Som
e
cell phones are desi
gned to use a Subs
criber Identific
ation Module (SIM) card, or microc
hip that st
ores subscriber data. The
SI M
card is issu ed by a ca
rrier and provi
des
cell servi
ce by activati
ng any
phone into whic
h it is inserted. A
loc
ked
phone, howe ver, will only reco
gnize a SIM card
from a part icular carr
ier. If t he
cellell
phone is
unlocked
IM card
from anyany carrier. The "lock" is a sof
tware se t
ting that keep
s the
cell
phone
y
al" to o
ne ca
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