Having cell phone that is not locked to a particular network has many benefits. Many people with Blackberry cell phones understand the additional benefits that come with having an unlocked blackberry. There are a few ways to get your phone unlocked if you already have one, but you need to be careful as many phones have been ruined by improper unlocking.

If you want an unlocked Blackberry cell phone and don't have a Blackberry yet, the easiest solution is to go out and buy yourself a Blackberry that is already unlocked. There are quite a few third party retailers that sell new, used, and refurbished blackberries that are already unlocked.

If you already own a Blackberry and want to unlock your current phone, there are a few methods to do so:

Call your service provider and ask them unlock your phone. This may require some time on the phone talking with customer service, but if you have an account with a good record chances are good that they will help you out in the end.

You can purchase unlocking software and/or codes from various internet sites, such as Ebay, for just about any type of cell phone. This method is probably the riskiest as you really have no way of knowing whether or not the vendor is selling you the right software and code until you purchase it and try it. Remember that you can really screw up your phone if you do this incorrectly. Buyer beware.

Some third party cell phone vendors will unlock your phone for a small fee. Typically, this is a local store where you can bring your phone in and wait while they unlock it. If you don't have such a store nearby, you can mail your phone in for unlocking. These services are pretty affordable and are good because your unlocked cell phone is usually tested before it is returned to you.