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T-Mobile, AT&T oppose unlocking rule, claim locked phones are good for users

(arstechnica.com)
197 points LorenDB | 3 comments | 21 Oct 24 20:31 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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SirMaster ◴[21 Oct 24 21:08 UTC] No.41908544[source]▶
I'm a fan of the large discounts I get from the carrier. If I have to be locked to the carrier for the duration of the agreement for that discount, then that's fine with me.

I mean unless they would keep those discounts without being locked, but I don't ever see that happening.

How about just offering it both ways. Discounts if you are OK being locked to the service for the duration, or no/lesser discount to be able to leave the service early. That way everyone is happy?

I mean, you can already just forgo the rest of the discount and get unlocked whenever you want, so I don't really see the problem I guess.

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itopaloglu83 ◴[21 Oct 24 22:57 UTC] No.41909427[source]▶
The locking was supposed to be a lien mechanism for phones so that the carriers could protect their investments. However, unlike a bank, they can continue to benefit from customers after the loan is paid off. So, they just keep the phones locked and make you go through elaborate hoops just to keep you as a customer instead of providing a good service.

If the carriers are not allowed to subsidize devices, there will be easily thousands of financial institutions who would provide these services.

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1. tzs ◴[21 Oct 24 23:52 UTC] No.41909765[source]▶
> If the carriers are not allowed to subsidize devices, there will be easily thousands of financial institutions who would provide these services.

How would a financial institution subsidize a phone without losing money on the deal?

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2. itopaloglu83 ◴[22 Oct 24 01:44 UTC] No.41910363[source]▶
Just like the carriers, by allowing you to pay in installments.

Let’s call it what it is, it’s a carrier financed credit with a lien on the phone. It’s practically a secured credit line and they don’t want to let it go.

The funny thing is none of this would happen if they removed the lien (lock) right after the loan was paid off.

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3. tzs ◴[22 Oct 24 02:06 UTC] No.41910473[source]▶
With the carrier the subsidizing the phone is tied to you using the carrier's phone service for 2 or 3 years. The money they make on that makes up for whatever subsidy they gave on the phone.

With a financial institution that subsidizes your phone what other service will they charge you for to make up for the cost of the subsidy?