First it was Telus that announced it will unlock your device for use on other networks for a fee, now the other big Canadian carriers are introducing fee-based unlocking, starting yesterday. Rogers and Fido will unlock any device you might have on their networks for $50, but your account has to be in good standing, and you must pay the unsubsidized price for your device at least 30 days before the unlocking request.
The deal is valid both for new customers, contract or prepaid, or existing customers. Users with current contracts can have their previous phones, smartphones, tablets or "rocket sticks" (that's precisely the term used) unlocked, but, as mentioned above, they still have to pay the full retail price for the gear 30 days upfront. With this setup, we suspect that the "existing customers" are more likely to get their unlock codes for a few bucks from the hundreds of unlocking sites or Ebay, rather than Rogers or Fido, but it's nice to know the carriers are acknowledging the trend.
Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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