Thursday, October 2, 2014

Unlocked Mobile Phones Outright Allows You More Flexibility, Cost-Saving And A Wider Choice

By Craig Hannerley


We all remember the initial shock we got when we received our first cellphone bill after signing up for a two year contract with a specific service provider. It all sounded so nice, easy and cheap to choose a dandy, modern phone with all the various functions at a low monthly rate. What most people only realized later, was all the hidden costs and limitations involved in the contract that one is now legally bound to honor for the next two years. Buying mobile phones outright may save you a great deal of money and frustration, and give you a wider choice.

The variety of mobile phone packages and plans offered by carriers are overwhelming. The popular 2-year cellphone contracts are often so attractively advertised that it seems like a huge bargain. On closer inspection, however, one finds there are many hidden administrative and billing costs involved. Investing in an unlocked phone without contractual ties may perhaps be a cheaper option in the long run and offers one more flexibility and a wider choice of products.

Buying a new mobile phone outright may initially cost you more (as a once-off payment) than with a 2-year contract, but if you do the calculations, you will find it may actually work out cheaper if you spread the amount over a two year period. The difference is that the total cost of a new mobile phone purchased on a contract basis is subsidized by your monthly payments for the duration of the contract length and thus only appears to be cheaper.

Investing in an unlocked mobile phone also spare you the time and frustration of dealing with billing or administrative errors that often occur with lengthy contracts. You are not restricted to the cellphones stocked by your carrier and thus have a wider selection. The only problem is that these cheaper phones only work on GSM cellular networks that use SIM cards. Since all mobile carriers do not operate on GSM networks, you must make sure to find the ones who are associated with unlocked mobile phones.

People are often disappointed when they cannot upgrade their cellphone contract to include a specific phone of their choice because it is not included in their service provider's package deals. Service providers can only allow a certain amount of manufacturers' products on their networks and thus one's choice is often limited. Without a binding contract, you can pick and choose any trendy unlocked cellphone of your choice from any manufacturer.

There are numerous advantages to outright mobile phones. Not only is one free from the frustrations when experiencing administrative or billing errors with a specific service provider, but one can also shop around for new cellphones and deals as often as one likes. You simply buy an unlocked mobile handset of your choice (without a carrier plan or contract) and a separate SIM card from a service provider or prepaid phone company to activate your cellphone's voice and data services.

These SIM cards are freely available in most countries and can be inserted into any unlocked phone. You can choose between month-to-month services or a longer contract. The SIM card contains your basic information such as phone number, contacts and calling history.

International travelers can benefit a lot by investing in outright mobile phones if they buy a pre-paid SIM card with the local number of their host country. That way they only pay the local rate. If you plan to visit more than one country and want to stay in touch with your loved ones at home, it will be best to get an international roaming SIM card that offers the cheapest roaming rates instead of having to buy a local SIM card in every country you visit.

Another option is to keep your compatible GSM unlocked cellphone with your home number to make calls to family and friends at home. Although the calls and texts will cost you more, you will not have to repeatedly give new cellphone numbers to them from every country that you visit. This is only a cost-effective option if you just want to make a few international calls.

A mobile device with dual SIM cards is the best option for people who often have to travel internationally. These phones allow you to store your regular SIM card, as well as the one of your host country, in the same handset. This allows you to make and receive calls to and from your home on your regular number, while keeping the cost of local calls to a minimum.

Technology is constantly changing and one should research the best options available. Depending on one's specific needs and cellphone habits, an unlocked cellphone that offers cheaper and more flexible plans might be best for you!




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