Those of you who use a GSM-based provider in the best goddamned country in the world (hint: U.S.A.) should rejoice, as Congress has ruled that it’s OK to get your cellphone unlocked so you can use it with a competing provider. Those of you with T-Mobile are probably yawning and going “Yeah yeah…T-Mobile has been letting us unlock our phones once every 90 days dude.” That’s fine and dandy, but not everyone knows that and poor Cingular customers have been missing out on T-Mobile phones for a while now.
The technical talk is as follows:
“Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network.”
Basically, it means you’re free to do some unlocking as you please. So Cingular customers, get out there and go buy a Blackberry Pearl and enjoy it. T-Mobile customers, I demand you pick up something like…ah…I guess the W810 from Sony-Ericsson is rad still. Either way, enjoy your newly given freedoms and give thanks to Congress.
Congress unlocks US cellphones [The Register]