I'm about to finally cancel my contract with Verizon.  I got locked
into a 2 year contract with them, and then I moved to a rural area
with poor reception. I would like to shop around a little for prepaid
wireless deals.  Will I be able to use this phone (audiovox CDM-8600)
with other carriers; or will verzon do something to set the phone so
that I can't use it with other phone co's? I heard this term, 'lock',
and I don't know what it means.  Are they going to lock my phone after
I cancel my account?

Comments and suggestions apreciated too!

Howdy johnjri1-ga,

Your phone is already "locked" in that it will only work with service through
Verizon, and there does not appear to be any easy way to unlock it, that is,
make it so it will work with other services.

As well, even if you could get it unlocked, it does not look like it would be
possible to get it to work with most any other service.

Not only that, but if you are looking to go the prepaid route, and if you
could unlock your phone, and get it work with another service, it appears it
would be very hard, if at all, to get a prepaid card for it.

When your service with Verizon ends, your best bet within the prepaid realm
is to ask around and see what prepaid phones and services work best in your
rural area.  Ask any friends that use prepaid services what service they use,
as well as asking any local cellphone dealers what they would suggest.

If TracFone is an option in your location, it could be easy and relatively
inexpensive to try them out, as they have a deal where you can get two 60
minute prepaid cards and a refurbished Nokia 1100 for $19.99.

You can look at what they offer at their website.
http://www.tracfone.com/

If you use your cell phone quite a bit, the prepaid route might not be the
best way to go.  You need to look at your usage and the fact that prepaid
cards expire with time, and that prepaid "per minute" charges can be pricier
than traditional plans.

If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.


Search strategy:

Google search on: unlock OR unlocking "CDM-8600" OR cdm8600 OR 8600
://www.google.com/search?q=unlock+OR+unlocking+%22CDM-8600%22+OR+cdm8600+OR+8600

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Thanks for your help denco. This is what I asked for but didn't have
the time to research. fwiw, I hardly use the cell any more, so prepaid
is the way to go.

Glad to have been of service, johnjri1-ga, and thanks for the 5 star rating.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher