Now that unlocking will be illegal what will be the

DBZmusicboy01 · Jan 24, 2013, 08:53 PM

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.

docprego · Jan 24, 2013, 08:55 PM

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

Jimmy James · Jan 24, 2013, 08:56 PM

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

Spink10 · Jan 24, 2013, 08:57 PM

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

jav6454 · Jan 24, 2013, 08:59 PM

This will just restrengthen the jaolbreaking community again.

lazard · Jan 24, 2013, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jav6454

This will just restrengthen the jaolbreaking community again.

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

jav6454 · Jan 24, 2013, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazard

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

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)

moldy lunchbox · Jan 24, 2013, 09:08 PM

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.

wxman2003 · Jan 24, 2013, 09:20 PM

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?

macingman · Jan 24, 2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBZmusicboy01

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.

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

The legislation really means nothing.

Applejuiced · Jan 24, 2013, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wxman2003

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?

That doesnt make any sense.

Baggio · Jan 24, 2013, 09:34 PM

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.

wxman2003 · Jan 24, 2013, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Applejuiced

That doesnt make any sense.

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

Applejuiced · Jan 24, 2013, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wxman2003

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

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.

Bob Coxner · Jan 24, 2013, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baggio

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.

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/...-come-saturday

wxman2003 · Jan 24, 2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Applejuiced

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.

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

Baggio · Jan 24, 2013, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Coxner

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/...-come-saturday

Damn!

The question is are if they will enforce it.

Applejuiced · Jan 24, 2013, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wxman2003

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

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

wxman2003 · Jan 24, 2013, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Applejuiced

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

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.

Darth.Titan · Jan 24, 2013, 10:10 PM

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.

wordoflife · Jan 24, 2013, 10:16 PM

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

scaredpoet · Jan 24, 2013, 11:21 PM

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.

racer1441 · Jan 24, 2013, 11:31 PM

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.

vistadude · Jan 25, 2013, 12:12 AM

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?

throAU · Jan 25, 2013, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jav6454

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)

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.

Jan 24, 2013, 08:53 PM	#1
DBZmusicboy01 macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2011	Now that unlocking will be illegal what will be the 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.
	0

Jan 24, 2013, 08:55 PM	#2
docprego macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Henderson, NV	I don't believe this legislation affects unsubsidized devices. The unlocked iPhone sold by apple at full price for example will still be available. __________________ \| The New iPad 64GB Black AT&T \| iPod Touch \| iPod Nano \| iPhone 5 64GB Black Sprint \|
	0

Jan 24, 2013, 08:57 PM	#4
Spink10 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Nov 2011	Changes may occur in the future in reference to subsidized phones - not because of this new law. IMHO __________________ cMBP 2012 15" 2.7, 8GB, Samsung 830 256GB, 650M 1GB, Hi-Res AG / MBA 2011 11" 1.6, 4GB, 128GB SSD / iMac 2011 27" 2.7, 12GB, 1TB HD, 6770M 512MB / iPhone 5 16GB / iPad 4 16GB / Time Capsule 2TB
	0

Jan 24, 2013, 08:59 PM	#5
jav6454 macrumors G5 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 1 Geostationary Tower Plaza	This will just restrengthen the jaolbreaking community again. __________________ Al MacBook 2.4GHz Late '08 \| Macross Click Me
	2

Jan 24, 2013, 09:08 PM	#8
moldy lunchbox macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC	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. __________________ iPhone 5 black 32GB; Galaxy S3 16gb; iPhone 4 white 16gb
	0

Jan 24, 2013, 08:56 PM	#3
Jimmy James macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2008	It's not illegal. You didn't specify your country.
	1

Jan 24, 2013, 09:20 PM	#9
wxman2003 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2011	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? __________________ iMac I5, Macbook, iPad 4, iPhone 5, iPod, ATV 3
	0

Jan 24, 2013, 09:34 PM	#12
Baggio macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2012	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.
	2

Jan 24, 2013, 10:10 PM	#20
Darth.Titan macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2007	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.
	3

Jan 24, 2013, 10:16 PM	#21
wordoflife macrumors 604 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Republic City, URN.	As stated above, this makes unauthorized unlocking (like ebay) illegal. Do it through your carrier on their terms, you're fine. __________________ "When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change."
	1

Jan 24, 2013, 11:21 PM	#22
scaredpoet macrumors 68040 Join Date: Apr 2007	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. __________________ If you're not a clairvoyant, then you shouldn't be speaking for a dead guy. The Apple "QC cycle," explained. Slow data, fewer bars? No, you don't have a bad SIM.
	1

Jan 24, 2013, 11:31 PM	#23
racer1441 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2009	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.
	0

Jan 25, 2013, 12:12 AM	#24
vistadude macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2010	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?
	0

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