Unlocking a Smartphone is a little different than unlocking a GSM cellular phone. Basically, they're mobile computers that are handheld. The process to unlock and lock them is more involved than the simple linking of account numbers and serial numbers that is seen in normal cellular phones.
Frequently, Smartphones are locked to one service provider. For most owners of the Smartphone, unlocking isn't simply a matter of the desire to change service providers. Most of these owners just want the ability to control the applications that they can install on their device. Many Smartphone manufacturers lock the devices in order to prevent you from installing unauthorized applications. For example, you can only install applications that are bought from Apple's Application Store on the iPhone. Therefore, you can't install an application that isn't offered and officially approved by Apple, unless, of course, you unlock your Smartphone.
It's possible to buy an iPhone that has been unlocked, or you can apply a software package to unlock an iPhone. Frequently, this is referred to as jail breaking the phone. Since the software on a Smartphone is more complicated than on a cellular phone, the unlocking process is more involved than simply entering a code. Many software packages designed to unlock the phone may have results that are unpredictable and can render some of features of the phone, or the phone itself, nonfunctional.
One question that everyone wants to know the answer to is if unlocking a cellular phone is legal. Generally, the answer in Europe and the US is yes. Although the laws are different from country to another, they usually tend to support the consumer over the company. In 2006 the US Copyright Office declared that unlocking a cellular phone doesn't infringe on the copyright of a service provider or phone manufacturer, and therefore isn't prohibited.
The ruling suggested that locking cellular phones is a non infringing activity by the user. The purpose of the software lock seems to be limited to the restriction of the owner's use of the mobile handset in order to support a business model, rather than to protect access to the work that has been copyrighted.
However, there is one caveat. Unlocking your phone might violate the terms of any contract you may have signed with your service provider. If this happens, you might be subject to any penalties that may be outlined in your contract including having your service cut off.
The Communication Blog
Frequently, Smartphones are locked to one service provider. For most owners of the Smartphone, unlocking isn't simply a matter of the desire to change service providers. Most of these owners just want the ability to control the applications that they can install on their device. Many Smartphone manufacturers lock the devices in order to prevent you from installing unauthorized applications. For example, you can only install applications that are bought from Apple's Application Store on the iPhone. Therefore, you can't install an application that isn't offered and officially approved by Apple, unless, of course, you unlock your Smartphone.
It's possible to buy an iPhone that has been unlocked, or you can apply a software package to unlock an iPhone. Frequently, this is referred to as jail breaking the phone. Since the software on a Smartphone is more complicated than on a cellular phone, the unlocking process is more involved than simply entering a code. Many software packages designed to unlock the phone may have results that are unpredictable and can render some of features of the phone, or the phone itself, nonfunctional.
One question that everyone wants to know the answer to is if unlocking a cellular phone is legal. Generally, the answer in Europe and the US is yes. Although the laws are different from country to another, they usually tend to support the consumer over the company. In 2006 the US Copyright Office declared that unlocking a cellular phone doesn't infringe on the copyright of a service provider or phone manufacturer, and therefore isn't prohibited.
The ruling suggested that locking cellular phones is a non infringing activity by the user. The purpose of the software lock seems to be limited to the restriction of the owner's use of the mobile handset in order to support a business model, rather than to protect access to the work that has been copyrighted.
However, there is one caveat. Unlocking your phone might violate the terms of any contract you may have signed with your service provider. If this happens, you might be subject to any penalties that may be outlined in your contract including having your service cut off.
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