If anyone has ever dealt with sprint it is almost impossible to get their devices unlocked when you buy a used phone. Sprint requires the original buyers name or account number.
However aren't they violating the CTIA consumer code for wireless service?
From the CTIA website:
(2) Postpaid Unlocking Policy. Carriers upon request, will unlock mobile wireless devices or provide the necessary information to unlock their devices for their customers and former customers in good standing and individual owners of eligible devices after the fulfillment of the applicable postpaid service contract, device financing plan, or payment of applicable early termination fee.
Is sprint in violation of this part of the policy by not unlocking phones for anyone who owns a paid off sprint phone?
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Please take a quick minute to stop at this link and take a look Petition link here..... It could mean the end of our freedom to unlock our phone..... Short sweet and to the point sign the petition.....:highfive:
Here is what we are against.....
we petition the obama administration to:
Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal.
The Librarian of Congress decided in October 2012 that unlocking of cell phones would be removed from the exceptions to the DMCA.
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.
Consumers will be forced to pay exorbitant roaming fees to make calls while traveling abroad. It reduces consumer choice, and decreases the resale value of devices that consumers have paid for in full.
The Librarian noted that carriers are offering more unlocked phones at present, but the great majority of phones sold are still locked.
We ask that the White House ask the Librarian of Congress to rescind this decision, and failing that, champion a bill that makes unlocking permanently legal.
hankbizzo5 said:
Please take a quick minute to stop at this link and take a look Petition link here..... It could mean the end of our freedom to unlock our phone..... Short sweet and to the point sign the petition.....:highfive:
Here is what we are against.....
we petition the obama administration to:
Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal.
The Librarian of Congress decided in October 2012 that unlocking of cell phones would be removed from the exceptions to the DMCA.
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.
Consumers will be forced to pay exorbitant roaming fees to make calls while traveling abroad. It reduces consumer choice, and decreases the resale value of devices that consumers have paid for in full.
The Librarian noted that carriers are offering more unlocked phones at present, but the great majority of phones sold are still locked.
We ask that the White House ask the Librarian of Congress to rescind this decision, and failing that, champion a bill that makes unlocking permanently legal.
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If this passes will our fone be freed from the lockdown?
atrix2man said:
If this passes will our fone be freed from the lockdown?
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No. This is the carrier/sim unlock, not bootloader.
http://arstechnica.com/business/201...ells-wireless-carriers-to-unlock-cell-phones/
About time.
This is the way it should have been all along. If you buy the device outright or finish your contract, an unlock should be mandatory. Legal or not, I unlocked mine myself because I didn't want to go through the hassle of dealing with my carrier to unlock my device that I paid for in full up front.
The real snag here is just like binding arbitration. If you are under contract, the carriers can simply embed your consent to allow locking deep within the fine print of the contract you sign. In my opinion, binding arbitration should be illegal as well as it is forced upon the consumer with no opt out to obtain service, thus making you give up your right to initiate some legal actions.
When you sign a contract, there is really no need for a carrier lock because there is enough legal recourse for the carrier should one fail to uphold their obligations. There is also IMEI blacklisting.
Hello everyone!
I'm planning to buy a Note 4 from a guy who is coming from Germany with a phone bougth from vodafone germany. He is telling me that vodafone sells samsung devices unlocked. Is there any sim lock and bootloader?
Btw here is the reciept he sent me. It's looks tike it has a contract: https://www.dropbox.com/s/66hqg2zr3nwbd1g/IMG-20141224-WA0000.jpg?dl=0
Should I buy this or not? Thank you.
In the EU it is legally forbidden to SIMlock devices to a specific provider. Even on a contract.
However Samsung has a Region Lock on their devices. You can't use an EU device with a non-EU SIM without first unlocking it with a local SIM by calling, internetting and texting for 5 minutes each.
Sewrizer said:
I don't know about Germany, but I live in the EU and all carriers here give you SIM Locked phones if you buy them on contract. In point of fact, I have seen a lot of iPhones locked by carriers from France and England. The fact that there are so many "companies" that Sim unlock them via IMEI is proof that there is demand for such services.
The problem with them is that they are significantly more expensive to unlock than devices that run Android. The only way (that I am aware of ) of getting a SIM Unlocked phone from a carrier is to buy it without contract.
Edit: I must add that I am not aware of the law you mention, but in practice the situation is different. I would like to read that law, if you could quote it.
Blog: http://applesndroids.wordpress.com
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It would appear those laws on SIMlocking were not actually enforced, just guidelines to which new local laws must adhere. Until countries review their laws, they need not change. (And there we have the explanation why local laws are all so outdated..)
