How to Buy a New Unlocked Cell Phone

Buying a new, unlocked cell phone has many advantages. If you enjoy traveling, or are required to travel for business purposes, an unlocked cell phone will allow you to place a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card from any cell phone provider into the phone, which can usually result in lower roaming or service costs. Buying an unlocked cell phone may also prevent you from having to agree to a service contract with your current cell phone provider, and can allow you to purchase a cell phone that is not currently sold or sponsored by your service provider. You can buy new, unlocked cell phones from a variety of retailers in your local area or from the Internet. Continue reading to learn how you can buy a new, unlocked cell phone that can work efficiently with the network of your current service provider.

1. Find a retailer that sells new, unlocked cell phones.
You can buy new, unlocked cell phones from retailers on the Internet or from retailers in your local area.

• Go to any Internet search engine and enter keywords such as "buy new unlocked cell phones" or "unlocked cell phone dealers." The search results will then display venues and online retailers from which you can buy new, unlocked cell phones.
• Search for cell phone retailers and dealers in your local area by consulting with the phone book or phone directory for your region.

2. Buy an unlocked phone that contains the frequency bands you need
If you plan on using your cell phone internationally, you will need a phone that supports the frequency bands of networks in other countries.

• Buy a phone that contains the frequency bands of 900 and 1800 if you plan on using your cell phone outside of North America.
• If you plan on using your phone in North America only, you must buy a cell phone that contains the frequency bands of 850 and 1900.

3. Review the warranty and return policies of the cell phone retailer
Since you are not buying the unlocked cell phone directly from your service provider, you will need to verify how the cell phone can be repaired or returned if it does not function properly.

• Verify the amount of time in which you can return the unlocked cell phone if you are not satisfied with the device. Some retailers may give you a month in which to return the device completely; whereas other retailers may only give you 14 days.
• Verify the length of the warranty. Some warranties can last anywhere from a few months to a year. Some retailers or dealers may offer you an extended warranty on an unlocked cell phone for an additional fee, which can benefit you if you invest in a costly device with multiple features.

4. Configure the Internet and picture message settings on your phone. Unlocked cell phones may not contain the software and settings needed to use certain services with your current cell phone provider.

• Contact your cell phone provider for directions on how to modify and configure the Internet and picture message settings in your phone. Your cell phone provider may provide you with their network's Access Point Name (APN), which you can then program into your phone to properly utilize the Internet and picture messaging services.
• Refer to the manual for your phone or contact the manufacturer directly if you need additional assistance with programming the Internet and messaging settings. If the representatives from your service provider are unfamiliar with the unlocked cell phone you purchased, you may need to seek guidance from other resources.

Warnings

In some cases, you may have difficulty sending and re

ceiving text messages or accessing your voice mail on a new unlocked cell phone. If this occurs, you can contact your service provider directly for assistance with obtaining and modifying the settings for these features.