AT&T automatically unlocks eligible phones made by certain manufacturers. Apple and Google phones are automatically unlocked once eligible, but you must put in a request to unlock a Samsung phone.

You might be ready to ditch Big Blue, but you don't have to leave your phone. Here's how to unlock an AT&T phone by yourself.

Generally, you pay for the code, and it’s sent to your email. Verdict As you can see, unlocking a phone can be really handy, particularly with international travel.

Customers can request to unlock their phones for valid reasons like traveling overseas, but an ecosystem of shady entities has sprung up that offer to do it without proper authorization.

AT&T executives met with FCC officials to explain why it thinks it would be a mistake to allow customers to unlock their phones sooner.