http://wgntv.com/2013/01/25/unlocking-cell-phones-becomes-illegal/

Quote :

Unlocking cell phones becomes illegal
by WGN Web Desk




Starting Saturday, Jan. 26, it will be illegal to unlock your cell phone to access different networks.

A new law bans the practice of unlocking phones based on copyright infringement. Advocacy groups question the validity of the law and may challenge it in court.

Unlocking a phone means removing the security feature that prevents the phone from being used on only one carrier’s network and using multiple networks. The feature is used frequently by people who do a lot of international traveling.

Consumers will still be able to buy unlocked phones that are exempt from the law, but they will not be allowed to change existing cell phones.

The new law is based on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a federal anti-hacking law.

The Librarian of Congress decided In October of 2012, that personally unlocking phones would no longer be allowed.

Somehow I get the idea that this locking and unlocking is different from when my phone reads locked when it's closed.

I didn't even know such a thing was possible LOL!

Unlocked phones have been out for 5 yrs now....where yall been? And anyway, I don't agree with this new law. Had the iPhone not been so fucking expensive and I refuse to pay that much for a phone....I wouldve bought an iPhone, unlocked it and use it with my t- mobile account a long time ago.

Oh...

I never thought to do that anyway.

unlock a phone and go to jail longer than a rapist... really???

this is one of those things that makes me laugh. Corporate american and steal everything... but let the little man do it and WHAM.. jailtime. crazy

Supernova wrote:

Somehow I get the idea that this locking and unlocking is different from when my phone reads locked when it's closed.

Yes,It is completely different.
Unlocking a mobile phone is a procedure to remove any SIM/Network restrictions set on the phone by either the manufacturer of the phone or by the mobile phone's service provider. After unlocking a mobile phone, you can still use it with its existing network or switch over to any other supported network.

An Unlocked phone has many advantages:
a) Switch to any other network : Once you unlock your phone you can switch to any other network and use the same phone.
b) Cut roaming costs : With an unlocked phone, you can go to any country/state and save money by using a local network rather than paying high roaming costs to your home network.
c) Higher resale value : Unlocked mobile phones generally have a higher resale value than a locked phone.

But,As of January 26, consumers will no longer be able unlock their phones for use on a different network without carrier permission, even after their contract has expired.Phones that are bought before January 26 are allowed to unlock using online vendors like ProUnlocking.com .
A petition is created to ask that the White House ask the Librarian of Congress to rescind this decision, and to make unlocking permanently legal.
The link for the petition is https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-unlocking-cell-phones-legal/1g9KhZG7
The signatures should be signed before 23rd of February .