Having unlocked smart phones means you have a phone that's usable in the event you decide that you no longer want to stay with your current mobile phone provider. When your phone is unlocked, you don't have to adhere to the terms of any existing contract or price plan, which leaves you as a free agent, not tied to any cell phone company wanting to leave when their level of customer service drops below your expectations.
In most cases, your phone will stop working if you jump from one carrier to another, and they will use this to their advantage in retaining your business even if you don't want to continue. However, be aware of the mobile phone carriers in your state.
For instance, small towns, especially in rural parts of America, have considerably less carrier options than in other states. You don't want your phone to have restrictions based on your location, that's for sure. It's bad enough to get relocated from one state or city to another, and even worse to be double-dinged by being informed that your phone won't work in your new location.
Given the many benefits of unlocked smart phones, it's a bit shocking that not everyone finds them that exciting. It's easy - the difference in price between contract and unlocked phones can be quite significant if you check at your local store.
That's because cell phone companies offer consumers the phones at a lower price if they'll sign a contract. The reason behind that is a marketing tool to lock consumers into giving that carrier their business for years to come. Service providers know from experience that a customer who buys a locked phone but doesn't sign a contract is likely to move elsewhere when things aren't going right.
So the price of a phone without a contract is for the entire retail amount-usually quite a chunk of money. As a result, most customers turn away from this option. But these customers don't realize that signing a contract with a cell phone carrier binds them for the entire length of the contract, meaning there is nothing they can do if the carrier decides to raise monthly fees for the plan or reduce features due to cost-cutting measures.
Either way you lose if you decide to cancel your contract before it expires - early termination of contract would warrant a termination charge, and your phone would be a useless scrap of metal because since it is locked, you cannot use it with your new cell phone provider of choice. It's back to the drawing board as you start shopping around for a new phone.
However, there are several carriers that offer unlocked smart phones at a comparatively cheap cost as a means to convince customers to stay with them without having to jump ship and pay termination fees. An unlocked smart phone may cost more compared to a contract phone, but you have more options in case things go bad with your current provider.
In most cases, your phone will stop working if you jump from one carrier to another, and they will use this to their advantage in retaining your business even if you don't want to continue. However, be aware of the mobile phone carriers in your state.
For instance, small towns, especially in rural parts of America, have considerably less carrier options than in other states. You don't want your phone to have restrictions based on your location, that's for sure. It's bad enough to get relocated from one state or city to another, and even worse to be double-dinged by being informed that your phone won't work in your new location.
Given the many benefits of unlocked smart phones, it's a bit shocking that not everyone finds them that exciting. It's easy - the difference in price between contract and unlocked phones can be quite significant if you check at your local store.
That's because cell phone companies offer consumers the phones at a lower price if they'll sign a contract. The reason behind that is a marketing tool to lock consumers into giving that carrier their business for years to come. Service providers know from experience that a customer who buys a locked phone but doesn't sign a contract is likely to move elsewhere when things aren't going right.
So the price of a phone without a contract is for the entire retail amount-usually quite a chunk of money. As a result, most customers turn away from this option. But these customers don't realize that signing a contract with a cell phone carrier binds them for the entire length of the contract, meaning there is nothing they can do if the carrier decides to raise monthly fees for the plan or reduce features due to cost-cutting measures.
Either way you lose if you decide to cancel your contract before it expires - early termination of contract would warrant a termination charge, and your phone would be a useless scrap of metal because since it is locked, you cannot use it with your new cell phone provider of choice. It's back to the drawing board as you start shopping around for a new phone.
However, there are several carriers that offer unlocked smart phones at a comparatively cheap cost as a means to convince customers to stay with them without having to jump ship and pay termination fees. An unlocked smart phone may cost more compared to a contract phone, but you have more options in case things go bad with your current provider.
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