Phone Unlocking Now Attracting the Attention of Washington Insiders

**lkbig** · 02-21-2013, 05:14 PM

Next to my love of all things Android, few things compare to my love of politics. The National Journal (a magazine aimed at Washington insiders, think congressional staffers, congress people, lobbyists and such) posted a story about the phone unlocking petition. Maybe we'll get our way on this! Now we need to get this on mainstream media like CNN and the NBC nightly news. Momentum is building (I hope).

Here's the link.

**lkbig** · 02-21-2013, 11:53 PM

Anyone think this will move the needle at all?

Ry · 02-22-2013, 11:54 AM

As long as there's a reasonable unlocking policy at the carrier level, I don't think it's that big of a deal.

Plus with unsubsidized options becoming more and more available, it's making this even less of an issue.

**droidmyme** · 02-22-2013, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by lkbig

Anyone think this will move the needle at all?

The petition drive isn't intended to move the needle. When a petition reaches 100,000 votes, it gets sent to the White House which reviews the petition and releases an official statement. That statement is just intended to be a starting point for any policy changes. That's my understanding.

Originally Posted by Ry

As long as there's a reasonable unlocking policy at the carrier level, I don't think it's that big of a deal.

Plus with unsubsidized options becoming more and more available, it's making this even less of an issue.

Not to belittle your statement, but there aren't a whole lot of modern, unsubsidized options beyond the Nexus phone.

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**lkbig** · 02-22-2013, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by droidmyme

The petition drive isn't intended to move the needle. When a petition reaches 100,000 votes, it gets sent to the White House which reviews the petition and releases an official statement. That statement is just intended to be a starting point for any policy changes. That's my understanding.

Isn't this moving the needle? If this is the start of a policy change I think the needle is being moved. Albeit slowly.

Ry · 02-22-2013, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by droidmyme

Not to belittle your statement, but there aren't a whole lot of modern, unsubsidized options beyond the Nexus phone.

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Unsubsidized has always been an option. You're probably thinking more of the cheap, no-carrier interference route.

T-Mobile's switch to payments plans vs. subsidizing is a big step too.

**droidmyme** · 02-22-2013, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Ry

Unsubsidized has always been an option. You're probably thinking more of the cheap, no-carrier interference route.

T-Mobile's switch to payments plans vs. subsidizing is a big step too.

Can you please explain what unsubsidized means then. Thanks

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**droidmyme** · 02-22-2013, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by lkbig

Isn't this moving the needle? If this is the start of a policy change I think the needle is being moved. Albeit slowly.

Maybe. All I mean is that, just because something reaches 100,000 petitions doesn't mean they will actually do anything!

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Ry · 02-22-2013, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by droidmyme

Can you please explain what unsubsidized means then. Thanks

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Full price. Carrier phones can still come unsubsidized. It only has to do with the price, not the bloatware.

**droidmyme** · 02-22-2013, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Ry

Full price. Carrier phones can still come unsubsidized. It only has to do with the price, not the bloatware.

I just assumed that unsubsidized always existed in factory unlocked international versions. But I suppose that's limited to only the international versions. You're suggesting that if unsubsidized takes off, a carrier like T-Mobile's might, say, offer their entire line up this way?

Thanks, I'm not familiar with the specifics.

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Ry · 02-22-2013, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by droidmyme

I just assumed that unsubsidized always existed in factory unlocked international versions. But I suppose that's limited to only the international versions. You're suggesting that if unsubsidized takes off, a carrier like T-Mobile's might, say, offer their entire line up this way?

Thanks, I'm not familiar with the specifics.

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Yes.

BTW, going to AT&T and buying a Galaxy S3 at the full retail price means you're buying it unsubsidized. And you can do that today.

**droidmyme** · 02-22-2013, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by Ry

Yes.

BTW, going to AT&T and buying a Galaxy S3 at the full retail price means you're buying it unsubsidized. And you can do that today.

Isn't that the main draw for folks signing contracts?

You can't really say signing up is about network coverage, because all four main carriers have MVNOs. Interesting to see where it all leads!

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