There are millions of consumers who own a prepaid phone locked to the AT&T network. Those who like to keep their phone, but choose to, or are forced to, change their wireless service due to bad service or relocation necessity, may benefit from unlocking their existing phones. And it doesn’t make any sense anyway to buy a new phone when you’re happy with your existing prepaid phone on AT&T network but just want to switch service providers. A better option is just to unlock your device so you can enjoy carrier service from other network providers.
The following are some of the ways to get this done:
- Determine whether your prepaid phone is GSM or CDMA. The difference lies in the SIM card. GSM phones need SIM cards to connect to the AT&T network while CDMA networks don’t require SIM cards and the connection is hardwired into the device itself. By unlocking a handset, all you have to do is switch the SIM for using a different service.
- Call AT&T and ask if they can unlock your handset. Keep in mind that phones that are under contract with the cell phone provider may not be eligible for an unlock. You should wait a few days until the contract comes to an end.
- Search for unlock codes; they may be available on the internet. Most websites will charge a fee for these codes; stay away from those sites that are offering free unlock codes as they pertain a high risk of bricking your phone.
- Choose an IMEI unlock service: This is the best option to make an AT&T prepaid phone SIM free. All you need to do is use your IMEI number and submit it to the service provider. AT&T is the most eligible carrier for the IMEI unlock service, and the process is completed faster for handsets locked to AT&T compared to other networks such as T-Mobile and Verizon. Your phone can then be used on any carrier of the world after the unlock and can be updated to new OS and basebands without any worries; a privilege you may not be able to enjoy when opting for other unlocking solutions.
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