Many people don't have any idea that their cell phones are locked until they try to switch providers and cannot. When a cell phone is locked it means that when you end your service with one provider you cannot simply go out and get service with another provider, at least until you are able to get Motorola unlock codes or get the service provider to unlock it for you. These codes will allow you to unlock your phone and then use it to work with the cell phone provider of your choice if the provider will not do it for you.

To unlock your mobile phone you will need a few different pieces of information. This information will allow you to either work with the provider or get a Motorola subsidy code to unlock your phone and use it as you wish. The information that you need will include your mobile phone number, your network and the country that the phone belongs to, the manufacturer of the phone and the model number, and the phone's IMEI number. You may not know what the IMEI number is, but on most phones you can find it by pushing *#06# on your phone.

You should start by calling your network service provider and let them know you want to unlock Motorola phones so that you can do with it as you please. Many providers have stipulations as to when they will unlock it, such as after 60 or 90 days and others are even more stringent, saying they will not unlock it for the term of the service contract. If you want to attempt to make the process really easy, you should always start by calling your service provider and asking them to do it for you.

If your network service provider is not keen on your request of mobile phone unlocking you can still get it done. There are codes that you can request online through many different resources that you can enter into your cell phone and unlock it on your own. Many people worry that this is illegal, but it is not, for the pure and simple fact that the cell phone belongs to you if you bought it and you can do with it as you please.

There have been reports that after a phone has been unlocked that it will be unlocked again after seeking service with another cell phone provider. If this happens, you can simply start back at square one asking for the phone to be unlocked and if it can't be done for you, you can do it on your own. Your cell phone is yours, and if you don't want it locked it doesn't have to be.