Consumers are increasing their demand for unlocked cell phones, and cell phone manufacturers are responding by releasing more unlocked cell phones out of the gate.

Nokia's new Touch and Type, although not well reviewed, is an example of unlocked cell phones being sold directly to consumers. Of course, Nokia now focuses on oversea sales where consumers are more likely to need unlocked cell phones for switching between carriers, so it makes sense that they would be offering more unlocked cell phones.

Benefits of unlocked cell phones released by manufacturers include not having pre-loaded carrier apps (which are little more than advertisements), and being able not just to switch carriers but to forgo them all together in favor of prepaid plans.

Of course, the real concern for any cell phone, whether it's an unlocked cell phone or a carrier restricted cell phone, is access to apps. Apps are driving the leading cell phones, and are available on unlocked cell phones as much and as easily if not more so.

One last question people have is whether unlocked cell phones are the same as jailbroken. When done yourself, or bought from a reputable online carrier, yes. When sold from manufactures, less so. Manufacturers may still try and control how users use cell phones, and until that stops happening it's probably still best to jailbreak your own cell phones or buy unlocked cell phones that are jailbroken for you.