White House petition started to make unlocking phones legal
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Story timeline
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6 March Multiple Congress representatives support cell phone unlocking and look to submit bills
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4 March The White House responds: phones and tablets should be unlockable
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28 February FCC will investigate cellphone unlock legality
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21 February Success! Petition to make unlocking phones legal meets goal
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20 February Reminder: phone unlocking petition needs signatures by Saturday
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24 Comments
23. tuminatr posted on 27 Jan 2013, 12:51 1 0
umm even though Obama said he would address petitions on we the people he has mostly blown it off
24. som posted on 20 Feb 2013, 18:05 0 0
This is the website to unlocking cell phone.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-unlocking-cell-phones-legal/1g9KhZG7
3. wendygarett (limited) 6 days ago posted on 25 Jan 2013, 00:14 1 2
Off topic, what does the unlocked phone means... Is it means I bought from att and decided to put vzw Sims into the phone?
17. MichaelHeller posted on 25 Jan 2013, 10:07 1 0
Carriers often lock phones onto their own networks in the US. Unlocking makes the phone able to be used on other compatible carriers. AT&T phones could be unlocked for use on T-Mobile. Only some Verizon phones can be used on other carriers, most don't use SIM cards, because Verizon's 3G network is CDMA, not GSM
4. Joshing4fun posted on 25 Jan 2013, 00:22 0 0
Does this mean it will be illegal to root your photo too?
18. MichaelHeller posted on 25 Jan 2013, 10:08 1 0
No. Please read the original article linked at the beginning of the article for all of the info.
5. XPERIA-KNIGHT posted on 25 Jan 2013, 00:24 4 0
Definitely gonna check this one out, because the reasons why someone would want to "unlock" their phone from their current carrier, is really quite simple.........the carrier is not offering people what that person needs and therefore causing the consumer to look else where while at the same time that customer is wanting to hold on to what they paid for (their smartphone).....
So stopping someone from unlocking their phone is really a personal issue between the carrier and the consumer.....Its like saying "although we are not providing you with what you want and need on our service, we still will not give you the option to go else where if you please"
My suggestion to that specific carrier would be to check and see WHY that customer is leaving and SEE what and where, he or she is leaving to go to....... for what reason he or she is going there for.
If the carrier can Find that out and maybe make an attempt to change their current service to help fit that customers needs they will probably also find out, in a good way, if he or she still chooses to leave or not....
7. wendygarett (limited) 6 days ago posted on 25 Jan 2013, 00:27 0 0
I assume you had answered my answer #3, no?
11. CheapSocks posted on 25 Jan 2013, 01:08 1 0
it basically means people will have to go to the carrier and pay out the butt to get it unlocked for whatever reason, such as going overseas, switching carriers, etc. Just more ways the US makes consumers pay more for less.
6. techspace posted on 25 Jan 2013, 00:26 2 0
people should stop buying locked phones,they should not think that the locked phones are cheap, they end up paying a lot of money through those monthly plans, you can save more money with the unlocked phones......and you can take the phone with you to any country
20. Giggity posted on 25 Jan 2013, 12:48 1 0
Plus, you won't have to stare at those obnoxious carrier logo all the time (i.e: the Death Star)
21. nghtwng68 posted on 25 Jan 2013, 14:38 1 0
Very good points cheapsocks and techspace!
My last 6 phones were all unlocked and I dictate to the carriers control over my rate plan. Yet, when the carriers offer such pleasing deals at discount rates to us consumers, it's obvious how you canl give in and not know another way. US customers are at the whim of the carriers control on rate plans and phones.
8. XPERIA-KNIGHT posted on 25 Jan 2013, 00:33 2 0
welp i just created an account you guys and signed the petition........I suggest you do the same for the freedom we deserve.... much love
9. XPERIA-KNIGHT posted on 25 Jan 2013, 00:39 3 0
o and by the way, thanks Michael for making this article much appreciated :)
12. bvalde09 posted on 25 Jan 2013, 01:20 0 0
Michael Im not sure but I think they should be an article saying how much this will impact commerce around the globle. There are people who actually sell unlock codes. Would they be criminal? Would I be a criminal if I decide to buy the unlock code from them.? I understand that sounds stupid but Its just more stupid what are they doing
13. idroidequis posted on 25 Jan 2013, 03:11 0 0
What a troll this will only hurt the cellphone industry as a whole. People these days look for every chance to bash each other. Get out of my gene pool please I dont need people like you to delude my world.
16. ajac09 posted on 25 Jan 2013, 08:08 0 2
petitions dont guarantee the government will approve 9 times out of 10 they just give you the standard reply and move on.
19. MichaelHeller posted on 25 Jan 2013, 10:11 2 0
Only moving on and doing nothing guarantees the government won't do anything.
At least a petition guarantees a response, and a possible dialogue from there. Don't forget what people did to SOPA/PIPA when we mobilized.
22. cripton805 posted on 26 Jan 2013, 10:27 0 0
Does anyone else find it funny that they use "We the people".
Like if we were going to secede from the US.
