Unlocked Phones

[saptech]

Can I buy an unlocked phone for my plan with Verizon? If so, which phones are available for around $200?

If something was to happen to my current phone, what are my options other then getting one from VZW? My current plan doesn't expire until December and I do not want to get another 2 yr. plan.

Just a thought for now.

Thnx.

 

[jhawkkw]

Verizon is a cdma carrier, and as such, they only allow devices onto their network that they approve. If by unlocked you been bootloader unlocked then you can as long as it's a Verizon phone itself. If you don't want to get one from Verizon, you could always buy one used online from ebay, swappa, craigslist, etc. However if you do that, make sure you request the ESN from the seller to make sure it's clean and will activate when you buy it.

 

[saptech]

So they don't have phones you can buy like you can with T-Mobile? Such as the LG Optimus L9, Nexus 4, etc type of phones?

Thnx.

 

[jhawkkw]

Nope, that's the downfall of closed cdma networks.

 

[jova33]

There's a few phones that are GSM unlocked. If you bought a Verizon iPhone 5, you could pop out the micro SIM and put in a T-Mobile SIM and it'll work on GSM. I don't believe it'll work on their LTE or HSPA+, but you'd get 3G speeds.
I think the Galaxy S3 also comes GSM unlocked, but I'm not 100% sure. Verizon usually refers to their GSM unlocked phones as international versions.
Be careful with that description though because some of them are rigged so they'll work with international GSM SIM cards, but have American GSM networks locked out.

 

[91Firebirder]

Thinking by unlocked OP is talking more about non contract phones.

Most full priced phone u buy, whether from google, bestbuy, etc, will not work on VZW as they are GSM phones and not CDMA. However, I believe you can buy phones through VZW using month to month pricing, usually 3x as much as a 2 year contract price, but you don't sign a new contract. With the pricing you've listed above, the closest is a Samsung Galaxy Stellar for ~$350.