sim free mobile phones defined

Technically defined, SIM free mobile phones---also known as unlocked phones---are global system for mobile communications (GSM) telephones sold without connection lines and never locked to particular telephone networks—which means they can accept any subscriber identity module (SIM, used to identify subscribers on mobile or cellular telephone devices) tied to a compatible frequency.

Simply defined, a SIM free mobile phone is a cell phone you can buy that can be programmed to any service you choose and switched to any other service, should you decide to change services, merely by installing a different SIM. You may have used such a phone already, if you purchased a pay-as-you-go unit that allows you to choose differing networks based on rate specials or coverage specials and bought only the minutes you intended to use on a given day or week.

The catch with an unlocked phone is that the proper GSM frequency of the SIM card must be available for the cell phone you want to buy and the networks you may want to use. For example, a GSM 900 frequency is compatible to O2, Vodaphone, and most networks worldwide; a GSM 1800 is compatible to Orange, T-Mobile, and some European networks; and, a GSM 1900 is used mostly if not exclusively in the United States and Canada.

These phones are also said to offer greater flexibility in swapping networks if you travel overseas, because you can buy SIM cards local to the country or countries you visit instead of paying the large costs your home network may charge for overseas calling. They are becoming more popular among American, British, and other cell phone users around the world and the market’s competitiveness has increased for consumer benefit over the past several years. Numerous analysts say these phones are gaining popularity among users who do not want to be tied to restrictive contracts that may cost hefty cancellation fees if the user finds himself dissatisfied with the service and wanting to discontinue it before the fixed term expires.

But the phones themselves can be rather expensive unless you know where to look. Even on Amazon.com you will find them costing upwards of $600. However, Motorola makes a SIM free model, the 3588/3788, a flat phone with more than just a few basic generic functions, for $48. This phone includes up to four lines of text plus icons; user-definable wakeup text; display icons for signal strength and off-hook, roaming and home zone, text- and voice-message waiting, ringer alerts, and battery meter; quick access and volume keys; automatic language selection as determined by the chosen SIM card; and, eleven ringer tones.

For a little more money--$78.99, specifically—Nokia’s Model 1100 flat phone gives you a few more features, including a phone book with up to 250 names via SIM card and up to 50 in the phone’s own memory; date and time screensavers; built-in alarms and reminders; stopwatch and countdown timers; and, conference calling dependent upon your chosen GSM network. This model also features a key guard lock with security coding.

Or, for $85.99, you can try the LG B2050 flat phone. This unit is slim and lightweight and features GPRS; personal organiser; picture messaging and predictive text; download ability for ringtones; three and a half hour talk time; and, up to two hundred hour standby time.

For those who prefer a flip-open (a.k.a. clamshell) phone rather than the flat phone (also nicknamed a butt-dialer, since keeping it in your pocket can sometimes trigger the phone to dial and call whether or not you wanted to make a call!), Motorola also makes an inexpensive model, the A910, for $147.99. This triband camera phone features 250K graphic display; Bluetooth technology; Linux operating system with Internet; MP3 player; all known basic cell phone features and icons; compatibility to GSM 900, 1800, and 1900 networks; and, up to four hours’ talk time.

Another flip-open unlocked option may be LG’s F1200, at $145.99. This unit features an in-phone camera and integrated MP3 player as well and, like the Motorola A910, includes a USB port for downloading music or ringtones from the Internet. You can also customise your menu and use the phone’s day organiser. Further features include stopwatch, voice recorder, calculator, unit converter, world time converter, and SMS/EMS/MMS/predictive text messaging.

Touch screen lovers who want that feature with a SIM free phone and do not have more than $200 to spend may want to give another LG unit a try, the KP500 Cookie model. This phone sells between $139-179 and features quad band network capability, including GSM 850, as opposed to so many models that feature triband (900/1800/1900) capability. It also allows three-and-a-half hour talk time and features a digital camera, digital media player, and even an FM radio. Other features include Bluetooth technology; virtual QWERTY keyboard; smart dialling; Office document viewing except for PowerPoint; and, handwriting recognition. You have to settle for no Wi-Fi support or DivX support if you want to use this otherwise well-regarded phone that many reviewers have thought would own most of the low-end touch screen unlocked free phone market.

However, a strong competitor may be the Samsung Tocco Lite. Its price is within the same range, generally, as the LG Cookie, but reviewers have liked its quad band capability, its inclusion of the Samsung widget concept, the responsive touch screen, and its compact pocket ability size. They also praised the bright, sharp screen, generous (240x400 pixel) breadth for Web browsing, clean design, bottom-row menu, and overall user simplicity. Also like the LG Cookie, the Tocco Lite lacks Wi-Fi and GPS, nor does it have 3G technology, but that helps keep the price down and those who want this kind of SIM free cell phone without being able to afford the absolute high end may find it as appealing to use as the Cookie.

Smart phone lovers may want to investigate the Nokia N900. Its $499 price tag is one of the lowest on the current smart phone market. This unit is drawing positive reviews for some splashy technology that comes close enough to a pocket-sized desktop experience that does not interfere with calling capabilities—including a user-designable home screen with clickable thumbnails; an ARM processor; 1GB of memory; bookmarking with automatic updates; a side-mounted camera shortcut button, power button, and volume buttons; a slide-out QWERTY keyboard; a micro USB port; and even a flip-out back stand.