[txbeachbum]

While you were sleep.

As of January 2013, however, unlocking your device without permission is decidedly against the law

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/unlo...-insanity/

[Vicious]

Getting a pre-paid SIM in the US is a damn hassle not to mention outrageously expensive. At many times however it's the consumers own fault when they keep buying outrageusly priced subscription plans just to get the latest iphone.

[Blackhawk]

(01-25-2013 10:50 AM)Vicious Wrote:  

It's the consumers own fault when they keep buying outrageusly priced subscription plans just to get the latest iphone.

The price of the phone is amortized into the cost of the subscription plan, but for legal reasons (ie sales tax) they still have to list a separate price for the phone.

When a phone is listed at a price of 1¢, everyone knows you're really paying for it in the subscription plan.

[Vicious]

(01-25-2013 11:22 AM)Blackhawk Wrote:  

(01-25-2013 10:50 AM)Vicious Wrote:  

It's the consumers own fault when they keep buying outrageusly priced subscription plans just to get the latest iphone.

The price of the phone is amortized into the cost of the subscription plan, but for legal reasons (ie sales tax) they still have to list a separate price for the phone.

When a phone is listed at a price of 1¢, everyone knows you're really paying for it in the subscription plan.

Yes? The subscription plans are bad on their own, phone price nonwithstanding.

[Timoteo]

You knew this was coming. Carriers want you locked in, in every way possible. This is also why they get exclusive deals with phone manufacturers - if you want a certain phone, you have to go with a particular carrier to be able to get it. They don't want you to be able to get the phone, then put someone else's SIM in it.

And yeah...there's no such thing as a free, or cheap phone. They're getting the cost of that equipment somehow. I've always wondered if they also use refurbs as supposedly "free" phones.

[Aliblahba]

This is why I buy unlocked Android phones, and stay month to month with the carriers. Problem solved.

[Pete]

It doesn't make any sense. If I pay for the phone it should be mine. The only way it would make sense its if the phone was a lease from the carrier.

[kosko]

It's s shoddy law. It would be the same as buy
ing a car and not being able to make modifications to it, or buying a PC and not being able to install Linux on it. Windows OS is copywriting also to my Acer but with ownership I can do what I please, also would it be retroactive to a phone OS that you refuse to upgrade?

Buy your phone from the factory, or internationally as long as its wired to the same frequency. Since nowadays most phone companies ate using the same tech frequencies they shot then delves in the foot by now making phones free-range to be put to any company more or less. Back in the day your phone was set from the factory and was basically stuck in that setting limiting your carrier options. Having a CDMA IPhone meant I was stuck with the 2 Canadian carriers whom had CDMA.

So either buy the phone from Canada or Europe, or physically tell the store nerd selling you a phone to scratch the Claus out of the contract, If they are desperate for sales they will do it. Cell companies are poorly managed and they have dated sources for cash flow. Getting out of a plan is easy with a few lies so I would imagine this law would be possible to dodge also. Plus will Cell companies foot a ton of cash to enforce this? I doubt it.

[Hotwheels]

As I understand it, US Cellular phones don't have sim cards.

I know my mezmerize doesn't.

[FourToTheFloor]

The United States' telecom industry is a cartel, and judging by the passing of this law, they have quite a bit of influence in government.

Instead of subscription rates becoming cheaper, all they do is continue to rise. I believe my parents pay $200 something a month for my mom's, dad's, and little brother's cell phone service and data for an iPad.

Cable television and internet? Prices continue to soar even though the technology has stayed the same.

Remember the days when you could get "unlimited" cable internet for $50 a month?

[Tuthmosis]

The free market will correct itself.

[Emancipator]

Why can't you just go to some shoddy Chinese guy that only takes cash?

[Parlay44]

(01-25-2013 09:13 PM)Emancipator Wrote:  

Why can't you just go to some shoddy Chinese guy that only takes cash?

There's tons of them on Craigslist. They'll unlock iPhones for $25.
I've seen phone unlocking service in cell phone carts in the mall.

AT&T will unlock your phone for you for free after your contract is up. Just call them and ask.

The issue is taking a phone that's under contract and unlocking it. My friend did that with his iPhone and lost 4G service. Don't quote me on that. I need to find out the finer details.

[Brosemite]

Now that we're on the topic, what sites are best for purchasing unlocked phones?

My contract with ATT doesn't end till October 2013, but I need an unlocked phone for Brazil May-August. I'll go ahead and ask ATT in case as well. Thx.

[SkeletonJelly?]

(01-25-2013 12:16 PM)kosko Wrote:  

Getting out of a plan is easy with a few lies...

What lies?

[Wayout]

In the US you can unlock almost any phone just by googling instructions. If you are lazy - there are tons of services on ebay you can buy and they will send you the instructions for like 5 bucks.

[Blackhawk]

So the reason you can't unlock you phone isn't that it's under contract still. No. It's that the firmware is copyrighted. And somehow the copyright holder's rights are of a bigger concern than your rights as a property owner.

So if you're on Apple, as usual, you're screwed.

But if you're on Android, largely, no one cares. If you're really worried, you can just replace the entire OS with any of the Cyanogen Mods, which will also erase their precious firmware and replace it with an opensource version. No copyright issues.

It's also now quite possible to just buy an Android, never sign up for a carrier at all, only use wifi connections, and only use google voice for calls and email for texts. You're treating your smartphone as a small tablet, but with a better built in microphone and speaker.