Why people accept network locked phone?

movilogo

Although some retailers nowadays do sell unlocked phones (not at a high premium), majority of recent phones are still sold at locked to carrier mode.

I wonder why people accept a locked phone! If everyone demands unlocked phone, carriers will be forced to offer unlocked phones

Do people not realize the benefit of unlocked phones while buying?

PS: Personally I always bought unlocked phones and never paid premium for it. Right now I'm not buying iPhone as unlocked version costs an arm and a leg :rolleyes:

dmg24

I only wish to use my phone on one network, so why do I need it to be unlocked?

movilogo

1. Because once your contract expires, you can take a much cheaper SIM only contract (or go via PAYG) with an unlocked phone.
2. If you sell your phone on Ebay, you'll get more money for unlocked phone.
3. You can save unlock fee if you move to a different provider with same phone
4. You'd have freedom of using any network provider
5. Depedning on phone model, you can make it more useful. E.g. jailbroken iPhone can work with lot more useful applications where as locked iPhone can't.
6. If you go on holiday outside UK, you can insert a local SIM card which is much cheaper than paying roaming rate to your network provider!

:rolleyes:

DarkConvict

movilogo wrote: »

1. Because once your contract expires, you can take a much cheaper SIM only contract (or go via PAYG) with an unlocked phone.
2. If you sell your phone on Ebay, you'll get more money for unlocked phone.
3. You can save unlock fee if you move to a different provider with same phone
4. You'd have freedom of using any network provider
5. Depedning on phone model, you can make it more useful. E.g. jailbroken iPhone can work with lot more useful applications where as locked iPhone can't.
6. If you go on holiday outside UK, you can insert a local SIM card which is much cheaper than paying roaming rate to your network provider!

:rolleyes:

1. At the end of a contract you own the phone, so the network will provide the NUC (Network unlock code) free of charge to unlock your phone.

I just unlocked my N95 8Gb from Vodafone this morning, contract is over and i got the code straight away over the phone from the CS agent.

That covers the rest too i guess.

movilogo

Not all carriers provide unlock code free of charge!
Some phones can't be unlocked just by entering a code! (they require cables and special software)

Brightonfan

movilogo wrote: »

Not all carriers provide unlock code free of charge!
Some phones can't be unlocked just by entering a code! (they require cables and special software)

Where can i find out imformation on phones that cannot be unlocked by code?

robt_2

DarkConvict wrote: »

1. At the end of a contract you own the phone, so the network will provide the NUC (Network unlock code) free of charge to unlock your phone.

I just unlocked my N95 8Gb from Vodafone this morning, contract is over and i got the code straight away over the phone from the CS agent.

That covers the rest too i guess.

Wrong.....

elljay20

movilogo wrote: »

Although some retailers nowadays do sell unlocked phones (not at a high premium), majority of recent phones are still sold at locked to carrier mode.

I wonder why people accept a locked phone! If everyone demands unlocked phone, carriers will be forced to offer unlocked phones

Do people not realize the benefit of unlocked phones while buying?

PS: Personally I always bought unlocked phones and never paid premium for it. Right now I'm not buying iPhone as unlocked version costs an arm and a leg :rolleyes:

well why accept a subsidised (ie free) handset??? buy sim free and there's no problem is there.? well, apart from the settings need updating, the phone won't have been tested by the network, some features might not be compatible.......

why on earth would a network sell an "unlocked" phone???

samperry209

Because carriers make a shed load more money selling exclusives like iphone on o2

delain

i have been with 02 for 4 years now, payg and then contract, and i wouldn't need it to be on any other network

And should i want my phone unlocking the market man with the dodgy hair will do it for £5! :j

And i'm not buying an iphone because they are overrated and overpriced. About as un-MSE as you can get, and even on contract you can only get it on horrendously expensive tariffs.:rolleyes:

elljay20

yes they do but i don't see your point?? there are plenty of sim free or unlocked i phones about? why sould networks subsidise the handset cost so that everyone can become a box breaker and cost them a shed load of money???? god help you when you set up in business if your practice will be to operate at a loss!