The part that gets me is that the unlock is not automatic. I don’t like the fact that it is now for a year but now also Verizon has the upper hand to just refuse the unlock to anyone they don’t like.
There’s a VERY important distinction here.
The ‘unlock’ that they are talking about here is to unlock your phone’s SIM to be able to be used with another carrier’s service.
This does not mean that the bootloader is unlocked and you will not be able to replace the OS. You will still be stuck with Verizon’s spyware-laden release of Android even when you move to a new carrier.
So, buy your devices directly from the manufacturer and make sure that the phone supports the ability to unlock (and re-lock!) the bootloader. If you need a recommendation, get a current generation Pixel and install GrapheneOS or if you won’t give up Google Play and dependent apps, LineageOS.
Not sure why anyone is still using Verizon.
US Mobile has access to their networks and it’s cheaper. Same service. Been with USM for nearly 2 years now. My parents and siblings all switched over too. Moved our numbers over with zero issues.
Verizon not in your area? Cool, USM also has access to T-Mobile and ATT.
People need to learn to shop around, especially in the current economy we’re in.
Thanks republicans, very pro consumer, very cool.
It isn’t a gun or a fetus so they don’t care.
You just made me think of this, has anyone slapped a cell modem onto a gun yet? That sounds like something that would happen here
That may lead to FaaS, though, Firearms as a Subscription.
I saw ‘FaaS’ and immediately thought Freedom as a Service, which is exactly the tagline such a service would have
Not a bad idea
Anything as a Subscription is a bad idea, honestly.
Who didn’t need this in their life? I’m so glad the CFPB has also been disemboweled.
They’ll be so happy to tell you how it’s actually your fault for voting for democrats and you better believe them OR ELSE.
(Still applies if you didn’t vote for democrats or even if you aren’t American)
If you’re not feeling the freedom and amazing positive effects yet, it’s because it’s coming. Juuust over the next hill. Alllways over the next hill.
I jumped in the hot tub with my phone in my pocket last summer and needed a phone and couldn’t really wait for one to ship from a random eBay or swappa seller so I had to go to Best Buy.
They had nothing carrier unlocked that was newer than the 128GB iPhone 15 for $800, refurbished. All else they had was a couple old pixels and galaxies and they weren’t much cheaper.
Policies like impact the poor folks who can’t afford the cash for phones that are unlocked and are stuck paying high monthly service rates.
They should be banned from having any unlocking restrictions after they were found to have violated the initial FCC mandates placed on them. Absolutely disgraceful. No accountability.
Imagine buying a PC and you can only use it with Comcast or att internet for the first year, manufactured trash
Trust me, pc manufacturers and Comcast are imagining this.
ThAnK gOd FoR cApItAlIsM /s
There’s options though for those that don’t want a carrier locked device.
Last time I bought an unlocked phone a bunch of stuff like Wi-Fi calling didn’t work.
Usually wifi calling doesn’t work out of the box but if you google you can find the solution in no time
I wish it were that easy. Even trying to find a solution for At&t now doesn’t yield any real answers. Maybe it works differently now as this was a few years ago.
I hear ya but honestly you wouldn’t have the service let alone the devices without it.
Workers built the phone and the infrastructure not capitalism.
And don’t forget the tech funded by the tax payers through universities! The cell phone tech was made in spite of capitalism.
The shitty modern smart phone is the result of capitalism.
This is a big deal because this will hit low end customers the hardest. People who shop at Dollar General for their phones.
I remember when relatively speedy device unlocks were mandated. And before then, contracts would basically include the price of the phone in them. Now we have to pay extra for the phone, and it’s still not ours. Very cool.
Phones used to be “free” but your bill was higher to cover it. Your bill stayed the same whether you took the “free” phone or not. Now your bill is lower, but buying a phone through the carrier brings it back up. That’s been my experience at least.
So if I bought one before that date I am not held to this?
Use swappa.com or some other way to buy unlocked phones and never have to deal with Verizon’s BS again. You can have the service with no phone issues.
