5 ms·

From the AT&T page: > All the device’s service commitments and installment plans are completed, and all early termination fees are paid in full. I assume that

From the AT&T page: > All the device’s service commitments and installment plans are completed, and all early termination fees are paid in full. I assume that means that if you got a "free" phone with a two year contract, you have to wait two years to unlock it. https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/ https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/

dethstar 12y ago
In my country (Mexico) there was a law for them to sell you unlocked phones/unlock them on request. The biggest company had you fill a stupid request and you couldn't fill it if you had your phone for less than X months, something which was not allowed by the law, that ceased after a series of complains to some branch of government made to "protect consumers" Anyway, I wonder if AT&T is kind of going with it and saying yes we'll unlock it BUT as a way to kind of cheat on the law, or if the law really allows them to do that. edit: I guess I forgot most people here have prepaid phones, so really I ignore if that was the case for phones on plans, too.
- mikeash 12y ago
  The article says the agreement is to unlock "...after the fulfillment of the applicable postpaid service contract, device financing plan, or payment of applicable early termination fee." So AT&T is just doing what they're allowed to do. I'll note that this has been AT&T's policy for at least a couple of years now. I don't think anything has changed for them.
- username223 12y ago
  > that ceased after a series of complains to some branch of government made to "protect consumers" Why the "scare quotes"? It seems like consumers were actually protected by that scary government.
3JPLW 12y ago
No, the cost of the discounted phone is incorporated into the ETF. I left ATT for T-Mobile after paying an ETF to unlock my phone. The trouble was that it left me without a phone for ~2 weeks: You cannot pay your ETF until your account is cancelled and your final bill posts. I cancelled the account just before the final bill was generated, but still had to wait a few days for the bill to post, another few days for my payment to process, and another few days for my phone unlock request to go through. They drug their feet through every step of the process.

dethstar 12y ago

In my country (Mexico) there was a law for them to sell you unlocked phones/unlock them on request. The biggest company had you fill a stupid request and you couldn't fill it if you had your phone for less than X months, something which was not allowed by the law, that ceased after a series of complains to some branch of government made to "protect consumers" Anyway, I wonder if AT&T is kind of going with it and saying yes we'll unlock it BUT as a way to kind of cheat on the law, or if the law really allows them to do that. edit: I guess I forgot most people here have prepaid phones, so really I ignore if that was the case for phones on plans, too.

mikeash 12y ago
The article says the agreement is to unlock "...after the fulfillment of the applicable postpaid service contract, device financing plan, or payment of applicable early termination fee." So AT&T is just doing what they're allowed to do. I'll note that this has been AT&T's policy for at least a couple of years now. I don't think anything has changed for them.
username223 12y ago
> that ceased after a series of complains to some branch of government made to "protect consumers" Why the "scare quotes"? It seems like consumers were actually protected by that scary government.

3JPLW 12y ago

No, the cost of the discounted phone is incorporated into the ETF. I left ATT for T-Mobile after paying an ETF to unlock my phone. The trouble was that it left me without a phone for ~2 weeks: You cannot pay your ETF until your account is cancelled and your final bill posts. I cancelled the account just before the final bill was generated, but still had to wait a few days for the bill to post, another few days for my payment to process, and another few days for my phone unlock request to go through. They drug their feet through every step of the process.