Unlocked phones: How to tell whether a phone is locked & where to buy unlocked
December 11th, 2010
We outline the benefits of an unlocked phone, how to tell whether a phone is locked, how to unlock a phone and where to buy an unlocked phone.
Why are the benefits of having an unlocked phone?
photo: Will Fuller
If you’ve got an unlocked phone, you’ll be able to use your phone on any network, either at home or abroad. This means you’ll have the flexibility to choose the best value tariff for you (see our guide to free Pay As You Go SIM cards, the best value SIM-only deals, the best value smartphone SIM-only deals and our SIM-only tariff comparison tool) regardless of which network that tariff is on. Using a PAC Code, you’ll be able to keep your existing phone number even if you switch network.
The other key benefit of having an unlocked phone is that you’ll be able to buy a local SIM card when you’re abroad. This should save on extortionate roaming charges – the British networks often charge in the region of £1.50/minute to use your phone abroad.
How do I tell whether my phone is locked?
If you purchased your handset directly from your network on either Pay As You Go or Pay Monthly, there is a reasonably good chance it’ll be locked. There are some tell-tale signs of a locked phone:
- The phone packaging/box has your operator’s logo on
- The phone itself is branded with the operator’s logo
- You see your operator’s logo every time you turn on your phone
- There are items relating to your operator in the main menu (e.g. Vodafone 360, Orange World)… although sometimes you’ll see the branding even on a phone which isn’t locked
The best way to definitively test if your phone is locked is to grab yourself a free Pay As You Go SIM card from a network apart from your own. If your phone is unlocked the phone should start up as normal, display the name of your new network and allow you to make calls. If your phone is locked, it’ll will display an error message or ask you to enter a “subsidy PIN”.
If you purchased your phone as “SIM-free”, “handset only” or “unlocked” then you should find that your phone is unlocked.
Why are phones locked?
In the UK, the networks operators often subsidise their phones. They do this in an attempt to attract customers to their network – consumers, particularly Pay As You Go customers, tend to be fairly network agnostic: they choose a phone that they want and then they find the network which offers the phone for the least amount of money. In order to attract these customers, networks subsidise the phones and often sell them as a “loss leader” hoping to make back the money through selling airtime. So that you can’t simply buy a subsidised phone from Network A (which loses money on the phone) and then instantly use it on Network B (which makes the profit from the airtime), the phone would be sold to you “locked” to Network A so you could only use it on that network.
I’ve got a phone locked to a foreign network. Will it work on a UK network?
No. Foreign networks are treated as totally separate networks for the purposes of locking. This is true even if the foreign network shares it’s name with a UK counterpart… e.g. if you have a phone locked to 3 Hong Kong, Orange France, T-Mobile Germany, Vodafone Australia or so on, the phone won’t work on the British counterpart network.
Am I allowed to unlock my phone? Is it legal?
Yes, it is totally legal to unlock your phone so that you can use it on a different network. This is different from unblocking (modifying a phone so it works after the networks have blocked it because it has been lost or stolen) which is illegal.
How do I unlock my phone?
The “official” way of unlocking your phone is to call up your network and to ask for a “subsidy PIN”. This is a code which you’ll need to enter on your phone to unlock it. Your network should be able to give you a quote to how much it’ll cost to unlock your phone and provide instructions on how you use your phone. The cost of obtaining a subsidy PIN is typically around £15-£20 but it could be a lot more for newer phones.
If you’ve got an iPhone, the process of unlocking differs. See our detailed guide to unlocking your iPhone.
There are some “unofficial” ways to unlock your phone – for example by jailbreaking or rooting. These will almost certainly invalidate your warranty, can damage your phone if carried out incorrectly and may require you to unlock the phone again each time a software update is released. Personally, I would recommend paying the fee to unlock your phone properly.
Is my network legally obliged to unlock my phone for me?
No. They are under no legal obligation to unlock your phone. However, most networks should unlock your phone for a small fee (around £15-£20). The exact amount will depend on which phone you have and occasionally how long you’ve had it.
I’m planning to unlock my phone and switch network. What else should I know?
With an unlocked phone, you have access to great value SIM-only tariffs. See our guide to the best value smartphone SIM-only tariffs and best value SIM-only tariffs. Typically, you’ll save about £180/year by switching to a SIM-only tariff.
If you want to switch network and keep your existing phone number, you’ll need a PAC Code. We’ve got a detailed guide on how to obtain and use a PAC code.
Where can I buy an unlocked phone?
If you buy a phone which is unlocked to start off with, you save the hassle of having to unlock it at a later date.
Usually if you buy a phone on contract/PAYG directly from a network, it’ll be locked. However, many people report receiving unlocked phones from the Carphone Warehouse (although they are not advertised as such so it’s risky and some phones such as the iPhone are sold locked). Mobiles.co.uk, a branch of the Carphone Warehouse, sell all of their handsets unlocked.
Look out for “SIM-free” and “unlocked” phones. These phones are sold without airtime or a contract. You’ll be able to get them from retailers such as Amazon.co.uk.
| About Ken | |
 | My mission is to demystify the world of mobile technology for general audiences and to communicate how mobile technology can enhance our every aspect of our daily lives. I've been maintaining the Ken's Tech Tips website since 2004. I have experience communicating mobile technology and presenting new mobile products both online and offline at various trade shows and events. If you'd like to get in touch, please drop me an e-mail. |
- How Tos & The Basics , Mobile
- Comments(5)
[...] my guide on how to tell if your phone is locked and how to purchase unlocked mobile [...]
[...] use a UK SIM card within your existing GSM phone, you will need an unlocked mobile phone. If you are staying for less than a month, your best bet would probably be to go with a Pay As You [...]
[...] this overseas (data charges will be huge). You would be much better off ensuring that your phone is unlocked and using a local SIM [...]
Hi Ken. Have you seen giffgaff’s new unlockapedia? giffgaff.com/unlock
Have a look and let me know what you think.
Ta,
Kim @ giffgaff
Hey Kim,
Cheers for your comment – in fact I had tweeted you guys the other day trying to find a link! Though I suspect it hadn't be launched then. Unlockapedia is looking good! Great idea to provide a resource on how to unlock phones & allowing people to submit comments/thoughts on each service. Wiki-like features could be an interesting addition to the "unlockapedia" – perhaps a way for people to contribute their own guides/experiences on unlocking
Ken