Wednesday 1 October 2014

Unlocked Mobile Phones Outright Offer Cost-Effective And Flexible Plans

By Shamar Smith


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.

Traditional cellphone contracts boils down to buying a cellphone at little cost from a service provider. In exchange for the great price, you sign a contract and agree to use that specific phone model with that carrier for a full two years. With a prepaid phone, you may choose a month-to-month service, but often there is a limited choice. With an unlocked cellphone, you have no restrictive ties to any carrier and are free to shop for phones and plans as often as you like.

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.

Outright mobile phones allow you the freedom to choose any phone of your choice and not only those offered by your service provider. Cellphones have also become a fashion trend and it's important to be able to buy the one you like most. Just make sure your service provider operates on GSM networks, since all these unlocked cellphones only work on GSM cellular networks using SIM cards.

The cellular phone industry continually grows and expands and new products daily flood the market. Most people like to keep up with the latest trends. Being stuck for two years with the same cellphone before you can upgrade, can be frustrating. Without a cellphone contract that restricts your choice of phones and the frequency of buying a new one, you are free to select the best and latest product from your favorite 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.

The cellphone industry is especially huge in poor countries where the infrastructure for telephone land lines are limited or absent. These SIM cards, containing all your personal information such as phone number, contacts and calling history, can be inserted into any unlocked cellphone. Depending on the length of stay, one can choose a contract that is monthly renewable, or longer contracts.

Outright mobile phones are especially handy and cost-effective for people who often travel internationally. You can cut your international calling costs dramatically by simply buying a pre-paid SIM card with a local number of the country that you are visiting. Those who plan to travel to different countries during the same trip, can check out international roaming SIM cards with the cheapest roaming rates rather than buying a local SIM card in each country that they 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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