What do you need an 'unlock code' for?

[reinbeau]

What do you need an 'unlock code' for? What does unlocking do for your phone? There's a program called Samsung Galaxy S Unlock Tool, I've got my codes, but what would you use them for?

 

[sitlet]

Technically, unlock codes are the numbers you put in to wake up the phone, if you have put the unlock codes in. I believe that app is talking about an MSL code, or whatever at&t calls it. This basically lets you change advanced settings on your phone, usually how it connects to towers and the network. Dont change these if you dont know what you are doing.

 

[reinbeau]

I won't change anything I was just wondering. I've read elsewhere that they have something to do with being able to connect to other carriers, so if I somehow cut loose from AT&T I could bring the phone with me to T-Mobile or whatever (never Verizon!!). Not going to happen, I just want to understand.

 

[doughavens]

If you travel outside the US, you can buy SIM cards from the local carriers that allow you to use your phone at local rates, not long distance roaming. You need an unlocked phone to use those cards. I have cards from 5 countries and when I put in a card, I have a local phone with local phone number. It saves a lot of money if you need your phone while traveling.

 

[Xyro]

If you travel outside the US, you can buy SIM cards from the local carriers that allow you to use your phone at local rates, not long distance roaming. You need an unlocked phone to use those cards. I have cards from 5 countries and when I put in a card, I have a local phone with local phone number. It saves a lot of money if you need your phone while traveling.

Yeah, GSM phones can be locked to a specific network, so that they only accept the SIM cards from that network.

I don't know about the US, but in the UK locked phones still have to be unlocked even if the other network is within the same country.

 

[takeshi]

It's the same. A network lock is a network lock.

 

[AndroidSPCS]

The unlock code is to unlock your GSM phone so it can be used on any other GSM network.

There is no reason not to unlock your phone. I unlock my GSM phones if I can. They can be worth a lot more money once they are unlocked.

Take iPhones for example, mine are unlocked. Being unlocked adds 10-30% of value to the phones.

 

[Wycogirl]

I got a family plan and my husbands phone # has my name how do i change it so his number displays his name please help me