The Rise of Unlocked Smartphones Will Transform the U.S. Wireless Market

[MULTIZ321]

The Rise of Unlocked Smartphones Will Transform the U.S. Wireless Market - by Jared Newman/ Technology/ FastCompany/ fastcompany.com

"Between Apple’s new upgrade program and a wave of cheap unlocked handsets, consumers are about to be enlightened.

A few years ago, you’d have been crazy to buy a new phone without your wireless carrier’s blessing.

At least in the United States, locking yourself into a two-year contract was the tradeoff for a relatively low upfront price. If your carrier didn’t offer the phone you wanted, too bad. The cost of buying an unlocked alternative and popping in your own SIM card was simply too high.

But as U.S. wireless service has shifted away from two-year contracts, unlocked phones have become much more appealing. By forgoing your wireless carrier when buying a new phone, you get more choice, lower prices, and possibly a better overall product than the ones AT&T and Verizon will sell you. And it won’t be long until consumers finally start to realize it..."


Richard

 

[SMHarman]

I've been using my own unlocked phone for years. To offset the financial madness, every two years when a new iPhone was launched I would buy a subsidized one and sell it on eBay or Craig's list and pay the profits to ATT to subsidize my bill.

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk

 

[Passepartout]

One thing many consumers aren't aware of is that if you like your phone, and your contract is fulfilled, your carrier will unlock your phone. Most do it free. Then you can try other carriers, or just use the unlocked phone when you travel.

Jim

 

[bellesgirl]

My iPhone 6 from Verizon is already unlocked. I was able to buy a cheap SIM card in London for a 2 week trip. My understanding is all the 4G phones from Verizon are unlocked, although I don't know how much they publicize it.

I am trying to figure out the best way to get cellular service in PV Mexico this winter because we will be there for quite a while. Does anybody know what the cost of a SIM card would be for around 2 months? The resort where we will be staying charges a fortune to non-members for WIFI.

 

[Elan]

With so many unlocked flagship phones selling for $350ish or less these days, I'm surprised anyone still buys a locked phone on contract.

 

[Ken555]

With so many unlocked flagship phones selling for $350ish or less these days, I'm surprised anyone still buys a locked phone on contract.

Lol. That's a polite way of saying "why would anyone buy an iPhone when cheaper alternatives are available?"

FWIW, I think many who are in new contracts do so much more aware of their options than previously, and now are simply financing the phone at low rates rather than locking themselves into a long term agreement. They can pay off the phone at anytime and go to another provider whenever they want.


Sent from my iPad

 

[Elan]

Lol. That's a polite way of saying "why would anyone buy an iPhone when cheaper alternatives are available?"


Sent from my iPad

No, it's simply a statement of fact.

 

[Ken555]

No, it's simply a statement of fact.

Actually, you expressed an opinion.


Sent from my iPad

 

[Elan]

Actually, you expressed an opinion.


Sent from my iPad

No, it's a fact that I'm surprised that anyone buys a locked phone on contract.

 

[Ken555]

No, it's a fact that I'm surprised that anyone buys a locked phone on contract.

Amusing. I don't think anyone would dispute that fact, and it's a shame you simply didn't say that in the first place as eloquently as you did here.


Sent from my iPad

 

[Egret1986]

Lack of knowledge equals ignorance.

No, it's a fact that I'm surprised that anyone buys a locked phone on contract.

I would be in that category. I got my first smartphone in Dec. 2013 with Verizon. Contract is up this December. I went from flip phone to a Galaxy Note 3. It's all the phone that I will need. I know I only probably use 10% or less of its actual capabilities, so upgrading to a new phone is not something that I need. So, what should I be doing or considering when my contract is up in December? I think Verizon has the best service for the area where I live. I don't even know if my phone is locked or unlocked. All this may be a "no-brainer" for some or most, but I'm just not up on this stuff. I don't make a lot of calls or text too much. My usage is for checking emails and surfing the net when I don't have access to my laptop. I have 1GB data per month. When I'm travelling, I usually blow that out, but otherwise it's enough.

Any pointers for the ignorant?

 

[Elan]

I would be in that category. I got my first smartphone in Dec. 2013 with Verizon. Contract is up this December. I went from flip phone to a Galaxy Note 3. It's all the phone that I will need. I know I only probably use 10% or less of its actual capabilities, so upgrading to a new phone is not something that I need. So, what should I be doing or considering when my contract is up in December? I think Verizon has the best service for the area where I live. I don't even know if my phone is locked or unlocked. All this may be a "no-brainer" for some or most, but I'm just not up on this stuff. I don't make a lot of calls or text too much. My usage is for checking emails and surfing the net when I don't have access to my laptop. I have 1GB data per month. When I'm travelling, I usually blow that out, but otherwise it's enough.

Any pointers for the ignorant?

Difficult to give pertinent advice given everyone's own unique situation, but I'd go in to a Verizon store and tell them what you posted here. You don't need a new phone, you don't care to pay for a new phone (ok, I presumed that part ) and you'd like to remain with Verizon. I'm not a Verizon customer so I don't know what they offer for packages without phone subsidies or prepaid options, but they do allow one to bring their own device, so you'll presumably save the price of the phone subsidy off your current monthly bill if you opt to keep your current phone and similar services.

There are also MVNO's that use Verizon's network, so that could be an option. Basically, a MVNO "rents" capacity on one of the Big 4's networks, and then offers reduced rate plans (typically prepaid) for service only. Page Plus is one MVNO that uses Verizon's network, so you might want to check them out.

