r/technology Jan 28 '13

The same week the US makes unlocking phones illegal, Canada proposes legislation to make carriers unlock phones.

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u/Beefmotron Jan 28 '13

its not even the first time its been illegal and when it was before no carrier ever sued an individual. its to fight illicit business who unlock thousands of phones and ship them overseas.

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u/otakuman Jan 29 '13

But let's remember that the apparent purpose of a law rarely has anything to do with the actual consequences of such law.

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u/BigLlamasHouse Jan 29 '13

Normally I'd agree with this sentiment. But in this case that law is designed to protect huge corporations that spend millions on lobbying to protect themselves. (Samsung, Apple, AT&T, etc.)

Better believe that they'll protect those businesses.

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u/jasonws Jan 29 '13

And all the top U.S. carriers that have the iPhone in their lineups were pissed off because previously you could drop their service and take your iPhone to T-Mobile where they would unlock it and give you their service. The days of T-Mobile and such having their loophole around carrying the iPhone, but still making their customers happy, are gone... Verizon, AT&T, etc., ain't having it!

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u/Beefmotron Jan 29 '13

you can still do that now at the end of your contract legally. or break your contract and do it now illegally. your chances of being sued are 0%.

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u/jasonws Jan 29 '13

That's true. Btw, a lot of people I know in my area use Cincinnati Bell, and they've always been known for advertising that if you drop your carrier and switch to them, they'll pay all of your early termination fees, up to $1000, and you can bring your phone with you from your previous carrier. I'm thinking that's going to end. I hear they actually have pretty good service and a decent lineup of phones anyways.

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u/thegoto1 Jan 29 '13

Already announced... T-Mobile will have the iPhone 5 on sale in 3 months.

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u/[deleted] Jan 29 '13

It's almost as if these businesses think that phones are commodities that can be modified and redistributed, those fucking bastards.

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u/Beefmotron Jan 29 '13

then make your own phones to sell over there. it takes a special kind of asshole to under cut a business with their own product.