Unlocking Of Newly Purchased Mobile Phones Will Become Illegal In U.S.

According to Tech News Daily, a new federal law in the U.S. will go into effect on January 26 making it illegal for owners of mobile phones to unlock their devices for use on other carriers if this is not authorized by their carriers. The federal law applies to new devices purchased beginning on January 26, but not to legacy devices bought prior to that date.

“In October 2012, the Librarian of Congress, who determines exemptions to a strict anti-hacking law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), decided that unlocking mobile phones would no longer be allowed. But the librarian provided a 90-day window during which people could still buy a phone and unlock it. That window closes on January 26”.

Unlocking allows mobile phone owners to use their devices on other carriers or use SIM cards from carriers in other countries while traveling abroad.

Of course, users can purchase unlocked iPhones at higher prices and last year AT&T began unlocking iPhones for subscribers whose contract terms expired or those who paid early termination fees to end their contract terms early. Verizon iPhone 5 is already sold with an unlocked SIM card slot, while Sprint said that it would unlock the SIM slots on its iPhones for use on international carriers three months after purchase.