just a matter of searching online for the settings of your email and internet but once you get all that its gravy. If anything the model you want (k750i) is kinda played out. May i recommend the w810i. Its got the same firmware as the 800i but better button layout and the mp3 function is really kick ass. As far as the camera goes, the 2 MP(which is the same in K750i and w800i) is fucking amazing. Awesome quality.

In terms of returns, most phones come with a 1 year international factory warranty. So you wouldn’t have to send it to T-mobile just send it back to Sony. I've known people in the past with unlocked Nokia and Samsung phones and they took care of it quick and easy.

All in all its not that bad of an idea. Should look into something a bit nicer than the k750i, but if thats what you like go for it.