It is not that simple.  Even if you have an out of contract phone the cell companies won&#39;t always unlock it for you.  I just went through that with a Tmobile phone I bought on ebay... when I got it it was unlocked but TMobile locked it when I activated it on a unlimited no-contract sim with them they locked it.  They refused to even try to give me the unlock code because I wasn&#39;t a current customer with a contract.  I had to go to the mall to have them unlock it.<br>

The cell phone contracts already stipulate draconian one sided measures.<br>Why for example do they advertise unlimited/etc showing people streaming video and then in their contract dis-allow any service that uses streaming?<br>

<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 3:53 PM, Walter Mack <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:wmack@componentsw.com" target="_blank">wmack@componentsw.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">


  
    
  
  <div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
    <div>hhmm,<br>
      some random thoughts:<br>
      <br>
      You CAN buy unlocked phones legally. The article mentions iphone 5
      and some google phone - so you have an alternative if you don&#39;t
      like a locked phone. Maybe its more expensive, but you HAVE A
      CHOICE.<br>
      <br>
      Why don&#39;t they simply &quot;lease&quot; you the phone, then it remains their
      property and no one would question that unlocking a phone that is
      the property of someone else (the provider) can be considered
      illegal?<br>
      <br>
      Why don&#39;t the contracts simply stipulate that you AGREE to not
      unlock the phone? Surely every good citizen will abide by the
      contracts he/she signs - and if someone doesn&#39;t its breach of
      contract - what am I missing here?<br>
      <br>
      If it is really that high on your list of priorities, get some
      100000 voters together for a lobbying campaign, and see the
      wonders that can do. Citizens (you and me among roughly 300
      Million others) have a right to lobby congress, just as much as
      cell providers have. <br><div><div class="h5">
      <br>
      <br>
      On 01/26/2013 04:28 PM, keith smith wrote:<br>
    </div></div></div>
    <blockquote type="cite"><div><div class="h5">
      <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
        <tbody>
          <tr>
            <td style="font:inherit" valign="top"><br>
              I know some of you do not agree with my limited government
              position, however this is what a run away government
              does.  We pay for our phones with those two year
              contracts.  Our rates would be lower if they did not
              &quot;subsidize&quot; our phones.  These phones are our property.<br>
              <br>
              Hold onto your seat.  This is just an example of how a run
              away government is going to treat it&#39;s people.  <br>
              <br>
              This is not freedom, this is bondage.<br>
              <br>
              Th article says in part:<br>
              <br>
              The worst-case scenario for an individual or civil offense
              could be as much as a $2,500 fine. As for those planning
              to profit off of the act or a criminal offense -- such as
              a cellphone reseller -- the fine could be as high as
              $500,000 and include prison time.
              <br>
              <br>
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/now-illegal-unlock-cellphone/story?id=18319518" target="_blank">http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/now-illegal-unlock-cellphone/story?id=18319518</a><br>
              <br>
              <br>
              <br>
               <br>
              <br>
              ------------------------<br>
              Keith Smith</td>
          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>
      <br>
      <fieldset></fieldset>
      <br>
      </div></div><div class="im"><pre>---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list - <a href="mailto:PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org" target="_blank">PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org</a>
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
<a href="http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss" target="_blank">http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss</a></pre>
    </div></blockquote>
    <br>
  </div>

<br>---------------------------------------------------<br>
PLUG-discuss mailing list - <a href="mailto:PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org">PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org</a><br>
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:<br>
<a href="http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss" target="_blank">http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss</a><br></blockquote></div><br>