An unlocked cell phone is one that can be activated with any wireless Carrier of choice as long as the Carrier supports the GSM SIM card technology that is embedded in the phone.
GSM stands for 'Global System for Mobile communication' which is a digital mobile telephone system widely used worldwide. It enables a GSM phone to be activated by any wireless phone Carrier worldwide, as long as it is supported by the Carrier and it is not locked.
'SIM' card means 'Subscriber Identification Module' card. It has a microchip that stores customer information such as the phone numbers stored in a phone, the particular type of rate plane and service subscription chosen by the customer, and other customer data pertaining to their wireless account with the Carrier.
SIM card is a card that is included separately with purchase of a phone (may be inserted in the phone by a wireless store sales representative). It is issued by the phone's wireless service provider and it enables service when inserted into the phone.
However, a locked phone will only recognize a SIM card from a particular wireless Carrier that has essentially "locked it". If the cell phone is unlocked, it will recognize a SIM card from any Carrier and enable the owner to activate it with any Carrier that supports the phone technology. The lock is not a lock you can see on the phone - It is a software programming in the phone that keeps the cell phone customer "loyal" to the wireless Carrier that locks the phone.
GSM technology supporting wireless service Carriers in United States (Cingular Wireless/ AT&T Wireless/ T-Mobile USA, etc.) and Canada (Microcell/ Fido/ Cityfone/ Rogers Wireless, etc.) offer free phones or at least deeply discounted phones with wireless service contracts or agreements, the phones are almost always locked so that they will not work with other wireless phone Carriers. The Carriers claim this is necessary to subsidize the cost of the cell phones. After the wireless service contract expires, a Carrier may unlock the phone upon request or may charge a fee to unlock the phone.
Why would you buy a phone from us, and not directly from a wireless service Carrier? The reason may be that you wish to sign up for one of their great rate plans but don't want to sign a long term agreement or contract just because the full retail price of their phones is too high (usually to entice you to sign a longterm agreement with them). Another reason may be that you need a new phone to replace your old phone that is not working, or has got lost, or has broken, or has been damaged by water or some other liquid. In these instances, the Carrier may charge full retail cost which could be much higher than the lower prices we offer on cell phones.
In summary, unlocked cell phones are cell phones that can be purchased from us and activated with any wireless service provider of your choice as long as they support that particular phone technology. Most phones we carry are GSM phones that require a SIM card for activation. These can definitely be activated with any wireless service provider worldwide, as long as they also require a SIM card for activation.
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to inform you that Wireless Hut sells unlocked phones in their 'original unlocked state' at truly 'reasonable prices' so that you can activate them with any wireless Carrier that activates phones using SIM card technology. Unlocked phones from Wireless Hut 'empower' you to choose the Carrier that offers the best rate plan to suit your needs without signing any wireless service contract or service agreement.
