Consumer Electronics Online: Unlocked Cell Phones

These days it's hard to imagine a world without cell phones.

It truly wasn't until the past decade that carrying a cellular phone around became as common as carrying around a wallet or ones house keys. But they have exploded onto the scene, and for good reason. On top of being a convenient means for communication, cell phones provide a safety net, a means of being rescued in any sort of emergency. From something serious like an attacker to something much less so, like a popped tire or simply needing directions, cell phones are probably most appreciated for their ability to get an individual out of a jam.

Nowadays, kids get cell phones before they start Junior High, if not sooner. There are countless different makes or models from a plethora of different providers. Stores and online retailers that sell cheap cell phone accessories and discount cell phones seem to be around every corner. And even the seventh grader who doesn't know the difference between adverbs and pronouns can pick up an iPhone and use every feature flawlessly.

Yet there is a phrase in the world of cell phones, especially discount cell phones, that many individuals have heard but have little understand of what it means: an unlocked cellphone.

Specifically, what does it means if a cellphone is unlocked?

To understand an unlocked cellphone, one must first understand what a SIM card is. Anyone who has traveled abroad likely knows was a SIM card is, but for those who don't, a "Subscriber Identification Module card" is a small microchip that easily pops out of your cellphone used to store data from the subscriber.

These SIM cards are typically always issued by the service provider. And a high majority of phones are designed specifically to only recognize, or function with, a SIM card that has been built and provided by a specific carrier. This is called a "locked cellphone," and it is designed this way as a means of keeping certain phone designs exclusive to a specific carrier. The best and most well-known example of a locked cellphone is the Apple iPhones in the United States (though many in Europe aren't).

Therefore, an unlocked cellphone is a mobile phone that will allow you to use a SIM card from any provider. There are a series of advantages to the unlocked cellphone, which is why so many companies make a killing out of providing customers a cheap unlocked cell phone. However, the most well known is that you can easily switch cell phones at any time from any location just by swapping out the SIM card. This process takes only moments and can be done easily by virtually anyone.

Even the kid in junior high still struggling with his adverbs.