Will there be an unlocked iPhone?

Q: Will there be an unlocked version of the Apple iPhone? I'm a T-Mobile customer.
--ktyronemoore

A: That's a tricky question, ktyronemoore. Though I'm certain that unlocked models will gradually appear once the iPhone is introduced in June, they won't be sold as such by Apple (and, of course, not by AT&T/Cingular). AT&T/Cingular and Apple have too much riding on this to let a bunch of unlocked handsets on the market. They can't completely stop it, of course--and you know someone will figure how to do it--but they'll be pretty hard to find, not to mention outrageously expensive. And it's worth noting that an unlocked iPhone may not support all the features that Cingular and Apple are promising to offer.

Q: I need to buy a new cell phone for my daughter, and I'd like to save money by buying one from someone other than Cingular, our provider. Do I need to get a phone that is tied to Cingular somehow, or can I get an unlocked phone? Her phone was a Nokia 6102i, which is a GSM phone, so do I need to replace it with another GSM handset or will her SIM card work in other types of phones? Also, what can you say about phones at auction sites, like eBay? Can I trust that they are working phones?
--Bill

A: Good news, Bill, you don't need to go through Cingular to buy a new phone; you can get an unlocked handset and then use it on Cingular's service. As you know, unlocked phones are great because they're not tied to one carrier, and you won't be forced to extend your contract when buying an unlocked phone.

If you go this route, however, there are several things you should know. Unlocked phones don't entitle you to any carrier rebates, so you may end up paying more for an unlocked model than you would if you bought a handset directly from Cingular. Also, while you don't have to buy another Nokia 6102i for your daughter, you will need a GSM phone that supports the 850 and 1900 bands of GSM. And finally, although you can start making calls the moment you insert the SIM card into the new phone you will have to program the handset with the correct Internet settings to use features like text messaging or the wireless Web browser. You can get these settings from the phone's manufacturer or from Cingular.

You can buy unlocked phones from online retailers or third-party cellular stores that aren't operated by a carrier. They are available on eBay as well, but I suggest using caution when going this route. Make sure you know what you're getting.

Q: I want to buy a cell phone in the United States, then use it in Argentina when I move there this summer. Is that possible?
--Martin

A: All you should have to do is buy an unlocked phone, which is a phone that doesn't have any settings that tie it to one carrier. You should also make sure it's a world phone that supports the 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 GSM bands. And I suppose you'll want a phone that supports menus in Spanish (most of them do anyway). If you get a phone with the first two attributes, you'll be able to use it here and in Argentina and will have no problem migrating between different carriers. All you need to do is acquire an Argentine SIM card and you'll be good to go.

Q: In December, my Verizon Wireless contract expired and now I'm on a month-to-month service. I'd like to downgrade my plan to include fewer calling minutes. If I'm keeping my current phone and number, can they force me into signing another two-year commitment just to change my plan?
--Frank

A: Unfortunately they can force you to extend your contract when you change your plan, whether you increase or reduce your monthly minute allotment. It's a common practice among most carriers, even when you're already on a month-to-month commitment.

Have you been forced to sign a new contract because you changed your plan? Talk back to me below.