Re: [PLUG] OT: Unlocked Cell Phones

As someone who hasn't owned a locked phone since 2006. Used ATT, Cingular, Verizon, and T-Mobile... It is liberating. I would strongly suggest never using a phone locked to a carrier again just because the freedom to do what you wish with the device is amazing.

For purchasing unlocked phones, straight from the manufacturer is best. I will admit the Nexus series has treated me very well (avoid the LG Nexus phones or trade them after one year). Play editions are second to the Nexus phones. I would recommend always checking to see if there is a cyanogen mod available for any phone you wish to purchase and double check to see if there are instructions for that device to unlock it prior to purchase.

Once your phone is unlocked enjoy the freedom with your phone to do whatever you want. The phones are hard to brick and easy to recover usually. My only advice is to back up your device, sometimes one can get too experimental and there is a need to retrace steps.

On Nov 9, 2015 20:28, "Rich Mingin (PLUG)" <plug@frags.us> wrote:

At the risk of sounding like the Project Fi cheerleader, that's actually a big plus of Fi. I can travel worldwide without changing out my SIM card, same price data service as in the US, and calling rates vary but are generally reasonable, and the Nexus 6/5X/6P are all multi-multi-band, so if I'm staying anywhere for more than a week or so, I can get any local carrier's SIM and drop it in.

That's actually a huge plus for the Nexus 6/5X/6P no matter what network you end up on. They support pretty much every radio tech and frequency you'll run into, anywhere, and are carrier-unlocked, bootloader unlocked/unlockable, on every carrier except AT&T (AT&T uses a carrier lock on their branded Nexus handsets, but no one else does).

On Mon, Nov 9, 2015 at 8:21 PM, K.S. Bhaskar <bhaskar@bhaskars.com> wrote:
If you plan to travel, make sure that you get not just a GSM phone but a quad band GSM phone (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM_frequency_bands).

Regards
-- Bhaskar

On Mon, Nov 9, 2015 at 6:03 PM, Casey Bralla <MailList@nerdworld.org> wrote:
I'm planning to replace my smartphone, and I want to get one that is unlocked.

AS far as I know the only potential pitfalls to purchasing my own unlocked
phone are compatibility with the 2 competing network standards, and a
potential lack of warranty for some unlocked phones (at least, for the android
ones sold by Amazon)

Are there other issues I should be aware of before spending $300 - $500 for a
new phone?
--
Casey Bralla

Chief Nerd in Residence
The NerdWorld Organisation
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___________________________________________________________________________
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General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

___________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org
Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug