Cell phone unlocking - legal? | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41150070 Canada 06/17/2013 11:11 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 40572768 United States 06/17/2013 11:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 40572768 United States 06/17/2013 11:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Dapurps User ID: 26419702 Canada 06/17/2013 11:15 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41150070 Canada 06/17/2013 11:16 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41150070 Canada 06/17/2013 11:17 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 956069 Canada 06/17/2013 11:18 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It's legal-ish. The phone is yours, you can do what you want with it. The network is theirs, they have some say as to how you use it. It has more to do with using the network in a way that they cant monitor and charge you for than it does with the phone. Now all they do is block your access to the network worse case scenario wise, often you get a warning first. That being said millions have done it, including me. It is not currently legal for you to do and still use on a network that prohibits it. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 956069 Canada 06/17/2013 11:32 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It's legal-ish. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 956069 The phone is yours, you can do what you want with it. The network is theirs, they have some say as to how you use it. It has more to do with using the network in a way that they cant monitor and charge you for than it does with the phone. Now all they do is block your access to the network worse case scenario wise, often you get a warning first. That being said millions have done it, including me. It is not currently legal for you to do and and then use on a network in a way that is prohibited. Fixed my last sentence. F'en legalize. |
Lazy_Dog User ID: 38590781 United States 06/17/2013 11:47 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It is not law yet but there is nothing illegal about it really. It has become common practice. The laws regarding it are more for cloning a phone than switching carries. Last Edited by Lazy_Dog on 06/17/2013 11:48 PM |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 39671447 Canada 06/17/2013 11:53 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 12147456 United States 06/18/2013 12:06 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1120759 Canada 06/18/2013 12:24 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41843634 United States 06/18/2013 12:42 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41843634 United States 06/18/2013 12:46 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It's legal-ish. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 956069 The phone is yours, you can do what you want with it. The network is theirs, they have some say as to how you use it. It has more to do with using the network in a way that they cant monitor and charge you for than it does with the phone. Now all they do is block your access to the network worse case scenario wise, often you get a warning first. That being said millions have done it, including me. It is not currently legal for you to do and still use on a network that prohibits it. It is not law yet but there is nothing illegal about it really. It has become common practice. Quoting: Lazy_Dog The laws regarding it are more for cloning a phone than switching carries. You might want to actually check the law instead of just spouting stuff off out of your head. It is in fact now illegal. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 40612780 United States 06/18/2013 02:55 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It's legal-ish. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 956069 The phone is yours, you can do what you want with it. The network is theirs, they have some say as to how you use it. It has more to do with using the network in a way that they cant monitor and charge you for than it does with the phone. Now all they do is block your access to the network worse case scenario wise, often you get a warning first. That being said millions have done it, including me. It is not currently legal for you to do and still use on a network that prohibits it. They throttle my bandwidth if I tether my computer to my phone, I got unlimited data, I can surf all I want on my phone but not my computer connected through my phone! |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1141064 Canada 06/18/2013 03:03 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It's legal-ish. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 956069 The phone is yours, you can do what you want with it. The network is theirs, they have some say as to how you use it. It has more to do with using the network in a way that they cant monitor and charge you for than it does with the phone. Now all they do is block your access to the network worse case scenario wise, often you get a warning first. That being said millions have done it, including me. It is not currently legal for you to do and still use on a network that prohibits it. It is not law yet but there is nothing illegal about it really. It has become common practice. Quoting: Lazy_Dog The laws regarding it are more for cloning a phone than switching carries. You might want to actually check the law instead of just spouting stuff off out of your head. It is in fact now illegal. Your funny. The only laws that are actually laws are the ones that are enforced. Million of people have unlocked their phones and businesses and individuals openly advertise that they will unlock them for you. You keep clinging to that "law" that is openly ignored though. This is why they are now talking about legalizing it. It's unenforceable and really unethical. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 30536869 France 06/18/2013 03:09 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1141064 Canada 06/18/2013 03:13 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It's legal-ish. