Unlock Cell Phone Carrier Restrictions

What is a locked phone?

Terms such as “locking” and “unlocking” your phone are not just about preventing accidental button presses. Cellular service providers can “lock” your phone as well.

When a service provider locks your phone, they configure special software settings so that the cell phone will only work within their network. These software settings are typically hidden to the end user and can’t be changed through the graphical menu of your cell phone.

Locked Phones Present a Dilemma to the Consumer

Some cellular carriers claim that cell phone locking is necessary for their business model in order for them to offer phones so cheaply with their wireless plans. Others reason that it allows better control of theft and fraud. Many consumers don’t buy these arguments and believe that carriers have simply implemented cell phone locks to prevent competition.

Having a locked cell phone can be a strong deterrent to those who wish to break ties with their current service provider. Even if they are unsatisfied with their service provider, many people do not want to toss aside their familiar phone. Because the phone is locked, they may think that their only choices are to put up with their current provider or else switch providers and pay for a new (and probably different) phone.

You CAN Legally Unlock Cell Phone Carrier Restrictions

Many are surprised to hear that it is actually possible to unlock phone restrictions. Special tools can remove the software lock that has been placed on the cell phone by the service provider. We find that some are concerned that this may actually be a violation of law. While it is a good idea to check the wording of your specific contract, as long as you have purchased your cell phone outright and it is not the property of your service provider, you have the right to unlock it.

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act or “DMCA” was enacted in 1998 to establish “a wide range of rules that will govern not only copyright owners in the marketplace for electronic commerce, but also consumers, manufacturers, distributors, libraries, educators, and on-line service providers” and “define[d] whether consumers and businesses may engage in certain conduct, or use certain devices, in the course of transacting electronic commerce.”

In November of 2006, the US Copyright office made a new ruling in the form of an exemption that relates to unlocking cell phones. This ruling grants a 3-year exemption to the rules set forth in the 1998 DMCA, so that consumers can lawfully have their cell phones unlocked if they so choose. While the ruling is expected to be reviewed again in November of 2009, there is nothing illegal about unlocking your phone at the present time.

Service Providers have historically restricted the consumer’s ability to unlock their phones

While it may be possible to unlock your phone directly through your cellular service provider, your service provider could prove to be uncooperative. Each service provider has its own policy regarding unlocking cell phones. Dealing with the service provider can be a difficult process. It is unlikely that they will be willing to unlock a phone while you are still under contract. They will probably be less than excited to assist you, even if your phone is not tied to a contract, since this is a clear indication that they are losing business. Working with your local unlock specialist is a sure way to quickly free your phone from its current service restrictions.

Phone Technologies and Unlocking

There are two major competing technologies in the cellular phone industry, CDMA and GSM. Your phone model will use one of these two technologies and will be incompatible with the other. The type of technology that your phone uses determines which service providers your phone is compatible with.

Phone unlocking tools must be developed to work with the cellular technology first, and then tailored to support specific models of phones. At the present time we are partnering with local stores who specialize in unlocking CDMA technology with approximately 200 CDMA phone models supported. Check our list of supported Phone Models to see if your phone can be unlocked.