Understanding and Finding Unlocked GSM Phones…

> Review Unlocked GSM Phones

Did you know that most cell phone users in Europe simply remove their “SIM” card when they want to use a different phone — and their phone number and identity information travel with them to the new phone?  That’s right.  This works with a GSM phone that is “unlocked.”  GSM stands for “Global System for Mobile Communications, and “unlocked” means that the phone is not set up to run only for one service provider.  Most people I know would like to find that in the US.  Guess what?  You can… but not at the kiosks, and specialty phone stores of the major providers in strip malls.  Try the search at right — showing all the GSM unlocked phones for sale at eBay from providers (check their service ratings before purchase).

Here are more details about unlocked and GSM phones…

UNLOCKED PHONES: Some cell phones are designed to use a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, or microchip that stores subscriber data. The SIM card is issued by a carrier and provides cell service when inserted into your cell phone. A locked phone, however, only recognizes a SIM card from a specific carrier. If the cell phone is unlocked, it will recognize a SIM card from any carrier. This “lock” is a software setting that keeps your phone set for use with only one service provider.

In the United States  phones are commonly locked so that they will not work with other carriers. Providers have said this is necessary to offset the rebates and promotions on phones. Sometimes, a carrier agrees to unlock the phone, usually charging a fee. But the phones don’t always function correctly with other carriers, even once unlocked.

One way to get an unlocked phone  is to buy it new from a third party vendor in its original, unlocked state, though the price you pay may be close to full retail. Your  advantage is that your unlocked phone should work equally well with any carrier that uses SIM cards.

GSM PHONES: A GSM — (G)lobal (S)ystem for (M)obile Communications –  uses GSM to send and receive phone calls. GSM is a digital standard that is currently the most popular mobile phone transmission technology in the world.

The GSM standard uses TDMA digital technology, which allows for three different voice calls to be placed in the same time slot, rather than one call using the old analog “cell” phones. Another benefit of a GSM phone is the addition of a SIM card, or “Subscriber Identification Module.” This little chip slips into the back of GSM phones and provides all of the users’ personal information. This includes contacts and calendar information in most cases, and more importantly the subscriber’s personal identification information. Having this information on removable chip enables a GSM phone user to move a SIM card between mobile phones and still receive voice calls to the same number. It also prevents user from having to re-input personal information each time a new phone is purchased.

In Europe and most of Asia, GSM is the standard — a great advantage over the US system, because users can simply move their chips to different phones if they travel to different countries or in most cases use the same phone.

> Review Unlocked GSM Phones

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