The legality of such services is somewhat questionable, but typically is allowed though such companies may charge a sizable fee. This is why an unlocked phone may still display the logo for a certain service provider on startup.Ī phone with a SIM lock can also typically be unlocked using third-party programs and services.
Even once unlocked, the phone may still retain firmware associated with the service provider, such as menus and operating systems. There are typically no statutes requiring that providers do so, however, so it is up to a company to decide whether a SIM card should be unlocked. Most mobile network providers can unlock a SIM lock if asked to do so by a customer. Phones that have a SIM lock may also be less expensive than unlocked phones, since they typically ensure that the customer purchasing the phone only uses the network provided by the selling company. This is done to encourage customers of a mobile service provider to remain loyal to that provider in the long run. Unless unlocked, a card that is locked will typically work only with the network provided by a particular company or in a certain region. A SIM lock can be unlocked by the company that provides the phone service or by using a number of different third-party applications.Īlso called a “simlock” or network lock, a SIM lock is usually meant to ensure that customers who purchase a phone from a particular company continue to use that company’s services. This locking function is connected to the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) provided with the phone and ensures that the phone can only be used in a way the service provider wishes. These circumstances are typically involved with retaining phone service, such as only allowing the phone to work in certain countries or on networks provided by a specific company. A SIM lock is a function built into many mobile telephones that allows phone service providers to lock a phone so it can only be used under certain circumstances.