When dealing with an unlocked or locked phone, the question is whether or not the device can work on a specific wireless network that's different than the network the phone was designed to work on. An ...

Metalenz and UMC’s Polar ID mass-production deal marks the dawn of next-gen, ultra-thin, polarization-based face biometrics ...

Nokia and Sony Ericsson are looking to crack the unlocked phone market in the U.S., but their quest will be an uphill battle. Marguerite Reardon started as a CNET News reporter in 2004, covering ...

Tired of the restrictive carrier payment plans that often come with new cell phones? The top unlocked phones we've tested aren't tied to a carrier, offer you more freedom to roam, and carry less ...

If you’re like most technology buyers, you’re accustomed to purchasing locked smartphones — that is, phones that are restricted to the network of the specific mobile carrier from whom you purchased ...

Kristen Dennis’s cellular carrier didn’t offer the bright pink Motorola Razr she desired about 18 months ago. And Andy Abramson frequently travels abroad and was paying too much in international ...

Handset makers in the U.S. are dabbling in selling phones directly to consumers, but will the model be attractive enough to consumers? Marguerite Reardon started as a CNET News reporter in 2004, ...

As part of a proposed class-action settlement in California, Sprint has agreed to unlock departing customers' phones so they can be used with other compatible networks, including Verizon and Alltel.

Cell phones are practically essential in today’s world, but not everyone likes to be tied to a 24- or 36-month contract. With an unlocked cell phone, you can choose a pay-as-you-go or a contract-free ...

A federal judge in Oakland ruled that law enforcement agencies cannot force people to use biometric features such as facial-recognition to unlock their phones and other devices in a case that ...