Locked versus Unlocked cell phone

The basic difference between locked phones and unlocked phones is that a locked phone is dedicated to use with specific carrier only from which it directly comes. They programmed the phone according to their services. Whereas an unlocked phone comes directly from the manufacturers i.e. Nokia, Samsung, Blackberry, Apple etc.These phone are not bound to use with any specific carries. As per their compatibility unlocked phones can be used with any carrier. You can just simply insert your SIM card and use the services of your service provider.

SIM cards are basically a chip having all the information of the subscriber and are specific for all the users. It works as a medium between the user and the carrier. Any service provider can trace all the activities related to their services via the SIM card. Generally all cell phones available today have a subscriber identity module (SIM) card in them.

The best thing about SIM cards is that if you want to change your cell phone because of any reason then you can easily switch your SIM card from one to another phone unless it is not locked to other carrier. In this way you can use your services as it is from your carrier. There is no need to inform your carrier about the change of your cell phone as your services are traced via the SIM card not by Cell phone. But the main thing of concern is that your phone must be unlocked.

The main problem with any locked phone is that the carrier makes it difficult to switch to a new one without buying a whole new set of cell phone with a SIM card. So when you want to switch for a new service you usually have to purchase a new mobile belonging to other service provider and again reset all your setting and have to entered all the useful data. Another thing is that your old phone also become useless as you can not use it with other carrier. And when the cell phone is costly then you have to compromise with the services you are availing from your carrier and it became a cause of pain.

An unlocked phone is a best solution for all of the above problems as you can use it with choice your carrier. An unlocked phone comes directly from the manufacturers i.e. Nokia, Samsung, Blackberry, Apple etc. There is not any bridge like carrier between the manufacturer and user in the case of an unlocked phone.