unlock

Unlocked Sony Ericsson Xperia Active goes on sale in U.S.

Sony Ericsson brought another unlocked Android smartphone to U.S. consumers this week with the release of the Xperia Active.

Features include Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, a 5-megapixel camera, and a scratch-resistant 3-inch display capable of tracking wet finger touches. What's more, the Xperia Active can also withstand tough weather and climate conditions including a dunking in 3 feet of water for a half hour.

Additional details cater to outdoors enthusiasts or people with active lifestyles. For example, the device offers an onscreen heart rate/pulse monitor and comes with a "Gear Kit" that features a … Read more

How to perform a carrier unlock on an iPhone 4S

If you're suffering from iPhone 4S envy, chances are you're stuck in a contract on a non-iPhone network such as T-Mobile. Now, according to a developer's post on Pastebin, users can unlock their iPhone 4S for use with any network, without any software or hardware hacks.

Before we get started, this is one of those workarounds that should be done with caution. As with any unauthorized cellular usage, charges incurred cannot be predicted. That being said, T-Mobile has been extremely iPhone user-friendly in the past, even offering official help pages on its Web site.

If you are … Read more

Digital image can dupe Android face-based lock

A new feature in Android 4.0 will allow you to unlock the phone using facial recognition. But if you want high security, don't rely on it.

A video demonstration created by mobile blog SoyaCincau shows that the Face Unlock feature can be fooled by showing it a mere image of the face used to set up the locking mechanism. The video shows someone unlocking a Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich, by holding in front of the device a digital photo taken of him that is displayed on another phone.

Per the … Read more

Apple selling unlocked, contract-free iPhone 4S

iPhone 4S buyers looking for an unlocked version of the new phone can now grab one directly from Apple.

The company has just started selling an unlocked and contract-free version of its new phone. In a nutshell, that means you can use the iPhone 4S without shelling out money for the usual two-year carrier contract. You can then jump from one network to another by picking up and inserting a micro-SIM card, which is available from each supported carrier.

An unlocked phone is especially handy for people who travel around the world and want to be able to use it … Read more

Apple wins 'slide to unlock' patent

Many of the patent applications and grants we come across involving Apple relate to theoretical products that may never see the light of day. Today, Apple has been granted a patent that covers one of the most basic (and copied) processes in iOS, slide to unlock.

Though Apple holds many patents pertaining to gestures, the slide-to-unlock gesture is both symbolically and practically the one that gets everything started. Here is the official wording from the United States Patent & Trademark Office, describing what other companies are now restricted from including in their touch-sensitive operating systems:

"The device is unlocked … Read more

Ice Cream Sandwich makes tough security taste better

There's more to Ice Cream Sandwich than just better camera controls, near-field communication support, and the redesigned interface. Google has also been working on making the latest version of Android the safest yet, and several of the features are mighty sharp for a melty brick of ice cream.

The biggest of them all is that you'll be able to fully encrypt your ICS device. This means that all your data will be on lockdown, inaccessible even to you until you enter in the passcode or personal identification number.

The benefit of this obvious: if lose your phone, you … Read more

Sprint's iPhone 4S SIM unlock a limited affair

If you were planning to buy a Sprint iPhone 4S with hopes of using its unlocked micro-SIM card slot to dodge international roaming charges, that now appears to be a limited time offer.

Macworld this afternoon relays a statement from Sprint, with the carrier saying it plans to lock the iPhone 4S' Micro-SIM slot as part of an update that will go out to buyers "shortly." Those customers can then request an unlock from the carrier if they're "in good standing."

Customers could use the unlocked slot with a prepaid Micro-SIM card in order to … Read more

Unlocked iPhone 4S coming in November

Amid this morning's iPhone 4S preorder meltdown on Apple's online store, the company quietly announced that an unlocked version of the device is coming next month.

Beneath the options to get the iPhone 4S on either AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon, the company teased that users can also wait until November to get an unlocked and contract-free version of the device.

"The unlocked iPhone works only on supported GSM networks, such as AT&T in the U.S.," Apple says in its description. "When you travel internationally, you can also use a micro-SIM … Read more

The 411: Locked-down phones

Welcome to the 411, my column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have similar queries, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

I currently carry 2 phones, one Verizon (CDMA) and one AT&T (GSM). This has served me well at getting coverage most everywhere I go. But what I would really love to do is combine the 2 accounts onto 1 phone. Are there any devices available that I could combine the 2 accounts (Verizon & AT&T) onto a single phone? -- TC, via e-mail

I would say probably not. There are dual-mode CDMA/GSM phones like the Verizon world phones, but the GSM chip in those handsets can only be used with overseas carriers. These phones can be SIM unlocked, but even then, many of them have additional locks that make them unusable with either AT&T or T-Mobile. If you do want to use two accounts in one phone, I can think of dual-SIM card handsets like the Blu Speed and the Duet D888, but these are GSM-only. If anyone has other ideas, please let us know in the comments.… Read more