T-Mobile, AT&T oppose unlocking rule, claim locked phones are good for users - Upgoat

T-Mobile, AT&T oppose unlocking rule, claim locked phones are good for users
submitted by dosvydanya_freedomz to technology 1 monthOct 22, 2024 11:27:54 ago (+10/-0) (arstechnica.com)
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/t-mobile-att-oppose-unlocking-rule-claim-locked-phones-are-good-for-users/

T-Mobile and AT&T say US regulators should drop a plan to require unlocking of phones within 60 days of activation, claiming that locking phones to a carrier's network makes it possible to provide cheaper handsets to consumers. "If the Commission mandates a uniform unlocking policy, it is consumers—not providers—who stand to lose the most," T-Mobile alleged in an October 17 filing with the Federal Communications Commission.

The proposed rule has support from consumer advocacy groups who say it will give users more choice and lower their costs. T-Mobile has been criticized for locking phones for up to a year, which makes it impossible to use a phone on a rival's network. T-Mobile claims that with a 60-day unlocking rule, "consumers risk losing access to the benefits of free or heavily subsidized handsets because the proposal would force providers to reduce the line-up of their most compelling handset offers."

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[ - ] yesiknow 10 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 11:31:49 ago (+10/-0)

If half the population wasn't owned by lucifer and retardation I'd have a house phone and only a house phone.

[ + ] dosvydanya_freedomz

[ - ] dosvydanya_freedomz [op] 3 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 11:43:59 ago (+3/-0)

those were the days in which if you wanted to get in touch with someone you would either call from a phone booth or ask somebody in some office to lend you their phone

i did this plenty while at school back in the 90's. ha!

[ + ] Leveraction

[ - ] Leveraction 2 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 13:39:44 ago (+2/-0)

Loved my landline! Far more reliable and speaker function was far superior to any cell phone, and a hell of lot cheaper

[ + ] Clubberlang

[ - ] Clubberlang -2 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 12:34:57 ago (+1/-3)

Landline faggot.

[ - ] BoozyB 3 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 12:31:26 ago (+3/-0)

I can't remember the last time I bought a phone from a carrier.
I get them unlocked, de-bloated and rooted from a guy who knows what he is doing.
I have rooted a couple in the past, and I've managed to brick a couple as well.
It's more complicated now I guess, so I let an expert do it.

[ + ] bonghits4jeebus

[ - ] bonghits4jeebus 2 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 13:47:34 ago (+2/-0)

Yeah buy your own damn phone and don't take a micro loan like a retard.

[ + ] bobdole9

[ - ] bobdole9 1 point 1 monthOct 22, 2024 17:48:17 ago (+1/-0)

BUT IMMA POOR AND IAH NEEDS MAH NEW SAILFOAM!

[ + ] bonghits4jeebus

[ - ] bonghits4jeebus 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 18:05:58 ago (+0/-0)

They said it was interest free so I asked em. Like what are the terms. tell me to go look it up. I go look and it's pages long. So it's zero-interest (not subsidized price at all, btw, just divide the price by payments). But it obligates you to all this shit. So why would I do that?

I think a lot of normal people agree to that, even tho unless you are desperately broke and just started a job or something it's not possibly a good deal.

[ + ] bobdole9

[ - ] bobdole9 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 18:09:30 ago (+0/-0)

So why would I do that?

Convenience. Getting an unlocked phone requires buying something somewhere ahead of time instead of the "shit, my phone just died" crowd mentality.

[ + ] bonghits4jeebus

[ - ] bonghits4jeebus 1 point 1 monthOct 23, 2024 18:33:51 ago (+1/-0)*

Saving is a problem for some people. My phone actually died, and the part was 1300 to replace. I don't buy warranties either. That kind of pissed me off, but like I said I don't buy warranties, and I wasn't about to pay more than most new phones for a part. That was a Google phone, and I went back to Samsung. Maybe I'm just lucky, but my Samsung phones have never died early on their own. The Goog phone touchscreen just kicked it with no visual damage.

I kept the Goog phone (meaning, I'd never trade it in ,but I also haven't sold it for parts); I figure I can use it for Android development with a mouse since the Touchscreen is broken.

