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FCC proposes ending cellphone carrier locks after 60 days (www.theregister.com)

submitted 6 months ago by ForgottenFlux@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

118 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Long-term carrier lock-in could soon be a thing of the past in America after the FCC proposed requiring telcos to unlock cellphones from their networks 60 days after activation.

FCC boss Jessica Rosenworcel put out that proposal on Thursday, saying it would encourage competition between carriers. If subscribers could simply walk off to another telco with their handsets after two months of use, networks would have to do a lot more competing, the FCC reasons.

"When you buy a phone, you should have the freedom to decide when to change service to the carrier you want and not have the device you own stuck by practices that prevent you from making that choice," Rosenworcel said.

Carrier-locked devices contain software mechanisms that prevent them from being used on other providers' networks. The practice has long been criticized for being anti-consumer.

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[–] Hellmo_Luciferrari@lemm.ee 36 points 6 months ago (2 children)

"Verizon agrees that the FCC should consider the merits and trade-offs of handset unlocking requirements," Verizon spokesperson Rich Young told The Register, though that support is conditional.

Screw verizon with an acid covered cactus. What possible "merits" are there to locking a device down for anyone but the companies selling the phones? Rich Young can go kick rocks.

I will not buy a phone through a carrier, I will not buy a phone with a locked bootloader. Period.

I am done with anticonsumer bullshit.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

With Chevron overturned, you are absolutely not done with it. It will get much worse.

[–] Toes@ani.social 5 points 5 months ago (2 children)

How do you feel about removable batteries?

[–] Godort@lemm.ee 13 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

With removable batteries is that there is actually a legitimate reason for getting rid of them, in that it's much harder to waterproof a device with a removable battery.

I'd still like to see the option available, but I can at least understand why it's not from a practical standpoint. The only reason carrier locks exist is to increase the cost of change for the end user, making them less likely to switch providers.

[–] Hellmo_Luciferrari@lemm.ee 4 points 5 months ago

I can see two sides to this:

Removable batteries are great, if you want longevity for a phone, and don't mind sacrificing water resistance.

On the other side of the coin:

Removable batteries have more potential to lower water resistance ratings.

I think more manufacturers should give the choice of a model with a removable battery.