So what does phone "unlocking" actually mean?
Skip contentThe phone has a built-in code that locks it into the network set-up of your service provider or network, and this restricts you to only using their system if the phone is to operate normally. The reason for this is that most providers are very protective and they want you to use the phones they sell only on their network, and locking them forces the user to comply. There is an understandable reason behind the providers attempts to lock the phones in this way, because they usually sell their phones at large discounts to attract customers, and then they tie you into a service contract for a fixed period to try to recover their investment. If the phone user were able to simply switch SIM cards, then the provider stands to lose money if the customer goes elsewhere. However, mobile phones are designed for use with any service providers SIM card, and you may have already noticed that the same phones are available from different service providers and in many countries; this is a good indication that they are potentially able to work with any network.
Unlocking a mobile phone means that you are removing the lock placed there by your service provider, so that you may use SIM cards supplied by other service providers in your phone, and the phone will then work on other networks. This clearly offers phone users a far greater freedom to pick and choose who could offer them the best service, without having to buy a new phone.
By obtaining an unlock code it is possible to simply unlock the phone. Usually, a software program is used to calculate this code from details that the user already knows, or can easily find out (the IMEI number for example). The beauty of this approach is that the code can usually be calculated in real time online, so that a phone can be unlocked remotely and very quickly over-the-air, without the need for any cables or other equipment.
