What is SIM -free smartphone "SIM free"?What should you be careful about?[2020 latest version]

　Recently, I often see smartphones and tablets that sang "SIM -free" at home appliances retailers and web mail order (EC sites).Even if you recognize that you can use the SIM card of any carrier for the time being, you may not know what the benefits are actually.Alternatively, "you can use it with a SIM card of any carrier" may be ahead and you may forget the points you need to be aware of.

　So, in this article, I will again check what "SIM -free (SIM lock -free)" is and what points to be aware of.

SIM -free is "SIM is free" synonym for "SIM lock"

　SIM -free "free" means "freedom".In other words, you can use various SIM cards freely.

　Not only SIM cards from major carriers such as NTT DoCoMo, au (KDDI and Okinawa Cellular Phone), SoftBank, and Y! Mobile, as well as MVNO services (so -called "cheap SIM") SIM cards operated from major carriers.It can be used freely.

　Even if you go abroad, you can use it by inserting a cheap "prepaid SIM card" sold for travelers.

　The synonym for SIM -free is "SIM lock".As you read, it refers to measures that cannot be communicated other than the specified SIM card.

　The terminals sold by major carriers are still locked in principle.However, you can unlock SIM by satisfying certain conditions.After canceling, you will be able to freely replace various SIM cards like SIM -free terminals.

There are things to be aware of because it is "free"

　SIM -free smartphones, in principle, accept any carrier SIM cards.But that's why you have to be careful.

　One of them is the "band (band, frequency band)" when communicating in a mobile phone network.The bands used in communication vary depending on the major carrier, so you should check the bands that SIM -free smartphones are compatible.

　The bands used by major carriers for LTE (4G) are as follows.Bold characters are the main carriers (can be used in a wider area).

　However, recent SIM -free smartphones sold in Japan are generally covered by the main bands used by major carriers.It is better to check in the catalog just in case.

　If you are planning to use an au SIM card, a cheap SIM that uses au lines, or a SIM card on Rakuten Mobile's own line, whether it supports the "VOLTE" call of each carrier.Please also check.With these carriers, you cannot make a call in Japan unless it supports VoLTE.It may be specified in the specifications of the catalog or website, so it is recommended to check in advance.

You can replace the SIM card yourself, but it also requires manual settings.

　SIM -free smartphones can be communicated immediately by inserting the SIM card ... but may not be the case.

　First, you may need to manually configure the information called "APN (Access Point Name)" required to perform data communication with a mobile phone line.

　Many Android SIM -free smartphones are preset because the main cheap SIM APN is preset, so you can just select it on the setting screen.If it is not preset, set the setting method on the carrier or MVNO website, so please set it according to the instructions.

　In the case of the iPhone, the APN settings of the SIM card of the major carrier are basically preset.If you have contracted an appropriate internet connection service, you can just insert the SIM card.If you use all cheap SIMs and some major carrier internet connection services, you need to install "Configuration Profile".The configuration profile is published on a website, etc., so download and introduce it with Wi-Fi (wireless LAN).

　In addition, if you use any of the following SIM cards on the SIM -free smartphone, you need to replace the SIM card.Please note that there is a fee for exchanging.

( * 1) Includes cheap SIMs using au lines.When using the SIM -free iPhone before iPhone 8, it is not necessary to replace it, but it may be necessary to set it ( * 2) Cheap SIMs that use the SoftBank line.No exchange required when using an iPhone SIM card with an iPhone

With the spread of SIM cards, the SIM card "Single item" is also enriched.

　SIM -free smartphones sold at electronics retailers and web mail order cannot be used as mobile phones unless you have a separate SIM card.As mentioned earlier, you can use the SIM card you have, but you can also use the SIM card separately and use it.

　Simple contracts for SIM cards are accepted by web and some electronics retailers for cheap SIMs.Even in major carriers, if you bring a terminal to a carrier shop, you can contract a single item, and in DoCoMo and Y! Mobile, we also accept on the web.

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