Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S.

Re:Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S. by SwellJoe on Thursday January 24, 2013 @01:49PM (#5111309)

It took me several days to get an unlock code from T-Mobile, for a phone I'd paid for unsubsidized. And, they make a big deal out of the process, and make a lot of noise about possibly being unable to provide unlock codes if they don't have them.

That's not to say T-Mobile isn't better than some other carriers. As I understand it, they are. But, I shouldn't have to ask permission to use my phone, that I paid $600 for, in Mexico for a few weeks, while I continue to pay for my US service.

Making unlocking a phone yourself illegal is anti-consumer and pro-corporate in ways that I find extremely distasteful and it makes me angry that the US state serves corporate interests so much more enthusiastically than individual interests.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S. by sinak on Thursday January 24, 2013 @02:59PM (#5111814)

----- I want to fight this -----

HN, my brother is just about to relaunch an unlocking site I made in 2002 (mockup here: http://j.mp/WRfm6A).

I really want to help him fight this ruling.

I'm guessing that petitioning the librarian is the best idea. Any ideas or thoughts on how to go about this would be very, very much appreciated.

And if anyone's willing to help, email me (email in profile).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S. by zem on Thursday January 24, 2013 @03:54PM (#5112138)

if you paid for the phone unsubsidised, why was it even locked in the first place?

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Re:Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S. by SwellJoe on Thursday January 24, 2013 @05:03PM (#5112557)

They are locked, by default. I bought it in a T-Mobile store, because my Nexus 1 died while I was travelling and needed something quick (it's an HTC Sensation 4G, which is the worst phone I've owned, possibly ever). Maybe they'll unlock it immediately if you ask them to, I dunno.

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Re:Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S. by jzwinck on Thursday January 24, 2013 @06:22PM (#5112912)

Hey I don't know why, but the same happened to me in the UK. Bought a phone outright from Three, then later paid them to unlock it. Silly.

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Re:Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S. by YZF on Thursday January 24, 2013 @07:07PM (#5113114)

So you can only use it with the vendor you bought it from? I guess the OP means bought with no plan. This is the primary use case for locking.

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