Most cell phone providers have their own line of cell phones that can be used on their network. These phones are “locked” so that they cannot be used on other networks. So, what is an unlocked phone? An unlocked cell phone can be used across many service providers. For international travelers an unlocked phone will allow them to use prepaid services in other countries. This is a lot cheaper than trying to add international calls to an existing contract.
There are places where users can purchase unlocked cell phones. For instance, in Asia and Europe cell phones are typically unlocked when they are purchased. It’s only in the United States where they are more limited. However, it can be done by the user if they know how to perform the right steps to do so.
Cell phones contain a SIM card. These cards can be removed and placed into another phone. For international users, it is relatively easy to remove the SIM card and replace it with a local card while traveling through Europe and Asia. If the cell phone company works on the GSM network an unlocked cell phone can be used with any carrier that the user chooses both international or domestic.
