Smartphone reviews often ignore an increasingly important feature: the ability to switch from one cellular carrier to another. Here's why that capability matters. The decline of long-term cellular ...

Some iPhones are locked to single cellular networks, especially iPhones bought in the U.S., while others are unlocked, meaning you can use them with any provider. It’s important to know which sort you ...

Wondering what GSM Unlocked means? This short article will make it clear for you so read on. What does GSM unlocked mean? GSM stands for Global System for Mobile communications. It is one of the two ...

Many smartphones purchased from U.S. wireless carriers come locked onto that carrier’s network. If you’re trying to move to a new carrier, and you want to useyour current phone rather than buy a new ...

Have you ever gotten a new phone only to find out it’s locked to a specific carrier? This often happens when you purchase a subsidized phone from a carrier. The carrier locks the phone so you can’t ...

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. The end of Verizon’s CDMA network is something that unlocked phone enthusiasts have dreamed about for years.

A strange glitch is allowing users to network unlock T-Mobile Samsung phones. The glitch appears to work regardless of your phone’s status with T-Mobile, essentially allowing you to bypass network ...

In this edition of Ask Maggie, CNET's Marguerite Reardon breaks down what you need to know about the carrier practice of locking phones. Marguerite Reardon started as a CNET News reporter in 2004, ...

American consumers will soon have the privilege of being able to pay a hefty premium for an unlocked version of the iPhone. Consumers will soon have the privilege of being able to pay a hefty premium ...

These "unlocked," network-neutral phones also make it easier to travel internationally. The smartphones below, which are arranged alphabetically, all did well in our ratings. Some of them have been on ...