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Free the Cell Phone! (Wired)Free the Cell Phone! (Wired)Posted Sep 28, 2005 16:16 UTC (Wed) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091)Parent article: Free the Cell Phone! (Wired) In Spain there are several mobile operators. When you buy a set it is usually locked to an operator; in fact, you buy both the handset together with a contract with them (or alternatively a prepaid card). But you can then liberate the terminal so that you can use it with any operator; it is costly but completely legal. In fact it is mandatory for terminals to work with any operator, even keeping your present phone number. Don't know about Italy, but it is probably similar. If so, then it is nothing like the issue discussed in Wired; in fact the situation is diametrally opposite. Instead of changing operators being illegal, it is a legal requirement.
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Locking is common Posted Sep 28, 2005 17:44 UTC (Wed) by eru (subscriber, #2753) [Link] As far as I know, locked phones are the norm in mostEuropean countries. Finland is a bit unusual as here locking phone to a contact is in fact illegal. It is probably not a coincidence that Finland also has the cheapest average rates for GSM usage in Europe...
Locking is common Posted Sep 28, 2005 18:38 UTC (Wed) by rdowner (guest, #3960) [Link] It's certainly the case in the UK and has been for some time - I have a handset that is about 5 years old and it is locked to a specific operator. Under UK regulations the operator has to unlock the phone (subject to certain conditions - I think they can refuse to do this if the phone is tied to a 12-month contract) but can charge the customer to do so.
I think something similar happens in Ireland too - a friend visiting me from Ireland was unable to put a UK SIM into her Irish Vodafone handset.
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Locking is NOT so common Posted Sep 28, 2005 23:37 UTC (Wed) by gallir (guest, #5735) [Link] No, it isn't. Last 5 phones I bought here in Spain were unlocked. If youalready have, or you sign a contract, you can always buy an unlocked phone. As the parent explained, it's a legal requirement. Even if you buy a locked telephone --due to special discounts or pre-paid cards--, you can ask to unlock it --for free-- after six months has passed since the purchase date. I _think_ this is a european regulation ("directive"), if so, the situation should be quite similar in all european countries. Unlocked telephone are not expensive neither, last phone I bought is a triband Siemens A62 (after my last travel to USA where my old dual band Siemens didn't work) and I payed for it 50 euro (in a well known supermarket).
Free the Cell Phone! (Wired) Posted Sep 28, 2005 23:28 UTC (Wed) by emak (guest, #488) [Link] In France, phones are unlocked for free after 1 year.In a way, I can understand that. I've paid 1 for a piece of electronics that may cost 150x more.
Free the Cell Phone! (Wired) Posted Sep 29, 2005 6:49 UTC (Thu) by fabiop (guest, #24661) [Link] In Italy the UMTS phone from '3' ( http://www.tre.it ) are locked and is ILLEGAL to unlock. The telephone are sold from 49.
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