FCC: Wireless carriers must agree on phone unlocking rules

[Brink]

The FCC has told carriers that they must voluntarily agree on what rights consumers have in relation to unlocking their mobile devices, or the agency will make a ruling dictating policy instead.

According to Reuters, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made the demand based on how carriers conduct their business around contracts. When a consumer signs up for a long-term contract in order to receive a mobile device for subsidized prices or for free, the phones are generally locked to a specific carrier -- and this is the issue at heart for the U.S. regulator.

Read more at: FCC: Wireless carriers must agree on phone unlocking rules | ZDNet

 

[ThrashZone]

Most the time the device is so dated by the end of a contract it's fairly worthless anyway,
But yes after a contract is done the device should be Unlocked because the contract has been fulfilled and they got the price back via monthly fees,
Cheers.

 

[Joan Archer]

Wonder if it would be adopted this side the pond, it's how I got my Nokia Lumia for free by being locked into a carrier and of course it was the lowest version to start with so by the time the contracts up it will be even further behind the times.

 

[ThrashZone]

Not sure but I'm sure Unlocking will be another service charge for sure
Being I usually go for the two year contracts and by the time the first year is over they already pester me to upgrade so that should tell you something able device in the medium/ high range I'm still on iphone4 with 3g which yes is ssslowww !
Cheers.