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Should I Unlock My Phone? 10 Reasons The Answer’s 'Yes'

Staff Reporter
Photo by Omid Armin on Unsplash
(Photo : Omid Armin on Unsplash)

Questions. Life's full of them. Some require lengthy investigation before an answer can be reached. Others are easier to resolve. 

Luckily, when it comes to deciding whether or not to unlock your mobile phone, the answer's pretty clear cut. Yes, unlocking your phone is a good thing. There are lots of reasons for this (we've got 10 for starters, which we'll share with you shortly). But they all boil down to one thing: Choice. 

The embodiment of freedom, choice opens doors, drives opportunities and, most importantly perhaps, puts you in control. It's easy to underestimate its importance, but having choice over the decisions we make (both big and small) matters.

Being able to choose how you use your mobile phone isn't life changing, but it is life enhancing. Mobile phones keep us functioning. A way of connecting and communicating, they're a lifeline for many and an essential part of our everyday toolkit. And with so much choice available, they've also become highly personalized. 

So, choosing to unlock your phone makes sense because it unlocks the potential in your phone. And the potential to make your life easier. 

In this post we'll go into detail about what exactly you can achieve with an unlocked phone by sharing 10 of the top benefits. 

But if you want to find out more or need help unlocking your phone, the carrier unlock service with Mobile Unlocked has an A to Z guide to all the most popular US networks.  

Photo by Raychan on Unsplash
(Photo : Raychan on Unsplash)

The 10 big benefits behind unlocked phones

The lock that's placed on a mobile device is a software code that tells your phone to connect only to a specific network. If your phone has a SIM lock on it it means you can't get or use a signal with any other service. Remove that lock and you remove all of your ties. Which means you can:

1. Go Sim-Only

If signing up for long-term contracts isn't right for you, unlocking your phone means you can steer clear of commitments and go SIM-only if you want to. 

2. Avoid Roaming Costs 

Combine traveling abroad with using your locked phone and costs can quickly mount up. With a SIM-unlocked device you can switch over to local networks when abroad to avoid roaming charges. Just swap your SIM over to connect to the carrier that offers the best deal wherever you are.

3. Meet Your Perfect Match

In many ways, your phone is a reflection of you. Whether it's online shopping, texting, taking photos, or watching videos, we all use our phones differently. And this determines the type of phone we choose. And the carrier we use to provide those services. Whether it's more data, more reliable coverage, or better streaming options, with an unlocked phone you don't have to compromise. You can create a package or plan that's personal to you. 

4. Increase The Value Of Your Phone

It may not have felt like it if you were on a contract and paying for your device month on month as part of your payment plan, but cell phones are super expensive. Particularly the latest models. Which is why the second hand mobile market is so active. If you've paid for your phone and don't need it or just want to downsize, selling is a good option. It's an even better option if your phone's unlocked. More versatile, unlocked phones are quicker to sell and command a much higher price than carrier locked phones (30% higher according to research).

5. Shop Around 

It may be dominated by a handful of major carriers, but the US mobile phone market still offers lots of choice. Whether it's a key player like AT&T, T Mobile or Verizon, or one of the smaller subsidiaries or independents, if you've got an unlocked phone you can take your pick from them all.

6. Save Money

When you're on a budget every cent counts. Sticking with a mobile carrier just because they were the one you decided to sign a contract with years ago is unlikely to be the most competitive deal. Make your phone work with your budget by sourcing lower prices and better deals from the widest choice possible.

7. Take Control

We've talked about choice and how important it is. Being controlled by a mobile phone carrier whose primary interest is its bottom line isn't a healthy situation to be in. By unlocking your device you regain ownership and control. You decide who you want your provider to be based on your needs and your situation. Not the other way around.

8. Keep Your Phone

Cell phones are expensive. Agreed. So if you've paid for your phone, why should you have to buy a new one every time you want to switch provider? Or go through the frustrating set-up process. Remove the SIM lock on your device and you don't have to buy a new phone. Just insert a new SIM card into your existing phone and keep hold of the device you've already made yours. 

