Good news for our friends over in the United States, the American House of Representatives have passed the Unlocked Phone Act… well it’s called the “Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition act ” but we like our name for it better. Essentially, this act will allow American users to unlock their phones (that is, not have it compatible with the original seller of the phone) and give them the chance to move them to a new carrier at the conclusion of their contract. We’ve enjoyed this right in Australia for many years but it has taken a few hurdles for the Yanks to get sorted.
However there was a late amendment to the bill – plot twist – and excluded from the bill is a “bulk unlocking” allowance. So while you as an individual can go and get your phone unlocked, mobile phone companies and resellers can’t import a bulk of unlocked phones and then sell direct to public.
The bill still must go to the Senate so there is hope that they will be able to remove the changes and allow the US to finally have an unlocked phone market.