[juanser]

Hello,

Great site, lots of useful information.
I am very interested in buying a new Blackberry since I lost my previous one. I have been looking at the 8320 and 8120 because of price and wi-fi. My question is, at ebay many of the sellers state that the phone is "new, never opened" and unlocked. Does this certify that I will be able to use bb email and messenger with a data plan? I am not interested to buy a phone through any carrier since I travel a lot and I prefer to have different SIM cards.
I would appreciate any help I can get with buying a new unlocked black

[JSanders]

An "unlocked" BlackBerry must have been opened and powered on. Flat out, a statement that a device is "unlocked" and "new, never opened" is untrue, then. Secondly know that you won't get the warranty support for the device, as only the carriers offer the warranty for repair or replacement. RIM does not do this direct.

See the link below for questions to ask your seller. If they won't answer or don't know the answer, don't buy it.

Buying a BlackBerry off eBay - BlackBerryFAQ

[dc/dc]

Originally Posted by JSanders

An "unlocked" BlackBerry must have been opened and powered on. Flat out, a statement that a device is "unlocked" and "new, never opened" is untrue, then. Secondly know that you won't get the warranty support for the device, as only the carriers offer the warranty for repair or replacement. RIM does not do this direct.

See the link below for questions to ask your seller. If they won't answer or don't know the answer, don't buy it.

Buying a BlackBerry off eBay - BlackBerryFAQ

This is not necessarily true. My 8707g was unlocked/unbranded from the factory, and I purchased it new/never-opened from mPulse/GTA/Guam Telecom.

That said, as a general rule, you are correct about eBay devices.

[JSanders]

Originally Posted by dc/dc

This is not necessarily true. My 8707g was unlocked/unbranded from the factory, and I purchased it new/never-opened from mPulse/GTA/Guam Telecom.

That said, as a general rule, you are correct about eBay devices.

true and RIM does do some very limited direct sales as well.

[MidnightDraven]

If the pictures show a carrier logo, then to unlock they needed to have opened the box, turned the device on etc.

If it is unbranded (no logos) then it will come unlocked and therefore is more likely its not been opened.

A NEW unlocked phone, unbranded or branded on ebay is best to find someone who has actual pics of the box (not standard internet images) and generally an opened box for picture taking ensures that you see that everything is included.
once shipped, if there is a problem which the buyer won't solve, ebay can help as the picture is a representation of the item, and you can state the item was mis-represented etc.

[shabazz5th]

this can be true, I ordered my Bold from Brazil, still sealed, never been opened, and it's also unlocked (I live in Canada).

[a4mic]

whats better to buy? a locked or an unlocked phone?

[MidnightDraven]

better to buy locked if you are going to be using on that particular carrier.
i.e. get a 8900 t-mobile locked cheap than an 8900 unlocked (when previously locked, as opposed to unlocked sim-free) to use on t-mobile.
but if you obviously want a bold on t-mobile, unlocked is better.

[TXLady]

Originally Posted by Midnightdraven

better to buy locked if you are going to be using on that particular carrier.
i.e. get a 8900 t-mobile locked cheap than an 8900 unlocked (when previously locked, as opposed to unlocked sim-free) to use on t-mobile.
but if you obviously want a bold on t-mobile, unlocked is better.

I guess there are differences of opinion. If I am buying a phone from anywhere other than my carrier, I want it unlocked when I buy it and will chose the unlocked over the locked phone. I prefer to keep my options open -- be able to leave and use the phone elsewhere or to use my phone when travelling outside the country with a foreign SIM.

There is no real advantage for the user in having a phone locked to your carrier, only for the carrier itself.

[JSanders]

I would look at the price of either and make the judgment accordingly.

A routine US-device unlock code might run you $15 USD.

If the seller is charging you extra like $30-50 higher because it is unlocked already, I'll get my own code at a better price from the guys at Horizon.