9. Stay In Signal

Even the biggest carriers have signal black spots. And if you've moved location since signing up with your current network provider, you may find that their coverage is no longer the best for your area. With an unlocked phone you can switch over to a wireless carrier that keeps you connected with minimal dropouts.

10. Enjoy Flexibility

Circumstances change. Whether it's budget, location, travel commitments, work priorities or personal interests, life rarely stays the same for long. And all of those changes can affect how you need or use your mobile phone. It's easier and quicker to adapt to those natural shifts using an unlocked phone.

Why unlock your phone? Because it's too easy not to

So. 10 powerful reasons for unlocking your phone. But there's one more to add. And that's because you can! In 2013, President Obama passed the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act in the States. This made it not only legal to unlock a mobile phone but your right as a consumer.

Riding on this wave, third-party mobile unlocking services made the next obvious step (how do you actually process the unlock) super easy. Bypassing all of the bureaucracy and admin often associated with most mobile networks' own unlocking process, these providers have made unlocking phones simple, safe and streamlined. No forms to fill in. No eligibility requirements to meet. No need to handover your device at all. In fact, all you need is a number.

It's all about the IMEI

Every phone has a unique 15-digit code attributed to it. How do you find it? That's easy too. You can do either of the following:

Type *#06# into your cell phone keypad.

Go to the 'Settings/About Phone/Status/IMEI Information' menu on your Apple iPhone or Android device.

Remove the battery and look on the white label underneath. 

Simply share this with your mobile phone unlocking service provider and they'll do the rest.

Your unlock will either happen automatically "over-the-air" using wifi (this goes for iPhones and other Apple devices) or you'll be sent an unlock code to input (the process for Android models). Everything takes place remotely, online via your service providers online portal.

Like we said. Simple.

6 fast facts about your unlocked phone

Are all phones locked?

If you bought your iPhone or Android device through a carrier, it is likely to have a lock on it.

Will unlocking my phone affect software updates?

No, your unlocked phone won't be affected by any future software updates. In fact, in many cases unlocked phones get their updates faster than phones locked into a network. This is because the update comes directly from the manufacturer rather than through the carrier.

Is a blocked phone the same as a locked phone?

No. A blocked phone is not the same as a locked phone. A locked phone is tied to a particular network and can only be used on that network. A blocked or blacklisted phone is a mobile device that has been reported lost or stolen, or has unpaid bills against its contract. In this instance, the block is put in place by the operator to prevent it being used illegally or until its credit is cleared.

How long will my phone stay unlocked for?

If you use a phone unlocking service your phone will be permanently unlocked.

Why is the unlocking process different for Android and Apple devices?

Apple products are whitelisted. This whitelisting gives approved or authorized users or entities access to data held within its system. Through whitelisting, Mobile Unlocked can source and directly update Apple's manufacturing database to change a phone's status from 'locked' to 'unlocked'.

Doing this means you don't have to enter an unlock code into your device to free it from the network. Simply turn on your device with the new SIM card in and it will automatically update and unlock it.

Android devices don't offer the same whitelisting access. Instead, we scan worldwide manufacturing databases to retrieve the unlock code. This code is emailed to you and is also included in your order tracking document. Just type the code into your phone to unlock it, insert your new SIM and you're done.

Can I use an unlocked phone on any carrier?

Some carriers use GSM technology. GSM stands for 'Global System for Mobiles.' Others use CDMA. CDMA stands for 'Code Division Multiple Access'. The more up-to-date the model of your phone, the more likely it is to be compatible with any carrier, once it's unlocked. Regardless of whether it uses a GSM or CDMA network. Most 4G LTE and 5G-enabled devices, for example, should work on any network, once the network unlock code has been activated. Which means you can choose any carrier. Older, 3G models will only function on the network (CDMA or GSM) they were originally manufactured for. This means your choice of carrier will be limited to those that use the same network (CDMA or GSM).

Unlocked device or locked device?

Only you can decide if unlocking your phone is right for you. Perhaps you've got the ideal set-up. But things change. And the good news is, if you do decide to do it (now or at some point in the future), the process is a breeze, as long as you get the right help. 

© Copyright 2020 Mobile & Apps, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of mobilenapps.com

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