Net work Types; GSM and CDMA

• GSM phones store your information on a SIM card that can be removed and replaced.sim card image by Renato Francia from Fotolia.com
  
  CDMA is an analog phone service that is very rarely used anymore. GSM is a digital phone service. Only GSM phones can be unlocked. This is because on a GSM phone your name, number, address book and other personal information is stored on your removable SIM card.
  
  

Considerations

• Be aware of expensive roaming fees when you travel, even if your destination is not remote.travel image by Anton Gvozdikov from Fotolia.com
  
  If you have a GSM phone, you can use it internationally, but be prepared to pay exorbitant roaming fees if you choose to use your local carrier when you travel. This is often the major motivator for unlocking a phone. There is little evidence that a cell phone can be "destroyed" during the unlocking process.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Having your phone unlocked by a licensed professional can lower the risk of altered or damaged data.young pharmacy technician image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
  
  Any data that is stored on your phone --- not your SIM card --- has the potential to be changed, lost, or altered when you unlock your phone, but it is a rare occurrence. Sometimes unlocking a phone is as simple as entering a code, which has little potential for damage.