That link is pure awesome.

Back on track ...

If I understood the PDFs (posted earlier) correctly, then part of this "law" requires the provider to relinquish their 'lock' at the end of the contract. Do I have that right?

I'd consider that an upside. That's not the case with my provider here. I have a perfectly good smart phone that I no longer use. I can only sell it to someone wanting to use the same provider. The phone is contract free. I own it. I paid for it. It should be as easy as going to your local store to unlock it. Actually, no, fuck that - it should be done by the provider AUTOMATICALLY at the conclusion of the contract.

I can understand it from the standpoint that you really aren't 'paying' for the phone when you sign the three year contract. You sign that contract so you can have that new shiny bobble that does lots and lots of things plus links to cat pics for $175 vs. $800 - you shouldn't be able to 'steal' it and hook into another provider.

Still ... the penalties ... these have to be inflated. $500K and/or 5yrs in Jail. Really? Maybe a more appropriate penalty would be being 'banned from owning/using/handling cellular devices' ... lmao ...

I wonder is these same people thought about the boulevard they've just opened up in the consumer cell phone market for the manufacturers?

This law applies to cell phones purchased at a steep discount provided you require a high-end telephone with everything except a toilet paper dispenser. If you purchase your phone at cost, you are free to use whatever carrier you desire however, you do not enjoy the same freedom.

Joys of Unlocked Cell Phones

Buying new, unlocked phones or unlocking your existing phone is perfectly legal in the U.S., although it's not as common as it is in other parts of the world, most notably Western Europe. There, countries such as Belgium don't even allow the sale of locked phones.

[link to www.pcworld.com (secure)]