UNLOCKED PHONES FOR ALL

[moskey71]

I think is awesome, just thought I'd share...

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/23/copy...-consumers-can-legally-unlock-cellpho/

Looking for a reason to be thankful today (besides the fact that Engadget writers snubbed their families in order to toil through the holiday and bring you your daily dose of gadget news)? Well look no further than Librarian of Congress and copyright czar James H. Billington, who has bequeathed a wonderful gift upon millions of cellphone users by granting an exemption wherein consumers may legally break the software locks on their handsets in order to transfer service to another carrier. That's right, starting on Monday you'll be able to say screw you to Cingular or ta ta to T-Mobile and keep rocking your precious RAZR even after you've jumped ship and signed up with a new provider. The exemption is one of a record six granted by the Copyright Office on Wednesday, and was announced so unexpectedly, that even the EFF's Fred von Lohmann admitted that he was "surprised and pleased" by the development. So go forth, friends, and use this new info to either make the switch or squeeze a better deal out of your current provider -- just remember, no matter how hard you try, you're just not gonna be able to get that unlocked GSM phone to play nice with Sprint or Verizon.

 

[FoBoT]

but i like T-Mobile, i don't need to switch

 

[neutralizer]

What about if I have a Cingular-locked phone from someone else and I want to unlock it for use on T-mobile?

 

[moskey71]

From how I understand it, Cingular will have to unlock it. You may have had to have held a contract with them, I wish I knew more, I think I'll look it up for you.

 

[AnthroAndStargate]

So wait - why cant we do this with Sprint?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Hah, all my phones are unlocked. Have fun ppl who buy branded + locked phones =)

 

[moskey71]

That seems pretty vague, it sounds like you could get it unlocked no matter what.

http://www.copyright.gov/1201/

5. Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network.

 

[DarkManX]

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate
So wait - why cant we do this with Sprint?

sprint phones run of CDMA networks, tmobile and cingular are both GSM so they can technically use the same phones.

 

[George P Burdell]

T-Mobile unlocked my last phone when I called and asked them to, no questions asked. THe phone I currently use was purchased unlocked.

 

[moskey71]

From what I understand Cingular gives you a tough time. I was planning on getting a Cingular phone so it's nice knowing they have to unlock it. I've heard after 90? days you can get it unlocked if you are going to use it internationally but I dont have any first hand experience with them.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: moskey71
From what I understand Cingular gives you a tough time. I was planning on getting a Cingular phone so it's nice knowing they have to unlock it. I've heard after 90? days you can get it unlocked if you are going to use it internationally but I dont have any first hand experience with them.

Why are people assuming that they have to unlock it? All this ruling seems to mean is that you won't go to jail for having it unlocked.. which was never the case to begin with.