When dealing with an unlocked or locked phone, the question is whether or not the device can work on a specific wireless network that's different than the network the phone was designed to work on. An ...

Cell phones are practically essential in today’s world, but not everyone likes to be tied to a 24- or 36-month contract. With an unlocked cell phone, you can choose a pay-as-you-go or a contract-free ...

The best smartphones all have something in common. To get one affordably, you’ll need to sign some kind of contract tying you to a wireless carrier. At least, that’s what you’re led to believe. Many ...

Tired of the restrictive carrier payment plans that often come with new cell phones? The top unlocked phones we've tested aren't tied to a carrier, offer you more freedom to roam, and carry less ...

A phone purchase now looks less phony, courtesy of a spike in sales of smartphones that don’t come locked to a wireless service. That should be good news — unless you like preinstalled bloatware and ...

FOX 11, Los Angeles - Do you know what an "unlocked" cellphone is? Here's your unofficial definition: A phone which isn't "software" locked to any specific carrier and can be used on the network of ...

Handset makers in the U.S. are dabbling in selling phones directly to consumers, but will the model be attractive enough to consumers? Marguerite Reardon started as a CNET News reporter in 2004, ...

Smartphone reviews often ignore an increasingly important feature: the ability to switch from one cellular carrier to another. Here's why that capability matters. The decline of long-term cellular ...

T-Mobile and AT&T's new "no contract" early upgrade plans are just another way to say the same thing: You're paying more for phones than you need to. Go unlocked, and free yourself for real. Molly ...