Those 'companies' are money sucking leeches praying on ignorant customers. Here's why:
"The Directorate-General for Competition (DG IV) has written to GSM/DCS1800
handset manufacturers and network operators in the EEA limiting the use of
the "SIM Lock" feature in mobile phone handsets: the feature effectively
ties the customer to one GSM operator or service provider. The handset must
be able to be unlocked upon demand by the consumer. This will prevent the
anti-competitive effects of the feature vis-à-vis existing or new operators,
and avoid a reinforcement of the division of the mobile phone market along
national lines.
[...]
The practical effect of this will be that consumers will no longer be
charged what were often significant amounts of money for the privilege of
linking their own handset to the services of another operator / service
provider."
They must be unlocked upon request by the service provider, free of charge. Going to a paid 3rd party is sheer stupidity.
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-96-791_en.htm
Sadly, many customers are not aware of these laws, and in many countries the courts rule in favour of the mobile operators for less than honest reasons (which they ofcourse always deny, because it has nothing to do with the ungodly amount of ex-politicians in the boards of directors..)
The only thing providers are allowed to do is put a timestamps on how long it takes for you to be allowed to unlock it, usually the time your contract lasts. By doing this, they can charge fees if you want it unlocked earlier.
The problem with Apple is that Apple itself locks the firmware to a carrier, and requires an update from Apple itself to unlock. (Like they also do with 4G for every separate provider.) The bastards have never cared for laws: The EU has laws that every charging port must be a MicroUSB since 2011. Apple ignored that, and with Obama backing Apple and holding the chains on the trade agreements, the EU can't do much more than impose petty fines that are small change to Apple.
I want to get my phone unlocked to use with international networks. AT&T will not unlock it because it is still on contract. When I asked them if it was illegal to unlock it myself, the said they do not know. Does anyone know if it is okay to unlock your phone while it is on contract? Has anyone tried this?
I have the same question.
Sent from my Moto E
can't see how it could be "illegal", by law. I'd guess they just don't want to "help" you to that end. I'd do it if I were in you place and not think twice about it or the $4 it'll cost you.
They will unlock the phone, but I believe you have to fulfill the requirements of your contract first
Q: When is my device eligible for unlocking?
Your postpaid device is eligible to be unlocked by a participating provider after you have fulfilled the applicable service contract, completed the device installment plan or paid an early termination fee. Your prepaid device is eligible to be unlocked by a participating provider no later than one year after activation, consistent with reasonable time, payment, or usage requirements.
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https://www.fcc.gov/device-unlocking-faq
Is it possible to unlock it to use work multiple carriers? I have Sprint but also service with Metro and I'd like to use this phone to go back and forth with. It's not paid off yet so Sprint won't unlock it, I think.
Nobody?
Historically they aren't going to unlock.
You could check if anyone can unlock on eBay or unlocking websites. It's gonna cost money.
If you're under contract TMobile or ATT may pay it off. But you'll be under a new contract.
Those are some options.
I don't mind paying. It's Sprint. I still plan to use spring but I need to use Metro when it go out to work because Sprint sucks in my area.
So see if third party sellers can unlock. But Sprint may still relock the device.
As far as I remember, nobody can unlock Sprint. Sprint DOES unlock their devices, they just make it harder to. You have to call Customer Services, let them know, as long as your account are in good standing, they might unlock it.
Here is their policy on that regard:
Sprint Postpaid Devices
Sprint will unlock a device from Sprint's network under the following circumstances:
The device is SIM Unlock capable
The device must be or have been active on the Sprint network for a minimum of 50 days
Any associated Service Agreement (or any Minimum Service Term, where applicable), Installment Billing Agreement, or Lease Agreement has been fulfilled including, but not limited to, payment in full of any applicable: 1) early termination fees, 2) accelerated installment or lease payments, and/or 3) end-of-lease purchase options. Because leased devices are not owned by the user, the end of lease purchase option must be exercised and paid in full before the SIM unlock is completed.
The associated account is in good standing
The device has not been reported as lost or stolen, associated with fraudulent activity, or otherwise flagged as ineligible to be unlocked
For SIM unlock-capable devices (generally most devices launched after February 2015), Sprint will automatically unlock postpaid devices when they becomes eligible.
You can always ask and see if they'll help you out?
only a third party service can help. I used wejustunlock dot com to unlock my old galaxy s9 and it still run fine.
The Firmware on the Sprint Note 10 has to be an older one in order for it to be unlockable by most sites or services. If its got the latest firmware installed on it already your in for a waiting period from my experience fighting the same battle!