Ultimately, if you decide to keep your current phone, you should be able save a decent sum off your current bill while staying with Verizon, either directly or via MVNO.

Hope that helps.

 

[VegasBella]

Lol. That's a polite way of saying "why would anyone buy an iPhone when cheaper alternatives are available?"

FWIW, I think many who are in new contracts do so much more aware of their options than previously, and now are simply financing the phone at low rates rather than locking themselves into a long term agreement. They can pay off the phone at anytime and go to another provider whenever they want.

I agree with the fact that not all of us see it being "locked in" when all we have to do is buy our way out if we want out.

Also...

a) I'm pretty sure that iPhones purchased directly from Apple come unlocked.

b) Some of us have contracts we like. My husband and I research our contract every year and we like what we've got. We have a grandfathered "unlimited" data plan. None of the current contracts available come close.

 

[theo]

Unlocked --- a techno-idiot seeks a definition...

Can someone please briefly explain in relatively simple (and hopefully comprehensible) layman's language exactly what "unlocked" means when applied to phones?

I'm relatively new to smartphones, having acquired a Apple 5s some months ago to (...finally) replace my old flip phone. Seeing what this smartphone and limitless apps can do is humbling, exciting and wonderful. Nonetheless, I still don't know locked from unlocked from dry docked. I'm simply curious.

Ancillary question --- what benefit (real or imagined) do people actually derive (or at least believe they derive) from having an "unlocked" phone?

 

[Brett]

Can someone please briefly explain in relatively simple (and hopefully comprehensible) layman's language exactly what "unlocked" means when applied to phones?

I'm relatively new to smartphones, having acquired a Apple 5s some months ago to (...finally) replace my old flip phone. Seeing what this smartphone can do is humbling, exciting and wonderful. Nonetheless, I still don't know locked from unlocked from dry docked. I'm simply curious.

Ancillary question --- what benefit (real or imagined) do people actually derive (or at least believe they derive) from having an "unlocked" phone?

here's one explanation
http://www.howtogeek.com/173049/how-to-unlock-a-locked-cell-phone-and-why-you-might-want-to/

 

[theo]

here's one explanation
http://www.howtogeek.com/173049/how-to-unlock-a-locked-cell-phone-and-why-you-might-want-to/

Thank you --- quite straightforward, "locking" being essentially network restriction. Got it. I guess I had (mistakenly) confused the notion of "unlocking" with "rooting" or "jailbreaking" which, as the article plainly addresses, are not at all the same thing (...and are clearly well outside my techo-idiot orbit and / or interest anyhow).

 

[pwrshift]

I bought my 4s direct from Apple because I didn't want to be tied down to my server and, at that time, a three year contract. I still have that phone and never upgraded or changed to another provider. We only have 3 providers in Canada and they are all crooks.

 

[Egret1986]

Helps alot!

Difficult to give pertinent advice given everyone's own unique situation, but I'd go in to a Verizon store and tell them what you posted here. You don't need a new phone, you don't care to pay for a new phone (ok, I presumed that part ) and you'd like to remain with Verizon. I'm not a Verizon customer so I don't know what they offer for packages without phone subsidies or prepaid options, but they do allow one to bring their own device, so you'll presumably save the price of the phone subsidy off your current monthly bill if you opt to keep your current phone and similar services.

There are also MVNO's that use Verizon's network, so that could be an option. Basically, a MVNO "rents" capacity on one of the Big 4's networks, and then offers reduced rate plans (typically prepaid) for service only. Page Plus is one MVNO that uses Verizon's network, so you might want to check them out.

Ultimately, if you decide to keep your current phone, you should be able save a decent sum off your current bill while staying with Verizon, either directly or via MVNO.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for taking the time to break things down for me.

 

[e.bram]

MULTIZ321:
I think mobile phones using the wifi internet(when available, avoiding cells) to make calls and access data will have the biggest effect on the cell phone business.
ie. I use metro pcs for $30.00 I get unlimited everything with 4g at high speed. And they gave me the Android phone.

 

[ace2000]

If you can hold off for awhile, I would recommend waiting for a couple weeks until Black Friday and see what kind of phones are available on sale.

 

[VegasBella]

MULTIZ321:
I use metro pcs for $30.00 I get unlimited everything with 4g at high speed.

There's an asterisk by the unlimited data offer. It says that you only get the first gig at 4g speed. After that they slow you down.
To compare, my grandfathered AT&T unlimited data plan gives me 22 gigs before I experience a slowdown. We pay about double what you pay but we use quite a bit of data so it's worth it.

 

[e.bram]

VegasBella:
MetroPCS has a $5.00 upgrade, however,even their slow speed is adequate for my use which a lot more than 4g.

 

[VegasBella]

VegasBella:
MetroPCS has a $5.00 upgrade, however,even their slow speed is adequate for my use which a lot more than 4g.

Hmmm.. I see you can get truly unlimited for $60
We might have to look into that some more

 

[dixie]

Question? So if u have a paid off Verizon 4s

Even though my old 4s iphone is out of contract I still use Verizon. We are taking a 21 day cruise to the lesser Antilles etc. I was thinking of buying a T Mobile phone to activate for a month because you can text etc in ports without using expensive data roaming etc. So now that my 4s is out of contract Verizon will unlock it?
Advice appreciated!