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That sounds quite dystopian. I did consider this possibility, but thought that it was sufficiently far in the future. Sad that this future already arrived :( B

by Rogach 1y ago

That sounds quite dystopian. I did consider this possibility, but thought that it was sufficiently far in the future. Sad that this future already arrived :( But can you elaborate on how this is enforced? Probably by requiring IMEI registration? (supposedly with a carve-out for tourists, something like "a new IMEI can be used for two weeks without registration, after that it stops working") If it's IMEI-based, then probably you can still have an alternative phone that will use WiFi hotspot from the "certified" one. Speaking from experience here - we had a problem in Indonesia where we were unable to register a phone due to bureaucratic shortcomings, and so we bought a cheap phone to serve as a hotspot. Inconvenient, true, but still workable. Also, I don't know how IMEIs are implemented at hardware/software level. Maybe there are ways to spoof them somehow?

cesarb 1y ago
> But can you elaborate on how this is enforced? The import is rejected by customs. Yes, this means there's the small loophole of traveling to another country (which is usually a long travel, this country is huge and the ocean is wide), buying the phone there, and bringing it back with you. I don't know whether the carriers do reject phones with IMEI pointing to a non-homologated model used with a SIM registered to a Brazilian carrier (that is, not roaming). > If it's IMEI-based, then probably you can still have an alternative phone that will use WiFi hotspot from the "certified" one. That takes me back, it's exactly how I used my pre-smartphone PDA, tethering to my phone through Bluetooth. Yeah, that would work (it's exactly how I use my laptop when I can't use the normal Internet connection), were I able to import the thing in the first place.
- Rogach 1y ago
  > Yes, this means there's the small loophole of traveling to another country (which is usually a long travel, this country is huge and the ocean is wide) I'm a frequent traveler, so I tend to overlook that not all people have that option, apologies for that. But in many countries where there are some restrictions or crushing import taxes, I saw that there usually quickly appeared a flourishing network of people that utilize the travel loophole to bring in the necessary items - some even build sort-of-a-business out of that. Many just ask their travelling friends to bring them phones they desire (I've been such a friend on multiple occasions).

by Rogach 1y ago

cesarb 1y ago

> But can you elaborate on how this is enforced? The import is rejected by customs. Yes, this means there's the small loophole of traveling to another country (which is usually a long travel, this country is huge and the ocean is wide), buying the phone there, and bringing it back with you. I don't know whether the carriers do reject phones with IMEI pointing to a non-homologated model used with a SIM registered to a Brazilian carrier (that is, not roaming). > If it's IMEI-based, then probably you can still have an alternative phone that will use WiFi hotspot from the "certified" one. That takes me back, it's exactly how I used my pre-smartphone PDA, tethering to my phone through Bluetooth. Yeah, that would work (it's exactly how I use my laptop when I can't use the normal Internet connection), were I able to import the thing in the first place.

Rogach 1y ago
> Yes, this means there's the small loophole of traveling to another country (which is usually a long travel, this country is huge and the ocean is wide) I'm a frequent traveler, so I tend to overlook that not all people have that option, apologies for that. But in many countries where there are some restrictions or crushing import taxes, I saw that there usually quickly appeared a flourishing network of people that utilize the travel loophole to bring in the necessary items - some even build sort-of-a-business out of that. Many just ask their travelling friends to bring them phones they desire (I've been such a friend on multiple occasions).