Difference between buying unlocked and getting phone unlocked
 

I just have a simple question that I didn't find an answer for.

Is there a difference between buying a phone unlocked(straight from retailer) or buying a phone from rogers and getting it unlocked?

Or is it all the same in the end.

no difference unless

the physical "rogers" or "fido" on it unless its factory unlocked

no difference, but there is a difference between unlocked phones and unbranded phones.

same shit different pile

the obvious one would be warranty issue, ie buying a fido/rogers phone and unlocking it technically will void your warranty coz you "hacked/modified" the software. sometimes you'll get away with it and they won't find out. but sometimes you won't vs one that's factory unlocked then you'll still be getting some sort of a warranty on it whether it's direct manufacture warranty or store warranty.

whoa, did not know that..

so if i go to some asian store and ask them to unlock a phone with me will they unbrand it as well? or do i gotta ask for each seperately

can you unlock a phone to work on telus?

separate, it'll cost you more ;)

i guess it depends on the phone.

Unlock - lets you use any SIM card

Debrand - gets rid of any corporate logos, enables any disabled software.

Both are important for sure, but imo unlock is way more useful. Who cares if they disabled an app or two. Though why carriers voluntarily do that is completely retarded and beyond me. :rolleyes:

No point making another thread so I'll just ask in here...

Can you debrand a phone without unlocking it?

^ Yes. They are technically seperate things, though my understanding is that quite often a "debranding" will include an "unlocking".

Correct. Often as easy as a firmware upgrade. I've debranded my brother's Rogers N95 8GB. It's still locked to Rogers.