Visible does not lock your phone if you use one of their SIM cards for service. You will not be able to use Visible and your current provider on the same phone at the same time. No service will let you do that. I have the $49.00 ZTE phone and it works just fine. It does do a hotspot. Limited to connecting one device unless you connect it to a router, and it also does tethering. If you use your iPhone the one device limit does not apply. The hotspot is limited to a speed cap of 5MBPS, unless... THIS IS NOT A DATA CAP. I only use the phone for internet but it does calls, text, apps, whatever you want it to. But it's not an iPhone. Chuck