Unlocking or ‘jailbreaking’ of cell phones to save money on bills has become a trend. Several companies have earned a reputation for providing the safest and easiest unlocking software that operate in the 3.1.2 firmware version of iPhone 3G and the 3.1.3 version for the iPhone 2G. The jailbreaking market is an ever-expanding one, especially in emerging economies, such as Russia, China and India.
Most cell phone companies in the United States offer network locked handsets, which can be operated with one particular carrier’s network. Unlocked cell phones enable cell owners to easily switch cellular operators in order to add features or services that specific operators may not offer.
Comparison between Locked and Unlocked Cell Phones
The primary difference between the two kinds of cell phones is that a handset with contract would not work with any other service providers. To use their phones in any other part of the world, users would have to either purchase a new unlocked handset or unlock it with the help of software.
A marked difference in prices results in the same model being marketed in two versions. Locked phones are available at lower prices than contract handsets because the provider earns not on the phone but by entering into a contractual relation for a time period with the user. Moreover, locked cell phones are considered to be more secure that their unlocked counterparts.
A programmed cell phone helps the provider keep track of the service, send calls and compile the minutes. This proves advantageous to the user since its offers the technology to place calls, retrieve voicemail and send messages. Another benefit of using SIM cards is that one can switch it from one phone to another without changing the provider, in case some problem arises in the old handset. However, the user has to make sure that the new handset is unlocked.
The main downside of locked handsets is the fetters introduced by the provider, making its difficult for the user to operate in other state or even switch cell phones. In case users sign up for a new service, they have to purchase a new handset, reset it to their preferred settings and re-enter all the contacts manually. Tourists often have to pay exorbitant fees to use cell phones in another country. This type of situation proves to be quite expensive and inconvenient.
NOKIA, the world’s largest cell phone manufacturer, now runs advertisements that say ‘Open to Anything’ and ‘Unlock your potential.’ The purpose behind this is to let users know that NOKIA handsets can be used with any carrier, unlike handsets manufactured by many other providers.