News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S.. Parent comment

Re:Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S. by bhups on Thursday January 24, 2013 @01:57PM (#5111359)
>The real issue is what happens after you've completed the 18 or 24 month contract. The carrier recouped their subsidy on the phone and has profited from your contract. But you can't use your phone (which you have more than paid for) on any other network.

I'm not so sure this is true. Carriers will allow you to unlock your phone once your contract is up, and according to this DMCA law, it is legal to unlock your phone if your carrier allows you to do so.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S. by talmand on Thursday January 24, 2013 @02:24PM (#5111557)
What if the carrier refuses to allow you to unlock the phone? Just because they do today doesn't mean they will tomorrow if nothing compels them to. One cannot assume the good intentions of companies that exist to make money.

The reason such a law is beneficial to carriers is that if they decide to not allow the unlock, the phone is likely only good for their service. If the phone is only good for their service then you might as well renew your contract. Right?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S. by fpgeek on Thursday January 24, 2013 @11:00PM (#5113862)
AT&T has been unlocking off-contract iPhones for less than a year (of the over 5 years they've carried it):

http://www.theverge.com/2012/4/6/2930642/att-sim-unlock-ipho...

And who knows if they'll change their mind again in the face of T-Mobile's spectrum refarming?

[ Parent | on HN ]