Cell Phone Locks

[Superman]

In a recent court decision, it was decided that cell phone customers who can find a way to defeat the software "lock" that prevents a cell phone from accessing multiple plans and multiple service carriers.....would not be infringing on copyrights.

Now, if deregulating all markets is what causes Utopia, then why would it be in a customer's best interest to defeat a bit of software, against the service carrier's wishes?

And on a related note, since it has been twenty years or so since telephone deregulation.......who here thinks their phone bill has gone down?

[red-beard]

Mine is way down, now that internet telephony is available. $24.99 per month get me everything I need including all domestic long distance and international long distance for 6 Countries, caller ID, 3 way calling, call forwarding, etc.

And now that I can access these in any wifi location where I have service, my Cell bills are going down too! No need to use my cell phone if my hotel has free Internet access. I make calls from Mexico or Romania as though I were in Texas.

[red-beard]

Oh, and the court decision will just make the cell companies charge you true retail price for the phones ($299-$699 per phone) instead of making it part of your plan. My carrier doesn't offer the phone I use (TREO 650), but the service is compatible. I will be replacing it with a TREO 680 shortly, but will be buying an unlocked one directly from Palm...$399, vs. $199 for a Cingular unit with a 2 yr commitment.

And most carriers will give you the unlock code, if you are a good customer. If you quit early, you will still be billed for the cost of the phone in the early termination fee.

[Superman]

Oh, so the net effect of this decision will be for cell phone service providers to gouge their customers even deeper, and in the full light of day? That will help people get more accurate information about these services and these companies.

[red-beard]

Yup, the evil cell phone companies will do it to you before you do it to them.

[Dantilla]

I choose to write a check to Verizon every month, because I value the service they provide me. If I thought that they were gouging me, I would quit writing checks.

[wcc]

Re-negotiate EVERY contract. Every time our plan expires we get lower prices and better benefits. My land line phone is REALLY cheap, cause we canceled it.

[Joeaksa]

SKYPE!!! I have not paid a penny for a long distance call for almost a year except on Skype. Just called the US from India and it cost me a whopping .10c for 20 minutes talking.

Free from computer to computer and extremely cheap from a computer to any cell or land line, its the way of the future.

BTW, I have used "unlocked" cell phones for years. I either buy them overseas or get them in the states and pay $25 to have them unlocked. That way I can use any providers SIM chip I wish and get a better price.