Help unlocked

[DWFII]

I read something that suggested that a phone could be unlocked at the factory or by a owner.

Maybe I got it wrong.

But if the phone is unlocked by the owner...let's say he has an AT&T phone and takes the Sim out (is that the way it would be done?) and then sells it on to someone who wants to use another GMS network such as T-Mobile or Boost Mobile or Cricket, is there going to be a conflict with app updates? Stuff that AT&T installed as part of a proprietary version of Android, for instance?

How often are "unlocked" phones actually "factory unlocked?"

Apologies if this is a stupid or odd question...but it bears on buying a used phone.

 

[ThePhizzle]

Sorry no sim unlock codes are free,you can go to a unlock code from a sim unlock code website,if the phone was sim unlocked by the previous owner it will remain so despite which sim card you insert and mostly any phones (exept from iphone from which i was only told)can be sim unlocked by the service provider and have no conflicts with the devices original program.
Though I should advise you a lot of services now use a mied/sim sync on they're devices and the only way to use another device on their sim is to go to the store of your phone service and pay a fifteen doller fee to sync your sim to your new mobile device.

 

[kate]

If you're an AT&T customer you can request them to unlock your AT&T phone.

More info:
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock

It would work on Cricket and T-Mobile after unlocking, but Boost is CDMA not GSM. Updates can be hit or miss after moving to another carrier.

 

[DWFII]

Well, I understand that a sim card kit (?) is needed and available from Cricket for $9.95. I think their webstite said something to the effect that and GSM phone could have the Sim taken out and the Cricket Sim put in.

Did I misunderstand?

But the real question is how ill that effect OEM software put on by AT&T, for instance? Hit or miss you say. OK does that mean Android doesn't get updated? Does it mean the the OEM stop working? Or will they just carry on without failure but not update?

If I got an AT&T phone and migrated to Cricket...since Cricket uses the AT&T network and AT&T owns Cricket...what would be the difference? In terms of software? Any?

 

[kate]

With an unlocked phone yes you can put another carriers SIM card in and use their service.

Your phones current software will continue to work fine. You may or may not receive Android updates, I've seen people say they get them after switching carriers and other say they don't.