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 956069 The phone is yours, you can do what you want with it. The network is theirs, they have some say as to how you use it. It has more to do with using the network in a way that they cant monitor and charge you for than it does with the phone. Now all they do is block your access to the network worse case scenario wise, often you get a warning first. That being said millions have done it, including me. It is not currently legal for you to do and still use on a network that prohibits it. They throttle my bandwidth if I tether my computer to my phone, I got unlimited data, I can surf all I want on my phone but not my computer connected through my phone! It has to do with the kind of phone you are using, who the carrier is and how much bandwidth you use when tethering. Some people never get noticed because they stay within their plans limits. From what i've been told if its not the software on your phone tipping them off (hence the reason for the jail breaking and rooting) It is because of the amount of bandwidth being used or because the mac address of your computer is different from that of your cell phone. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41292121 Australia 06/18/2013 03:18 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1141064 Canada 06/18/2013 03:18 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Kind of. As stated earlier its your phone, you can mod it if you want. They typically warn you and then drop you as a customer if you get caught again. Not exactly world shattering consequences. Also it doesnt effect your ability to turn around and get a new carrier right away. Some companies just cut your speed down when they realize you are using it outside of the terms of service. They dont even call you or complain about it. It's a silly law they cant really enforce so people are finding ways around it. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41292121 Australia 06/18/2013 03:20 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Rereading, perhaps a better question to ask is, are there currently any circumstances in which it is legal to unlock a cell phone? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 40572768 Its perfectly legal you idiot they can sue you if they care but as if they will sue you for such a small thing or even know you did it. Give me a break..... |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1141064 Canada 06/18/2013 03:21 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | How the fuck can it be "illegal" Quoting: Anonymous Coward 41292121 Weirdo Americans think downloading movies is illegal when its not..... So then smashing the phone, shoving it up your arse, flushing it down the toilet is also illegal? Nah man its just more corporate propaganda. It's ignored by millions of people. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41292121 Australia 06/18/2013 03:21 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Kind of. As stated earlier its your phone, you can mod it if you want. They typically warn you and then drop you as a customer if you get caught again. Not exactly world shattering consequences. Also it doesnt effect your ability to turn around and get a new carrier right away. Some companies just cut your speed down when they realize you are using it outside of the terms of service. They dont even call you or complain about it. It's a silly law they cant really enforce so people are finding ways around it. They can't "catch you", just d/c from their service unlock it and use another. Its your phone you fucking paid for it. |
Sir Phydeau User ID: 22271457 United States 06/18/2013 03:22 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | As far as I know it is not illegal in the US. I got my phone factory unlocked a couple of months ago. It was unlocked through legal channels via the manufacturer. $15 spent increased the resale value of my phone by around $150. Now as for using a jailbreak method through software, I don't know if it is or not ... but why would anyone want to go that route? The moment you update your software the unlock is gone and has to be reapplied. Factory unlock is permanent and through the manufacturer ... can't see how that would be illegal. "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?" — John M. Keynes "The way to see by [blind] faith is to shut the eye of reason." - Benjamin Franklin Real men keep Torah. Knighted into the Army of Yahuwah on 10-9-10. Dear disaffected Democrats: Welcome to the Libertarian Party, we think you will find our social tolerance delightful. However in exchange for this, you're going to have to find a way to be ok with people keeping their guns and more of their money. Dear disaffected Republicans: Welcome to the Libertarian Party, we think you will find our small government economic policies to your liking. However in exchange you will have to find a way to be ok with "the gays" getting married. Snacks are on the table, help yourself. Please introduce yourself to someone on "the other side", you might be astonished just how much you actually have in common. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41292121 Australia 06/18/2013 03:22 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Kind of. As stated earlier its your phone, you can mod it if you want. They typically warn you and then drop you as a customer if you get caught again. Not exactly world shattering consequences. Also it doesnt effect your ability to turn around and get a new carrier right away. Some companies just cut your speed down when they realize you are using it outside of the terms of service. They dont even call you or complain about it. It's a silly law they cant really enforce so people are finding ways around it. Its not a "criminal" law the police can charge you with, it just gives them the provision to seek compensation from you which would be pointless and they would never do it. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 40612780 United States 06/18/2013 03:24 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It's legal-ish. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 956069 The phone is yours, you can do what you want with it. The network is theirs, they have some say as to how you use it. It has more to do with using the network in a way that they cant monitor and charge you for than it does with the phone. Now all they do is block your access to the network worse case scenario wise, often you get a warning first. That being said millions have done it, including me. It is not currently legal for you to do and still use on a network that prohibits it. They throttle my bandwidth if I tether my computer to my phone, I got unlimited data, I can surf all I want on my phone but not my computer connected through my phone! It has to do with the kind of phone you are using, who the carrier is and how much bandwidth you use when tethering. Some people never get noticed because they stay within their plans limits. From what i've been told if its not the software on your phone tipping them off (hence the reason for the jail breaking and rooting) It is because of the amount of bandwidth being used or because the mac address of your computer is different from that of your cell phone. So if I root my phone they won't "see" me? |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41292121 Australia 06/18/2013 03:25 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | As far as I know it is not illegal in the US. I got my phone factory unlocked a couple of months ago. It was unlocked through legal channels via the manufacturer. Quoting: Sir Phydeau $15 spent increased the resale value of my phone by around $150. Now as for using a jailbreak method through software, I don't know if it is or not ... but why would anyone want to go that route? The moment you update your software the unlock is gone and has to be reapplied. Factory unlock is permanent and through the manufacturer ... can't see how that would be illegal. Yeah but there is a time limit the carrier can only unlock it this is a contract with the manufacturer. But there is ways to unlock it yourself and just use it with another service no one cares. The law was designed to bring down the cost of cell phones so it was actually a good thing now its stupid. Its more of a deterrent. But its not criminal they could just take you to court to get money but they never have to anyone. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41292121 Australia 06/18/2013 03:26 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It's legal-ish. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 956069 The phone is yours, you can do what you want with it. The network is theirs, they have some say as to how you use it. It has more to do with using the network in a way that they cant monitor and charge you for than it does with the phone. Now all they do is block your access to the network worse case scenario wise, often you get a warning first. That being said millions have done it, including me. It is not currently legal for you to do and still use on a network that prohibits it. They throttle my bandwidth if I tether my computer to my phone, I got unlimited data, I can surf all I want on my phone but not my computer connected through my phone! It has to do with the kind of phone you are using, who the carrier is and how much bandwidth you use when tethering. Some people never get noticed because they stay within their plans limits. From what i've been told if its not the software on your phone tipping them off (hence the reason for the jail breaking and rooting) It is because of the amount of bandwidth being used or because the mac address of your computer is different from that of your cell phone. So if I root my phone they won't "see" me? Just reload a custom rooted ROM. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1141064 Canada 06/18/2013 03:32 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Kind of. As stated earlier its your phone, you can mod it if you want. They typically warn you and then drop you as a customer if you get caught again. Not exactly world shattering consequences. Also it doesnt effect your ability to turn around and get a new carrier right away. Some companies just cut your speed down when they realize you are using it outside of the terms of service. They dont even call you or complain about it. It's a silly law they cant really enforce so people are finding ways around it. They can't "catch you", just d/c from their service unlock it and use another. Its your phone you fucking paid for it. I know bro, i'm rooted. Not everyone can just do it themselves though and some people want to keep their current service so they have to mask their signal until the contract is up. I dont know why anyone bothers anymore though. Pre-paid unlimited is cheap and streams video like a champ. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 41292121 Australia 06/18/2013 03:37 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Kind of. As stated earlier its your phone, you can mod it if you want. They typically warn you and then drop you as a customer if you get caught again. Not exactly world shattering consequences. Also it doesnt effect your ability to turn around and get a new carrier right away. Some companies just cut your speed down when they realize you are using it outside of the terms of service. They dont even call you or complain about it. It's a silly law they cant really enforce so people are finding ways around it. They can't "catch you", just d/c from their service unlock it and use another. Its your phone you fucking paid for it. I know bro, i'm rooted. Not everyone can just do it themselves though and some people want to keep their current service so they have to mask their signal until the contract is up. I dont know why anyone bothers anymore though. Pre-paid unlimited is cheap and streams video like a champ. Depending on the phone model anyway, even totally wiping it and reloading a new ROM, will not unlock it from the carrier. Requires special software one can find if they search a bit. And I agree, contracts are for fools. I use prepaid for gasbagging(talking long on the phone). And with that I get free internet video streaming anyway. And have an account for my business which I just get a bill. 2 different carriers mind you, because only 1 the business one gets the good coverage everywhere. And I just monitor and watch how I use the account one so I don't get a retarded bill. |