Which cell phone is better?

Which is better? A locked or unlocked cell phone?

• My phone, which I've had for 5 years, has started having problems (hangs up my calls when I try to make them and wont let other people call me). I went to my retailer and they said it could be the SIM card, so they replaced it and said if that didn't solve the problem it could be the phone being so old. Well it didn't solve the problem lol So I've been looking to get a new cell phone. My company is AT&T and on their site they're selling phones for 1 cent but they have a 2-year contract required. And their gophones are expensive (the ones I like anyway). Would it better if go with a standard locked phone even tho I would be locked in a contract? What are all the benefits of a locked/unlocked phone? Also, I know they offer unlocked iPhones. How are they better or different from regular ones? Thanks.

• Answer:

  Locked/Unlocked are GSM terms only... ATT and Tmobile and some smaller GSM carriers... They are NOT Verizon/Sprint/Altell phones. They use CDMA technology. Locked means 1 thing... 1 carrier SIM card works in the phone... if the phone is branded ATT, then only ATT SIMs work in it.. If the phone is branded Tmobile, then only Tmobile SIMs work in it... Contract phones are ALLLLL locked! Unocked means any SIM card on Earth will work in the phone.... No contracts... you bought the phone used unlocked from a person OR new unlocked via the manufacturer's website. Easily cancel ATT and go to Tmobile. Or vice versa.... ATT wont be selling unlocked iphones......... they will take existing customers with their current iphones, and---if they are no longer in contract, then the customer can unlock them... no more jailbreaking is needed.. LOL There is no hardware/software difference in locked/unlocked iphones... well.. not if you count some hacking for those who unlocked the phones "unethically".. LMAO