[DannyTN]

"Mustafa told police he buys the cell phones and puts a special chip in them that can make them work as prepaid on any cell network. He said he then sells the phones at a small profit. "

Is that stealing time from the cell networks? or how does the network get their money?

[RichardW]

It means (as best as I can understand it) that a cellphone can be used in any network. If you go to a contract cell phone you will find only certain phones available. This would allow presumably other phones to be used in the network of your choice. They are called "unlocked" cell phones. Do a google and you can read about it. I'm not altogether familiar with it myself but they can be purchased on ebay as well. I just found an ebay listing ending with eight available at $320 each. So there must be a demand for them.

[spokeshave]

""Mustafa told police he buys the cell phones and puts a special chip in them that can make them work as prepaid on any cell network. He said he then sells the phones at a small profit."

So show me the special chip...

Where does he get it from....?....who makes it....?

I guess the patent attorneys from Texas Instruments, Motorola, Nokia and Qualcom should take a look at this.

Seems at best some leakage of intellectual property.