Unlocking - Droid Life

New Verizon Device Unlock Policy Arrives Briefly, Gets Pulled, is “Inaccurate” (Updated)

Kellen September 11, 2018

We still haven't heard back from Verizon after asking for an update on their supposedly incoming new device unlock policy, where they may temporarily SIM lock devices for a period of time after purchase, but our article from last week on the subject may have...

Phone Unlocking is Now, Like, Super Legal Starting Today

Kellen February 11, 2015 47

Over a year ago, the FCC and the CTIA (organization who represents all of the big wireless carriers) reached an agreement on how each of the big wireless carriers in the US should approach phone unlocking and unlocking requests from their customers. We are...

Obama to Sign Bill Making Phone Unlocking Legal

Kellen July 25, 2014 121

If have been on the edge of your seat since December, as our government decided whether or not it should be legal for you to unlock your phone and take it to a carrier of choice, you can sit back and relax. Patrick Leahy, a senator from Vermont, announced...

FCC and Carriers Reach Agreement on “Unlocking” Phones

Kellen December 13, 2013 106

Remember back in January when the Librarian of Congress decided that it would be illegal to unlock your phone (SIM unlocking, not bootloader) without carrier permission? Well, a petition helped to get the change on the White House's front steps, which...

AT&T Says They Love to Unlock Customers’ Devices, Forgets Not Everyone is Their Customer

Kellen March 8, 2013 83

In response to all of the hullabaloo over this phone unlocking situation that was created when the Librarian of Congress determined that it would be illegal to unlock a carrier-branded phone without approval, AT&T has decided to toss in their two cents....

Legislators Agree With White House on Cell Phone Unlocking, Bills To Be Presented Soon

Eric March 6, 2013 29

It was certainly surprising to hear the White House respond so quickly to the 100k signature petition that was raised on the issue of unlocking phones becoming illegal. But even with the Obama Administration's support, there was little they could do...

White House Agrees, You Should be Able to Unlock Your Smartphone

Kellen March 4, 2013 51

After receiving over 100,000 signatures in an official petition over the legality of unlocking smartphones, the White House has responded to a change made by the Librarian of Congress that made it illegal as of January 26 to unlock a carrier-tied phone without...

Petition to Make Unlocking Phones Legal Again Crosses 100,000 Signature Mark, White House Must Respond

Kellen February 21, 2013 77

As of January 26, it is illegal to take a carrier-tied smartphone, unlock it without their permission, and then use it on another carrier. The Librarian of Congress decided that you have plenty of options and shouldn't take advantage of carrier subsidies in...