O2 and end of contract in Jan..

[Wavell]

What I want to know is.. if I keep my 3G phone until the end of my O2 contract in January 2010.. would I be entitled to it being unlocked for use on another network ? (I believe so...)

 

[OllyW]

No. Unfortunately, O2 have no obligation to unlock your iPhone when the contract ends.

 

[Phil A.]

What I want to know is.. if I keep my 3G phone until the end of my O2 contract in January 2010.. would I be entitled to it being unlocked for use on another network ? (I believe so...)

Unfortunately not - O2's Ts & Cs explicitly state that the iPhone can't be unlocked at the end of the contract:

5.8 YOUR MOBILE PHONE IS RESTRICTED TO USE ON OUR NETWORK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. IF YOU TERMINATE YOUR AGREEMENT WITH US, OR DO NOT REMAIN ON ONE OF OUR DEDICATED TARIFFS FOR IPHONE, ONLY THE IPOD FUNCTION ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE WILL WORK. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK YOUR MOBILE PHONE AND USE ON ANOTHER NETWORK, IT MAY BECOME PERMANENTLY UNUSABLE.

Sorry for the Caps, but this is how it is presented in their Ts & Cs - I guess they don't want any confusion arising

Edit
Actually, this may be changing for the iPhone 3G - the section above was from their Ts & Cs for the iPhone 2G. I've just double checked and their current Ts & Cs for mobile phones including the iPhone 3G have the following paragraph 5.8

Where a Handset is restricted to use on the Network we reserve the right to apply a charge for releasing or
unlocking the Handset. Details of the charge are available by calling Customer Services.

Looks like there may be some mileage in getting 3Gs unlocked...

 

[Wavell]

aaahhhh.. should be interesting then.. thanks for the replies guys

Personally, I see no reason why they shouldn't unlock a phone if it's outside the contract. I think it would be pretty unethical of them not to do so if it's requested.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

I spoke with 02 awhile back and the rep on the phone told me it was being heavily discussed. I think 02 will be under more pressure to do so as they are demanding that people buy out their contracts to upgrade. This will mean a lot of people who are out of contract realising how ridiculous their policy is. Hopefully 02 will decide to do the right thing at that point.