Columns Archive

Unlocking the Mysteries of Locked Cellphones

Appeared in the Toronto Star on September 3, 2007 as Unlocking the Mystery of Locked Phones

From the moment of its debut, the Apple iPhone has attracted enormous attention. Its biggest impact may go beyond the consumer electronics market, however, as the iPhone has forced politicians and regulators to confront some uncomfortable policy challenges.

When the iPhone hit the U.S. market in late June, Canadians could not help but notice that it was not available within Canada (there is still no word on when that might happen), that Rogers was the only Canadian carrier capable of offering it (raising questions about the lack of competition in the Canadian market), and that no major Canadian wireless carrier provides consumers with data plans that are remotely comparable to AT&T's offer of unlimited data for the iPhone US$20 per month.

These competition and pricing concerns remain unresolved, yet a new policy issue has burst onto the scene in recent weeks.  The iPhone, like many cellphones in North America, is "locked" to a single carrier.  Consumers who want the iPhone must use AT&T since the device contains technical limitations that render it difficult to use on other networks.  These limitations are artificial in the sense that there are otherwise no impediments for an iPhone to run on a competing U.S. network such as T-Mobile, a compatible European or Asian network, or on the Rogers network in Canada.

Locked cellphones have become common in North America as carriers claim that they sell "subsidized" phones in return for an exclusive commitment and long-term contract from consumers.  While many consumers may like the opportunity to purchase a phone for a fraction of the full retail price, others would presumably prefer the freedom of an "unlocked" cellphone that would allow them to easily switch between carriers.

The freedom provided by unlocked cellphones is particularly useful for people who travel, since they can avoid roaming fees by converting their phone into a local phone in most countries by simply inserting a local SIM card.  This approach is standard in Europe and Asia, where consumers would not tolerate a market comprised solely of locked cellphones.

While the iPhone may be locked to AT&T, several consumers, including a New Jersey teenager, have uncovered how to unlock their phones.  This has unleashed a legal battle pitting companies anxious to offer unlocked versions of the iPhone against AT&T, which has threatened to sue anyone offering unlocking services.

From a policy perspective, it is readily apparent that locked cellphones undermine efforts to encourage greater competition in the marketplace.  Both the U.S. and Canada have mandated wireless number portability, which is designed to allow consumers to switch carriers without being forced to change their phone number.  However, locked cellphones run counter to that policy by requiring consumers to fork out hundreds of dollars on a new phone to make the change.

Unlocking cellphones also raises some interesting legal issues as consumers ask whether the practice of unlocking cellphones is legal.  In certain respects, this is an odd question to even have to ask – no one would ever question whether consumers have the right to tinker with their car or to use the same television if they switch providers from cable to satellite, yet the telecom industry has somehow convinced the public that unlocking their phones – consumers' own property – is wrong.

Indeed, earlier this year a Telus executive boldly claimed that "unlocking a cellphone is copyright infringement. When you buy a handset from a carrier, it has programming on the phone. It's a copyright of the manufacturer."  The Telus position is almost certainly incorrect under current Canadian law, though that could change if the government goes ahead with planned reforms that mirror the law in the United States.

The U.S. situation is far more complicated since they have laws that prohibit picking a digital lock such as a cellphone lock.  Last year, the U.S. created an exemption to allow consumers to legally unlock their cellphones, yet the provision seemingly does not allow a company to offer the service of unlocking cellphones.  In other words, consumers can do it, but they're on their own.  

While the U.S. may face renewed pressure to remove this impediment, new Industry Minister Jim Prentice will confront the issue as he addresses telecom policy reform.  If Canadians are to enjoy the full benefit of competition and the products they purchase, Prentice should use the upcoming spectrum auction to reserve some space that welcomes only "open and interoperable" devices that are not locked to any single carrier and ensure that the law clearly reflect Canadians' right to unlock phones without legal risk.

Michael Geist holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. He can reached at mgeist@uottawa.ca or online at www.michaelgeist.ca.

8 Comments

  1. Kwasi Boakye-Akyeampong says:

    Mr
    I strongly disagree with Telus’ position n copyright with rgards locked mobile phones. Can Telus tell me that when I buy a laptop running Windows XP or Vista, I’ll be breaching copyright if I later decide to run the laptop on Linux? These people will stop at nothing to justify anything.

    Thanks for this piece Michael.

  2. Lord
    If you got a XP or VI$TA machine and you put Linux, you won’t be breaching Copyright, but, you’ll be losing you guarantee, and moreover, if it had vi$ta, perhaps Linux won’t work properly. Why? because folks in United States Of Fkcng America decided that you CAN’T use the media you buy unless they control the way you use it. If they’re going to do so, well, don’t tell you sell it, tell you license it.

    Michael, great columns!!!!! I always read you on BBC!

  3. retired
    sounds like the beginning of another carterphone episode. From what I read of buyouts, consolidations and the escapades of groups like the RIAA the first world and north America in particular is slipping back into the days of J.D. Rockefeller and the robber barons. Someone said you can’t take it with you but I understand in the case of music that is not strictly true. I believe Cole Porter or his estate is still collecting royalties for material created in the 1930s.

  4. “[…] that Rogers was the only Canadian carrier capable of offering it (raising questions about the lack of competition in the Canadian market)[…]”

    How is this an indication of lack of competition? Bell, Telus and Rogers all compete for customer dollars. Bell and Telus use one technology while Rogers uses another; the fact that the iPhone will only work with Rogers would seem to be a competitive advantage for Rogers, not an indicator of a lack of competition in the Canadian market.

  5. Living in Asia at the moment and knowing the local cellphone market reasonably well, I can see almost no hope at all of the iPhone selling in any great numbers here in Asia. Every cellphone sold here is free of any such restrictions. We can use any network in any neighbouring country and avoid roaming by using a very inexpensive sim card purchased in the country concerned.

    I cannot see the sense in marketing a device that can only be used on one specific network. I wonder what leglislation Apple or AT&T or O2 (in the UK) could or will use against anyone “unlocking” their phone. I will watch this with interest as it must be anti-competitive.

  6. Robert Leighton says:

    Management Connsultant
    If Canada’s government is sincere about improving productivity and competitiveness, then removing the cell phone carriers legal right to lock cell phones (as I understand they have done in Europe) is an obvious and urgent Federal legislative requirement. The high costs of cell phone service in Canada is unacceptable.

  7. Lobo Steel says:

    I outright bought my cellphones, tried plans, didnt like them, and want to unlock the phones, that I paid full value for. I did not get them cheaper for the plan, but paid full value,as, at the time, I wanted pay as you go, but got talked later into a plan. How do I unlock the phone? I paid full price, honoured the plan, and they still will not unlock my phone, trying to force me to sign up for another useless plan, that doesnt even allow \”roll over \” minutes.

  8. Anonymous says:

    L Baltus
    I bought a simcard and had programmed my own phone in Italy. Cost? Only 10 Euro from which 5 Euro was a credit to use for local calls. I topped up later for another 5 Euro. No expiry after 30 days! On this continent we are being gyped!