is carrier-cellphone unlocking obligatory now? And what about VOIP devices?

[HighwayMan]

Px Hx

You seem to be the Queen of Px Hx!

 

[quincy]

I stopped buying carrier locked phones years ago. I also don't buy $1000 phones.

If the OP is looking for phones to use in Europe he can but unlocked Motorolas - my experience is that they are good phones and relatively inexpensive, especially compared to current "flagship" devices.

TMobile provides customers with a temporary unlock code if they will be traveling out of the country.

 

[Just Blue]

You seem to be the Queen of Px Hx!

It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.

 

[pickaname]

There's a charitable org for battered women that takes cellphone donations. I don't know if they have a way to unlock them, but in principle they have less leverage than a current or former customer of the carrier who locked the phone, so it makes sense to get them unlocked before donating.

 

[quincy]

There's a charitable org for battered women that takes cellphone donations. I don't know if they have a way to unlock them, but in principle they have less leverage than a current or former customer of the carrier who locked the phone, so it makes sense to get them unlocked before donating.

That is a good use for old cellphones and a good reason to have them unlocked.

There is also “Cell Phones for Soldiers” and “1Million Project,” among other charities, that accept cell phone donations.

 

[cbg]

You seem to be the Queen of Px Hx!

She always has been!

 

[TheGeekess]

Cell phones don't have to be unlocked to dial 911. They have to have signal.

 

[quincy]

For emergency calls, you’re right. For other uses, unlocking is necessary.

 

[Just Blue]

She always has been!

She is the History Queen...Young and Sweet only Seventeen....



lol...Try getting that out of your head.

 

[quincy]

I think donating old cell phones (and old eyeglasses and old computers) is a great way to help others. I hope more people consider doing this.

 

[FlyingRon]

He's not talking about current model anythings. The reason he's having problems is not for failure to comply with the law but because his stuff is so ancient that the carriers don't know how to deal with them. He bought one from Cingular? Cingular hasn't been known as Cingular for over a decade (they changed back to ATT in 2006).

 

[quincy]

He's not talking about current model anythings. The reason he's having problems is not for failure to comply with the law but because his stuff is so ancient that the carriers don't know how to deal with them. He bought one from Cingular? Cingular hasn't been known as Cingular for over a decade (they changed back to ATT in 2006).

These old phones can still be unlocked. But the carriers may not be able to do it.