Nokia and Sony Ericsson are looking to crack the unlocked phone market in the U.S., but their quest will be an uphill battle. Marguerite Reardon started as a CNET News reporter in 2004, covering ...

Handset makers in the U.S. are dabbling in selling phones directly to consumers, but will the model be attractive enough to consumers? Marguerite Reardon started as a CNET News reporter in 2004, ...

Everyone talks about unlocked phones but what are they? When dealing with an unlocked or locked phone, the question is ...

The wireless carriers have too much power. They bait consumers with low-priced, subsidized phones, and then ensnare them in restrictive two-year agreements, threatening costly penalties for anyone who ...

Compatibility: This is a single SIM device is designed to work with GSM carriers. This product will not support AT&T, Verizon or Verizon subsidiaries. Please confirm compatibility with your chosen ...

Nokia has begun offering some of its high-end handsets for sale through Best Buy. The E71, the N96 and the N95 8GB are available unlocked if purchased with a new T-Mobile contract. The subsidized ...

In the early days of smartphones, the easiest way to get one in the United States was simple: visit your carrier outlet of choice and buy whichever device the salesperson convinced you was best.

The best way to explain this is by telling you what a locked phone is. Carriers have blocked locked phones from working with other networks. Try putting a SIM card from another carrier in a locked ...

The FCC wants to require all mobile carriers to unlock mobile phones within 60 days of activation. But neither AT&T nor T-Mobile are on board with that idea. In June, FCC Chairwoman Jessica ...

Compatibility: This is a single SIM device is designed to work with GSM carriers. This product will not support AT&T, Verizon or Verizon subsidiaries. Please confirm compatibility with your chosen ...

Tired of the restrictive carrier payment plans that often come with new cell phones? The best unlocked phones we've tested aren't tied to a carrier, give you more freedom to roam, and carry less ...