Unlocked GSM phones

[Galactus]

I have a couple of bricks that I can't used because they are locked to a carrier. I know it is legal to have your phone unlocked but I have yet to find a service in my area and I have no desire to trust the random service on the internet.

So does anyone know a reputable site on the net that sales unlocked GSM phones at a reasonable price or am I at the mercy of ebay or $300 phones from Wal-Mart and Target?

 

[BCI]

In Germany, the provider (like T-Mobile) will unlock your phone after two years of usage for free. When you want it early, it'll cost € 100.

 

[Chaos Descending]

AT&T here will unlock any phone except the iPhone after 90 days.

 

[Mr. B]

^^ as will T-Mobile in the USA.

 

[Galactus]

AT&T here will unlock any phone except the iPhone after 90 days.

You know two of the phones I have are AT&T and I was told by the store that they would not unlock them for me and I had to go to someone else to do it.

 

[Mitty]

lol, the iphone is completely unlockable for free after a quick download from the internet

 

[USS KG5]

lol, the iphone is completely unlockable for free after a quick download from the internet

But then Apple will try to break it with updates...

 

[Tomato]

What phone is it?

Howards forums is usually a good place to start.

 

[Galactus]

One is an old LG phone and the other a new Moto I have had for a few months. I have contacted a couple of services local and they have said they can't unlock them. I guess I will just by a new one. Where is Chinatown in Dallas?

 

[D Man]

AT&T here will unlock any phone except the iPhone after 90 days.

Is that because Apple is stubborn as usual, or because of some sort of exclusivity contract they signed with AT&T? I've always been an Apple man (posting from my now-aging PowerBook,) but I don't follow the logic of locking their phone into one provider.

 

[Chaos Descending]

AT&T here will unlock any phone except the iPhone after 90 days.

Is that because Apple is stubborn as usual, or because of some sort of exclusivity contract they signed with AT&T? I've always been an Apple man (posting from my now-aging PowerBook,) but I don't follow the logic of locking their phone into one provider.

That's 100% Apple's restriction on AT&T.

 

[Tomato]

One is an old LG phone and the other a new Moto I have had for a few months. I have contacted a couple of services local and they have said they can't unlock them. I guess I will just by a new one. Where is Chinatown in Dallas?

Mods, I don't know what the policies are but I went on this site to unlock my Moto v360.

http://yuetblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/v360-monsterpack-yuetmod-v13.html

PM me if you have any questions.

 

[BCI]

There are also pages that will install default software on your phone, removing all branding by the carrier. When I did that, my phone had twice the memory afterwards.

 

[TerriO]

One is an old LG phone and the other a new Moto I have had for a few months. I have contacted a couple of services local and they have said they can't unlock them. I guess I will just by a new one. Where is Chinatown in Dallas?

Mods, I don't know what the policies are but I went on this site to unlock my Moto v360.

http://yuetblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/v360-monsterpack-yuetmod-v13.html

PM me if you have any questions.

I've been doing some digging, and there seems to be a disagreement about whether or not unlocking a mobile is illegal. Since most of the information I've found suggests it's legal, and even considering that mobile phone companies will give you unlock codes if you meet certain criteria, I'm going to let this go for the time being.

 

[Galactus]

I don't know about the rest of the world, but I know in the United States unlocking a phone is completely legal. Every major retailer in the US sells them and there are many posted on ebay. I am sure if there was any question to the legality then they would avoid it at all cost, like they did with the music downloads. I just have to find someone that can do it.

You would actually think that there would be a large market to sell unlocked phones to savvy customers who chose not to be locked into a contract, but nothing beats free I guess.

 

[Chaos Descending]

It seems to me that in the US the issue of whether unlocking a GSM phone is legal or not hangs upon consent of the carrier.

In other words, if I have an AT&T phone, and AT&T themselves unlock my phone, there is no question as to whether or not that's legal.

However, if I have an AT&T phone that I bought from AT&T and payed money to AT&T and follow the terms of service of AT&T, it might not be legal to have a third party unlock my phone. Apparently that falls under a grey area of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA), specifically the parts that deal with reverse engineering software and defeating security features.

My personal opinion, you bought the phone, it's yours, use it as you wish.

 

[Galactus]

I believe that in the US as of 2006, an exception was made to said act that made it fully legal to unlock a cell phone. I haven't done any heavy research, because I dislike legal questions now, but score one for the consumer.

 

[Chaos Descending]

I know it's bad form to quote Wikipedia, but I one of th eopinion that Wikipedia can be a valid general reference material.

here is what the relevant Wiki article says:

In the United States the DMCA formerly was claimed to criminalize unlocking. However, an exemption that took effect 27 November 2006 specifically permits it, and will expire in three years but it can be renewed after that.[4] The exemption only applies to the actual unlocking, not to providing an unlocking device or service, see WIPO Copyright and Performances and Phonograms Treaties Implementation Act.

* Bolding is mine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_lock#Regulations_on_unlocking

 

[Galactus]

Wiki is fine by me. Like I said I have not delved into it, but I know there have been no major cases so I would say that says a lot. But it also says a lot that the unlock mechanisms are hard to come by.

I just realized something today. There really isn't a strong market for cellphones anyway outside of buying them from your carrier. The number of people that buy unlocked phones or used phones is so small. The people I know always brag about how many hundreds of dollars they spent on their new phone.