By having you agree to stay on their network, the carrier subsidizes a portion of the cost (or bundles it into your monthly subscription rate).Īlso, locked phones prevent theft. First, it is generally sold at a discounted price. There are a couple of benefits to purchasing a locked device.

What are the differences between locked and unlocked phones? How can you tell if your phone is locked? And are unlocked phones eligible for the Verizon BYOD program? We have the answers. With an “unlocked” phone, on the other hand, you can get service with any carrier on a compatible network - and that’s just one of the benefits of an unlocked phone. Only one big barrier remains - the locked smartphone.Ī carrier-imposed “lock” is a software code that prevents your phone from working on another cellular network. Most mandatory-length contracts are a thing of the past, as is sacrificing your cell number when transferring carriers. Consumers have more freedom than ever when it comes to buying a smartphone and choosing a wireless carrier.

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