Thursday, October 9, 2014

Unlocked Mobile Phones Outright Offer Cost-Effective And Flexible Plans

By Shamar Smith


We all remember the initial shock we got when we received our first cellphone bill after signing up for a two year contract with a specific service provider. It all sounded so nice, easy and cheap to choose a dandy, modern phone with all the various functions at a low monthly rate. What most people only realized later, was all the hidden costs and limitations involved in the contract that one is now legally bound to honor for the next two years. Buying mobile phones outright may save you a great deal of money and frustration, and give you a wider choice.

Mobile phones purchased on a contract basis may initially seem cheap because the full prize is subsidized by your monthly fees to the service provider over a two year period. In the long run, however, it can actually work out more expensive than buying an unlocked phone where there is no contract or hidden administration fees involved and more options available.

A once-off payment for an unlocked mobile phone of your choice may initially seem more expensive than with a 2-year contract. If you spread the amount over two years, it may actually be cheaper than your accumulated monthly payments - especially if you have a cheaper plan.

Investing in an unlocked mobile phone also spare you the time and frustration of dealing with billing or administrative errors that often occur with lengthy contracts. You are not restricted to the cellphones stocked by your carrier and thus have a wider selection. The only problem is that these cheaper phones only work on GSM cellular networks that use SIM cards. Since all mobile carriers do not operate on GSM networks, you must make sure to find the ones who are associated with unlocked mobile phones.

People are often disappointed when they cannot upgrade their cellphone contract to include a specific phone of their choice because it is not included in their service provider's package deals. Service providers can only allow a certain amount of manufacturers' products on their networks and thus one's choice is often limited. Without a binding contract, you can pick and choose any trendy unlocked cellphone of your choice from any manufacturer.

Apart from having a bigger selection of cellphones to choose from, outright cellphones save you the frustration of dealing with contractual, billing and administrative errors that often occur in long term contracts. People often battle to get out of a contract once it has expired due to administrative problems. With unlocked mobile phones one is free to buy as many and as often as one likes.

The cellphone industry is especially huge in poor countries where the infrastructure for telephone land lines are limited or absent. These SIM cards, containing all your personal information such as phone number, contacts and calling history, can be inserted into any unlocked cellphone. Depending on the length of stay, one can choose a contract that is monthly renewable, or longer contracts.

International travelers can benefit a lot by investing in outright mobile phones if they buy a pre-paid SIM card with the local number of their host country. That way they only pay the local rate. If you plan to visit more than one country and want to stay in touch with your loved ones at home, it will be best to get an international roaming SIM card that offers the cheapest roaming rates instead of having to buy a local SIM card in every country you visit.

Depending on the frequency that you want to call friends and family at home, you can also just use your compatible GSM unlocked cellphone with your home number. Although the calling cost will be considerably more expensive, you will not have to continually give new contact numbers to the ones you need to call during your travels.

A mobile device with dual SIM cards is the best option for people who often have to travel internationally. These phones allow you to store your regular SIM card, as well as the one of your host country, in the same handset. This allows you to make and receive calls to and from your home on your regular number, while keeping the cost of local calls to a minimum.

With all the new advancements and technology in the cellphone industry, it is important to stay informed about all the latest trends and products. Outright mobile phones may just be a cheaper and better option for your specific needs!




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