unlocked cell phone

An unlocked cell phone is a cellular telephone handset that can be used with more than one service provider, making it easy for a user to switch from one cellular network to another.

The sequence of steps a user must perform in order to unlock a cell phone depends on the original communications service provider and on the manufacturer of the phone set. Some cell phone sets can be unlocked by inputting codes to modify the software in the unit. Other sets require the purchase of special cables or modification of the internal hardware as well as reprogramming of the phone's data settings. In the wake of the U.S. Copyright Office's decision in November 2006 to allow cell-phone unlocking for at least three years thereafter, numerous companies began to offer unlocking services for a fee.

Proponents of cell-phone unlocking argue that consumers should be free to change their network when a subscription contract expires without having to discard hardware they purchased outright. Some cell-phone service providers, unhappy with the Copyright Office's decision, are resisting the practice by making their cell-phone sets difficult or impossible to unlock.

Read more about unlocked cell phone: - Sascha Segan explains how a cell phone can be unlocked. - Cell-phone unlocking may increase competition among service providers. - Howard Forums offers a list of companies that provide cell-phone unlocking services.

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know. Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Cost-effective mobile connectivity As companies facing mounting mobile connectivity costs you need to make sense of the available mobile connectivity options and reduce costs before... Fixed-mobile convergence: Dual-mode versus cellular-only Fixed-mobile convergence can be achieved via either a cellular or dual-mode approach. Each approach has its pros and cons. Wireless rate negotiations: How to get the best deal Wireless negotiations require preparation. Companies must assemble the right team to assess their needs and form a bargaining strategy.

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary 1xRTT  (WhatIs.com) 1xRTT (Single-Carrier Radio Transmission Technology ) refers to any of several digital wireless communications standards that were developed to... fixed-mobile convergence  (SearchMobileComputing.com) Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) is the trend towards seamless connectivity between fixed and wireless telecommunications networks... (Continued)