What Does it Mean for a Phone to be Carrier Unlocked? When a phone is "unlocked," this means it is not tied to a specific network or carrier, such as Verizon or AT&T. An unlocked ...

But before making the change, you may have to unlock your phone from your current carrier’s network, so it will work on the new one. Unlocking a phone can also make things easier when you’re ...

In the US, many carriers employ software locks that prevent you from using a phone you buy from them on a competing network. Unlocked phones—those you pay for in total up-front, often directly ...

Where we once were forced into 24-month contracts with devices that were useless on any other network, nowadays your wireless carrier must unlock your phone if you request it. Seriously, ...

Carriers also won't unlock a phone if it has been reported stolen. Our reader was "burned" by unknowingly purchasing a phone from someone who hadn't met the terms of his contract. The AT&T rep we ...

Many phones sold by carriers come "locked" to that carrier ... third-party companies that sell such codes, or other types of unlocking services. Another type of "lock" is a keypad lock, which ...