Have you ever traveled overseas only to find out your cell phone does not work in there, or even worse it does work there and you come home to an enormous bill (roaming, it gets you every time).  Now there is a better way to buy a cell phone, and that is to buy unlocked cell phones. Unlocked Cell Phones are the same cell phones you get from the carriers when you sign the contract but you but them from a retailer instead. Once you have an unlocked cell phone you are no longer locked in to any 1 carrier. You have the freedom of choosing your carrier in the US or abroad. And freedom is a great thing.