Can I buy a new cell phone without going through my service provider and updating my contract?
Yes, you can purchase a new cell phone without updating your service provider contract. Some do this when they have an old services “bundle” contract for instance including internet before cellular service providers started charging extra fees for each item. The new cell phone needs to be compatible with your service provider (for instance, either: CDMA, GSM/GPRS, PCS, or TDMA – your phone & provider need to match). “Unlocked” means that it should work with any compatible cellular service provider. Most providers “lock” telephones which have subsidized equipment pricing to only be able to use their cellular service, so that they either keep getting the monthly service income or receive the equipment back “which had not been fully paid for yet”. You need to let your cellular provider’s customer service department know your new phone’s ESN (Electronic Serial Number) – that is how they associate your telephone number with your new telephone. You will probably pay much more for your new ce
