Usually, different phone models and iPhones are locked. Meaning, you can’t insert any sim card from network operators other than the sim card from a network operator allowed. Say for an instance, you are only allowed to insert an AT&T simcard. If your phone’s locked, you can insert any sim card other than an AT&T sim card. If you are planning to switch from a different network operator in the future or you suddenly felt like switching to other network, this will be a problem.
Anyway, it isn’t like you have to buy another unit of phone for you to be able to use the service of a different network operator. All you have to do is have it unlocked with the help of a phone unlocking solution or iPhone Unlock. With this, it will only take a few minutes to unlock you phone. It is also 100% safe so there’s no need to worry about possible damages and such. Unlock iPhone 3g is also voted as the top unlocking solution. That is to say that no bad results will come from unlocking your phone using this.