What does it mean when they say a cell phone is 'unlocked' or you have to 'flash' it to make it work?

I don't know a whole lot about cell phones, other than how to use them. I've been looking to buy one online, but I don't understand all those phrases and things. Help me out?What does it mean when they say a cell phone is 'unlocked' or you have to 'flash' it to make it work?
An unlocked cell phone is a GSM phone that is not locked to a specific carrier. Such phones can be used on T-Mobile and AT%26amp;T. Flashing is the process of loading CDMA Carrier specific files to handsets from other CDMA carriers in order to use the phone with a different carrier (to use a Sprint Palm Pre on the Verizon network).What does it mean when they say a cell phone is 'unlocked' or you have to 'flash' it to make it work?
Flashing refers to uploading an operating system software to the phone. Sometimes there are software upgrades from the carriers which may address certain problems which were important to correct.





Unlocking refers to phones that use SIM cards. Here is an example: AT%26amp;T sells you a phone for 30 bucks with a 2 year contract. That phone uses a SIM card but is network ';locked'; to AT%26amp;T's service. Now T-Mobile uses SIM cards too, try putting one into the new phone you just bought from AT%26amp;T.....it wont work.


They mainly do this for exclusivity more than anything else.
well flash is used when your phone is a cdma type which is for certain companies like verizon and sprint ...(cdma type does not have a sim card)


and to unlock you usually insert another providers sim card and get a code sold usually online and that is the way you can use it with the other sim card carriers like at%26amp;t , t-mobile...


I would just recommend for you to get a cell phone from your cell phone company because these unlocked and flashed phones don't always let you use some of the features on the phones which some are picture messaging and web browsing.
Unlocked cell phones means that the phone can be use to any cell phone provider. Just put the sim card in to the unlocked cell phone and thats it.





You can get an unlocked cell phone on a cheap price here: www.allbestcellphones.com
dont know what flash means but unlocked means u can use the phone on different carriers like at%26amp;t, Verizon,t-mobile and stuff,they are normally more expensive because of this