Why is it illegal to "unlock" your phone? NSA?

[ErikJ]

Last edited Fri Jun 7, 2013, 03:06 AM - Edit history (1)

In the US it is technically illegal to 'unlock' your phone, which makes it illegal to "unlock' it from the phone service you bought the phone with, meaning you are stuck with your carrier for at least a 2 year contract.
So I bought an unlocked international phone. I had to buy a SIM card to get phone service which is paid monthly and I can switch any month including phone number. If you travel its a LOT LOT cheaper to buy a new SIM card for every new country you go to, rather than 'roam' on your US service.
So now I wonder if the NSA is the reason the US makes it illegal to unlock your cell phone?

[Sherman A1]

1. I think it had more to do with the lobbing by the carriers than the NSA

more likely about the money than the ability to monitor your activities.

But, who knows?

[dipsydoodle]

2. "stuck with your carrier for at least a 2 year contract"

Its not easy for me to relate as I'm UK. Over here if for example a phone is provided either free or at subsidised cost based on say an 18 month contract inclusive of both pre-agreed number of minutes and download limits then even if you did have it unlocked the monthly payments would remain payable under the contract. Actually breaking the contract could require return of the phone. As such there wouldn't be much point in having it unlocked until the contract ended in which point the phone would be yours to do with as you pleased anyway.

Yes - the answer in any country is to use another phone on a local sim card for use within that country and to "phone home" dependent on rates implicit in use of the sim. My sister is here from Oz as I write and the 'phone and sim she uses when here provided about 5 hours free of charge international use - that's on an Orange sim which is pay as you go as and when.