Hi Xiaofan:

When you sign a one or two year service contract with a cell phone provider you 
get a "free phone" which comes "locked".  These are typically branded with the 
name of the service provider.  After some time, 90 days in my case, if you are 
still operating under the contract you can get the unlock code from the 
provider at no cost.

My wife was traveling and we wanted to get her phone unlocked so that she could 
buy a SIM in another country.  It took 3 or 4 calls to the provider to get the 
unlock code.  I expect most phone users either don't know their phones are 
locked or that they can get them unlocked for free.

Once you stop your contract and start a new one then you can't go back to the 
original provider and ask for the unlock code.  This makes for a bunch of 
locked phones.

As another poster has said there's not much protection for the user.  I would 
think that the manufacturer should supply the unlock code for phones that are 
over a year old.  Maybe for a nominal fee?

-- 
Have Fun,

Brooke Clarke
http://www.PRC68.com
http://www.precisionclock.com
http://www.prc68.com/I/WebCam2.shtml 24/7 Sky-Weather-Astronomy Cam
-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist