Unlocked Cell Phones Revolt: How to Join the Movement of Unlocked Mobile Users

In America we value competition in the marketplace. Competition is a staple of capitalism. So why do we accept locked cell phones? Cell phone service providers like AT & T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and others cut exclusive deals with cell phone makers to keep cell phone customers locked in to their networks for as long as our mobile phones can work.

For example, if you want an iPhone or LG Vu, you must sign up for AT & T service. If you like BlackBerry Storm, a smooth-looking touch screen smart phone, you are stuck with Verizon service.

What if I like AT & T's service but want a Verizon-featured phone? Solution? Get an unlocked cell phone.

I have just bought my second unlocked cell phone. The first time I used an unlocked phone I had to ship the phone to a third party who unlocked it for $25, then shipped the phone back to me. These days you can have the unlock code emailed to you or sent directly to your cell phone. (Be sure you're dealing with a credible unlocker company.)

This time I bought a phone that was already unlocked. It's a BlackBerry Storm 9530, intended for use with Verizon service, but I'm using it with AT & T. True, I paid a little more for the phone than if I had bought it locked and had my service switched to Verizon for a 2-year contract.

This move puts me in the position to switch from AT & T, if I so choose, once my contract ends in a few months. Actually, I'm thinking of trying out AT & T's $60-a-month unlimited prepay plan.

Here is what I did to break free from the locked cell phone prison. I bought a refurbished unlocked BlackBerry Storm 9530 from a top seller on eBay for $259.95 (free shipping). A brand new unlocked one would have cost me $389.95. Then I followed these simple steps to switch this Verizon phone to AT & T service:

1. Take my old phone to a nearby AT & T store to transfer all my contacts to the SIM card. Maybe I should have done this myself, but why not have them do it for free?
    
2. (Back home) Take my SIM card from the old phone, slip it into the BlackBerry, and turn the phone on. (Load the battery and charge the BlackBerry, of course.)
    
3. Press the Menu button.
    
4. Click on "Manage Connections".
    
5. Select "Mobile Network Options".
    
6. Click on "Global".
    

With that, the phone searched for and found the AT & T network. The home screen now displays AT & T just like my Motorola Q did. And I didn't even have to call AT & T to get connected.

Now, if I want to browse the Internet or use email, I will visit a BlackBerry forum, where I'll learn how to set up the unlocked phone to use AT & T software to access the World Wide Web.

It just feels so free and fair to use an unlocked cell phone that I can move around from one service provider to the next (except Sprint service, doesn't use a SIM card, as I hear).