Starting Today, It's Illegal to Unlock Your Cellphone

[Michael Butash]

For me, this is almost a standard method of operation, as for years I've 
rommed, reprogrammed between providers (cdma even, shh), and find it 
absurd they made it illegal.

Technically it's not difficult to usually reprogram an imei/meid on even 
cdma devices, but always has been highly illegal to do so (my phone is 
now your phone spoofing), but in general it's really not even necessary. 
  Switching between providers is however. but the fact it's a different 
button in the same app to change the meid too has them scared, or is at 
least an excuse.

At the end of the day I'll be interested to see how they enforce it, 
otherwise I'm inclined to simply carry on as I've always done using 
phones between providers.  I doubt it's going to be enforced with 
proactive/retroactive searches meaning why the hell did they bother in 
the first place?  I don't see why this needed to be changed, unless it's 
at the request of telecom lobbyists to restrict device portability, thus 
increasing sales.

US government is a lost cause here anymore.

-mb


On 01/26/2013 08:28 AM, keith smith wrote:
>
> 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
> "subsidize" our phones. These phones are our property.
>
> Hold onto your seat. This is just an example of how a run away
> government is going to treat it's people.
>
> This is not freedom, this is bondage.
>
> Th article says in part:
>
> 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.
>
> http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/now-illegal-unlock-cellphone/story?id=18319518
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------
> Keith Smith
>
>
>
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