Please Explain unlocked phone

[Irvgotti]

ok im joining the air force and will be getting my own phone. I always here about unlocked phones but ive never really read up on them. i want another nexus. not the galaxy nexus. (2012 nexus) so from what i know i just buy the phone at full retail? How do i go about getting data and all that stuff to make the phone usable? please help a niggie out

 

[sirheck]

Generally with un locked phones you can walk into any carrier store, ATT, Verizon, Sprint
etc and purchase a monthly data plan or probably even a 3 to 6 month plan.
They give you a SIM card to slap in the phone.

You are not locked into a 2 year contract.

Also un locked phones don't come with all the crap/bloat ware that
carriers put on their phones.

 

[Irvgotti]

so im guessing they would have the pricing info on their website? but if you know off top. do you know any of the prices?

 

[Ry]

Generally with un locked phones you can walk into any carrier store, ATT, Verizon, Sprint
etc and purchase a monthly data plan or probably even a 3 to 6 month plan.
They give you a SIM card to slap in the phone.

You are not locked into a 2 year contract.

Also un locked phones don't come with all the crap/bloat ware that
carriers put on their phones.

Which wouldn't happen on Sprint.

 

[sirheck]

I think it would be the same as if you were in a contract.

Say for ATT 20 bucks a month for a 2gb data plan and
20 bucks for unlimited text.

So for most carriers i would say around 40 to 50 bucks
a month for text, calls and data.

 

[sirheck]

Which wouldn't happen on Sprint.

How about some useful info if you are on Sprint?
I am on ATT and giving estimated info.

 

[Ry]

ok im joining the air force and will be getting my own phone. I always here about unlocked phones but ive never really read up on them. i want another nexus. not the galaxy nexus. (2012 nexus) so from what i know i just buy the phone at full retail? How do i go about getting data and all that stuff to make the phone usable? please help a niggie out

Usually when carriers get phones, they lock them to their network so you don't buy a phone for cheap and take it elsewhere. Unlocked phones usually pertain to GSM models, since they take SIM cards and you can just pop a SIM into an unlocked phone to start using it.

Are you looking at getting this Nexus? Amazon.com: Samsung Nexus S Unlocked Phone--U.S. Warranty (Black): Cell Phones & Accessories

It's 3G bands are compatible with AT&T's 3G, not T-Mobile's.

 

[Ry]

I think it would be the same as if you were in a contract.

Say for ATT 20 bucks a month for a 2gb data plan and
20 bucks for unlimited text.

So for most carriers i would say around 40 to 50 bucks
a month for text, calls and data.

AFAIK, of the "big four", only T-Mobile offers discounted month-to-month plans if you're bringing in your own equipment.

 

[Ry]

How about some useful info if you are on Sprint?
I am on ATT and giving estimated info.

It's a GSM/CDMA thing.

 

[sirheck]

Ok, we need to ask the OP which carrier he is thinking about trying/going with.
Plus which phone he is planning on getting as well.

 

[Irvgotti]

Usually when carriers get phones, they lock them to their network so you don't buy a phone for cheap and take it elsewhere. Unlocked phones usually pertain to GSM models, since they take SIM cards and you can just pop a SIM into an unlocked phone to start using it.

Are you looking at getting this Nexus? Amazon.com: Samsung Nexus S Unlocked Phone--U.S. Warranty (Black): Cell Phones & Accessories

It's 3G bands are compatible with AT&T's 3G, not T-Mobile's.

Not that phone. Its rumored that Google will be releasing a nexus from 5 manufacturers. Or the Gs3

 

[Irvgotti]

Ok, we need to ask the OP which carrier he is thinking about trying/going with.
Plus which phone he is planning on getting as well.

I'll probably look at at&t. They always get the good Android phones.