Now that unlocking will be illegal what will be the

I don't believe this legislation affects unsubsidized devices. The unlocked iPhone sold by apple at full price for example will still be available.

It's not illegal. You didn't specify your country.

Changes may occur in the future in reference to subsidized phones - not because of this new law. IMHO

This will just restrengthen the jaolbreaking community again.

jav6454 said:

This will just restrengthen the jaolbreaking community again.

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except it's virtually impossible to unlock the iPhone unless your preserved your very old baseband via tinyumbrella.

lazard said:

except it's virtually impossible to unlock the iPhone unless your preserved your very old baseband via tinyumbrella.

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New holes are always discovered. However, they are not burned because no unlock is issued since we have had over 6 months to unlock iPhones the true way with a relative *very* minimal risk and symbolic charge for such service ($20 bucks for permanent unlock)

I'm not sure what will happen to the online unlocking services. But the only thing illegal will be if you purchase an iPhone this Saturday or later under contract and unlock it. If you've bought you're device on contract before Jan 26th then you're allowed to do now or whenever you want. And you can still purchase a factory unlocked device at the Apple Store.

One thing this does strengthen is than mobile carriers will be able to prevent unlocked phones from operating on their network. So yes, you can pay full price for an iPhone and get it unlocked, but you may not be able to use it anywhere. If that is the case, why would apple build an unlocked iphone for US carriers in the future?

DBZmusicboy01 said:

future of the iPhone ?
Does this mean there will never be a contract free iPhone ?
and what will happen to subsidy and things like that.

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Nothing. You just won't be able to use the non carrier unlocking services like from eBay etc.

The legislation really means nothing.

wxman2003 said:

One thing this does strengthen is than mobile carriers will be able to prevent unlocked phones from operating on their network. So yes, you can pay full price for an iPhone and get it unlocked, but you may not be able to use it anywhere. If that is the case, why would apple build an unlocked iphone for US carriers in the future?

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That doesnt make any sense.

Where did you hear that unlocking phones is illegal? eBay is just not allowing unlock services to be sold on their site. There are plenty of legit unlocking services that have their own site where you can purchase an unlock.

Applejuiced said:

That doesnt make any sense.

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Sure it does. You control the network, you control the devices, and the smaller providers that use their network.

wxman2003 said:

Sure it does. You control the network, you control the devices, and the smaller providers that use their network.

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So you're saying that AT&T wont allow any unlocked devices on their network. Just ones sold locked to them? I dont see it happening, GSM in its nature is an open standard. You pop in a sim and you're good.

Baggio said:

Where did you hear that unlocking phones is illegal? eBay is just not allowing unlock services to be sold on their site. There are plenty of legit unlocking services that have their own site where you can purchase an unlock.

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Do a search on Google News. Tons of news stories about unlocking becoming illegal on Saturday. Here is just one of many: http://appleinsider.com/articles/13...rier-permission-will-be-illegal-come-saturday

Applejuiced said:

So you're saying that AT&T wont allow any unlocked devices on their network. Just ones sold locked to them? I dont see it happening, GSM in its nature is an open standard. You pop in a sim and you're good.

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That is true now, but what about in the future with simless GSM phones? The sim will disappear.

Bob Coxner said:

Do a search on Google News. Tons of news stories about unlocking becoming illegal on Saturday. Here is just one of many: http://appleinsider.com/articles/13...rier-permission-will-be-illegal-come-saturday

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Damn!

The question is are if they will enforce it.

wxman2003 said:

That is true now, but what about in the future with simless GSM phones? The sim will disappear.

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I really hope not.
I love the ease of use of sims even though I have to use sim adapters sometimes

Applejuiced said:

I really hope not.
I love the ease of use of sims even though I have to use sim adapters sometimes

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Of course, either way, this law prevents unlocking in US. Doesn't prevent one from unlocking device outside of US, or using a company "outside" of US.

There's a lot of misinformation in both this and the original thread. This new legislation really doesn't do much of anything.

Unlocking is not being made illegal. Unauthorized unlocking is being made illegal:

• Buy a full-priced, unsubsidized phone... it's unlocked.
• Buy subsidized, fulfill your contract... and you can have your phone unlocked by your provider.
• Cancel your contract on a subsidized phone to move to a new carrier, pay the early termination fee... and you can have your phone unlocked by your current provider.

The only people this new legislation affects are those with subsidized phones under contract who want to unlock outside official channels. Even that restriction is going to be difficult to enforce.

I don't understand why everyone's getting all butthurt over this.

As stated above, this makes unauthorized unlocking (like ebay) illegal. Do it through your carrier on their terms, you're fine.

One thing that will likely result from this, is currently unlocked iPhones will probably increase in resale value a bit. Not everyone can easily get their carrier to authorize an unlock.

Another law designed to make companies feel less butt hurt but actually means jack squat.

My only fear is that some kid unlocks his phone and they use this law to 'make an example' of him or her.

If only carriers can unlock subsidized phones, and carriers decide not to certain phones such as exclusives, does that effectively mean that some phones can never be legally unlocked?

jav6454 said:

New holes are always discovered. However, they are not burned because no unlock is issued since we have had over 6 months to unlock iPhones the true way with a relative *very* minimal risk and symbolic charge for such service ($20 bucks for permanent unlock)

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Not necessarily.

They have been historically yes, but if there is no exploitable hole to find, it will not be found.

If it is hard to find and exists, it still may take longer than the device's lifetime to exploit.