What does an unlocked phone mean?

[notifications]

This was the ad title 

•  

LG G6 (H872) 32GB Astro Black (T-Mobile) Clean IMEI - USED **Unlocked**\\\

 

Does it mean it will work with my Sprint Sim Card? Why does it say T mobile? is it only gonna work with T mobile?

[dcgreen2k]

It should work with any carrier. Some phones have sim cards that only work with one carrier, which means it's locked.

[Carbide X]

it means that you can put sim cards of other countries in your phone

[ExplosiveSloths]

Yeah should do.

 

T-Mobile is probably where it was brought from, you know on contract or whatever.

 

 

[notifications]

If it is unlocked why do they mention (T-mobile) in the title, does that mean it was previously locked with T mobile?

[Crunchy Dragon]

-Moved to Phones and Tablets-

[RyzenDoctor]

A locked phone is locked to one carrier at the software level. If you switch the SIM card to another carrier it would not work.

 

an unlocked phone on the other hand does not care and will accept any SIM card / network as long as it uses the supported protocols (GSM vs whatever Verizon is on)

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

4 minutes ago, notifications said:

This was the ad title 

•  

LG G6 (H872) 32GB Astro Black (T-Mobile) Clean IMEI - USED **Unlocked**\\\

 

Does it mean it will work with my Sprint Sim Card? Why does it say T mobile? is it only gonna work with T mobile?

It means that you can use that phone with whatever carrier you want, even internationally, provided the phone supports the wireless bands of the carrier. 

[Mooshi]

1 minute ago, notifications said:

If it is unlocked why do they mention (T-mobile) in the title, does that mean it was previously locked with T mobile?

It means it's a TMobile phone. TMobile uses GSM, a digital network. Majority of the world uses GSM. Sprint uses an analog network or CDMA (same for Verizon)

 

Unlocked phone doesn't automatically translate to use phone wherever, the phone itself needs to support the band  your carrier uses. Easiest way to find out is either Google or call CS and give them the IMEI to check if it shows it's compatible.

[notifications]

And, I am looking to buy a Sprint Unlocked CMDA Phone and put in a Tello (uses Sprint Towers) Sim Card which is also CMDA, will that work

[Donut417]

9 hours ago, notifications said:

And, I am looking to buy a Sprint Unlocked CMDA Phone and put in a Tello (uses Sprint Towers) Sim Card which is also CMDA, will that work

I dont think Ive ever seen an Unlocked CDMA device. Though if the device is unlocked and CDMA and supports the bands that Sprint uses then it should work. 

[dizmo]

It says TMobile because that's the company that the phone was assigned to.

Since different retailers get different bands, it's important to make sure that the phone will work with the carrier you plan to use.

You can use this website here: https://willmyphonework.net/

 

On 3/18/2018 at 11:56 AM, thegreengamers said:

It should work with any carrier. Some phones have sim cards that only work with one carrier, which means it's locked.

Unless the carrier doesn't support the bands the phone has

On 3/18/2018 at 11:57 AM, notifications said:

If it is unlocked why do they mention (T-mobile) in the title, does that mean it was previously locked with T mobile?

Correct.