<p>Hi-</p>
<p>I’m looking for an unlocked cell phone for a Chanukah present for my son (maybe me too). Wer’e grandfathered into an old AT&T plan (great rates) so need to be able to move our SIM cards into new phones. I’ve seen plenty of online sites that sell them but was really hoping to find a brick-and-mortar so we can get the feel of the phone and confirm the SIM cards works before buying. Especially since the nice phones run into the hundreds of dollars.</p>
<p>Any advice would be great - even if you know a really good web site - they all seem scary to me!</p>
<p>Marilyn,
I am on an old AT&T too and refuse to switch to Cingular and get into a new contract and a lousy rate. Resist them! I have bought several phones online that were unlocked. Mostly on Ebay. The Motorola RAZR and a bunch of Nokia brands. Never had a problem moving my SIM card. I am not aware of a brick and mortar because they don’t want you to keep AT&T. You can go to Cingular or another wireless store. Check out the phones, find one you like, remember the model number. Then go to ebay and purchase unlocked phone! </p>
<p>There is software that is used to unlock the phones so anyone with that device can unlock any phone. By the way, I have had some trouble with batteries on the RAZRs. I’m not crazy about them. </p>
<p>You might also want to buy a spare AT&T sim card just in case. These are like $3.00 on ebay. What you would do then is if your phone is lost of SIM card is damaged is call Cingular and tell them you want YOUR phone number switched to the new SIM card number. You read the number on the SIM card to them and voila, it works. </p>
<p>If by chance you get someone who is not helpful on the phone from Cingular, hang up and call back. I have done this before when I got someone difficult the first time around. </p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you need any help. I have done this several times.</p>