US carriers agree to unlock mobiles
Users will be notified when they can move phones to other networks after contracts end
Major wireless carriers in the United States have pledged to make it easier for consumers to "unlock" their mobile phones for use on competitors' networks, responding to pressure from consumer groups and the top US communications regulator.
Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint Corp, T-Mobile and US Cellular agreed to "clearly notify" customers when their devices were eligible for unlocking and to process unlocking requests within two business days, said wireless industry group CTIA on Thursday.
US wireless carriers often "lock" smartphones to their networks as a way to encourage consumers to renew their mobile contracts. Consumers often get new devices at a heavily subsidised price in return for committing to longer contracts.
The top carriers have long allowed consumers to unlock devices and take them to another network at the end of a contract term - commonly two years - though the process varies by company and can be quite painstaking.
In late 2012, the Library of Congress, the minder of US copyright law, completed a new tri-annual review of exemptions to the law that effectively made phone unlocking illegal, even after the consumer completed the contract.
The [agreement] will provide consumers with more information
The ruling surprised many telecommunications observers, outraged phone users and finally landed on the White House's agenda, thanks to an online citizen petition that gathered 114,322 signatures, more than the 100,000 needed to spur a response. The White House sided with the petitioners.