"In France, SIM locks are not prohibited. However, the mobile operator must inform the consumer of the existence of a SIM lock, and the subscriber has the right to request that the lock be removed at any time. No later than three months after the subscription of the contract, the mobile operator must "systematically and free of charge" provide the subscriber with a procedure to deactivate the SIM lock. Proposal to shorten the time that operators may charge a fee for removing the SIM lock prior from six-month to the three-month deadline."
The stupid thing, at least in the U.S. is that carriers lock phones if the user is UNDER CONTRACT. This is backward; who cares if the user takes the phone to another network, when he has to continue paying the contract? This actually benefits the original carrier.
"In France, SIM locks are not prohibited. However, the mobile operator must inform the consumer of the existence of a SIM lock, and the subscriber has the right to request that the lock be removed at any time. No later than three months after the subscription of the contract, the mobile operator must "systematically and free of charge" provide the subscriber with a procedure to deactivate the SIM lock. Proposal to shorten the time that operators may charge a fee for removing the SIM lock prior from six-month to the three-month deadline."
The stupid thing, at least in the U.S. is that carriers lock phones if the user is UNDER CONTRACT. This is backward; who cares if the user takes the phone to another network, when he has to continue paying the contract? This actually benefits the original carrier.