[ + ] bobdole9

[ - ] bobdole9 0 points 1 monthOct 24, 2024 08:30:18 ago (+0/-0)

I can attest that every Samsung device I have still works...it's the lack of operating system updates to support apps or a battery issue that usually forces an update.

The Google branded things I had in the past did not hold up well in comparison, granted those were tablets in 2015.

[ + ] bonghits4jeebus

[ - ] bonghits4jeebus 0 points 1 monthOct 24, 2024 11:09:45 ago (+0/-0)

Apparently it's a pattern. I heard it after I bought it. Sometimes I have shiny things syndrome. I saw new Pixel and I was like "ahh".

[ + ] Clubberlang

[ - ] Clubberlang 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 12:35:46 ago (+0/-0)

::Australians laugh::

[ - ] Clubberlang 1 point 1 monthOct 22, 2024 12:33:49 ago (+1/-0)

I've had an unlocked phone for 5 years and it's helped me secure sim cards to call people in each location around the world.

But I understand what TMob and AT&T are getting at.

It's good for their consumers that like to be locked into 100 dollar a month plans because it's hard to shop around for a 15 dollar a month plan with unlimited data. Plus it's 100 dollars of on going business for their yiddish overlords.

[ + ] Sector2

[ - ] Sector2 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 13:42:09 ago (+0/-0)

it's hard to shop around for a 15 dollar a month plan with unlimited data.

Exactly. Who knows if you're even going to have service from one of those offbrand companies like mintmobile, boost, etc. At least the bills aren't $1200 per month anymore.

[ + ] Clubberlang

[ - ] Clubberlang 1 point 1 monthOct 27, 2024 12:43:02 ago (+1/-0)

Been using mint now for about 4 months.

No problems.

Even been in some remote locations and still had at least 1 bar.

[ + ] bobdole9

[ - ] bobdole9 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 18:07:14 ago (+0/-0)

Vision by Verison has an option where you pay for the year in advance for $275. No data caps, but I think their speed still drops.

[ - ] Prairie 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 17:54:32 ago (+0/-0)

Time to buy a locked phone just after they pass this, but before carriers drop the cheap subsidized phones.

[ - ] bobdole9 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 17:47:24 ago (+0/-0)

Unlocked phone = you buy the phone...all at once, and not over 24/36 months.

So, how many poors are going to fork over $500-$1,500 for a new sailfoam?

[ - ] Shockadee 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 17:41:27 ago (+0/-0)

Canada put in a rule in the last few years that mandated that all devices must sold unlocked and any previously locked devices must be unlocked by the carrier free of charge.

Canada has had expensive mobile prices for a long time. There are many corporate excuses for this, but its mostly greed and lack of competition.

Since then SOME competition has been allowed, and lately in the last year phone companies have been offering plans with greatly expanded data limits compared to previously.

I don't know if the lower price and higher data limits are due to extra competition or more choice via unlocked devices (less need for contracts) bit overall service is cheaper and better at the same time.

I don't see the reason, other than greed that companies would oppose selling unlocked phones.

[ - ] iSnark 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 15:34:07 ago (+0/-0)

I use my cell phone way past when they start showing up in museums! Got an updated phone when they did the 5G conversion, because I had to, or else I'd still be using it today.

[ - ] RobertJHarsh 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 15:13:25 ago (+0/-0)

How many people really shop around for a carrier with an existing phone? Also, where are these so called subsidies AT&ASS is talking about? They sure as shit don't discount iPhones or any name brand Android phone.

[ - ] Leveraction 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 13:38:07 ago (+0/-0)

Yea well, i hate verizon. I've filed 4 fcc complaints against them. Their bait-n-switch bullshit is out and out fraud.

[ - ] Version6 0 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 12:09:25 ago (+0/-0)

So don't buy your phone from those carriers. Easy peasy. Why would anyone buy a locked phone?

[ + ] jfroybees

[ - ] jfroybees 2 points 1 monthOct 22, 2024 12:15:13 ago (+2/-0)

One can get a very expensive phone from a carrier at a "reduced" cost under the terms that said person uses that carrier for, what is it, a hundred years or something? :-/

[ + ] Leveraction

[ - ] Leveraction 1 point 1 monthOct 22, 2024 13:41:39 ago (+1/-0)

Because captain genius, if you live rural, you don't have a choice

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