Sprints Plan by 2015: Unlockable Phones

Until recently, when T-Mobile announced its Un-carrier plan, the two year contract with fees for early termination was just one of the ways that mobile carriers kept their subscribers. Something else that kept you locked into your provider was the fact that your smartphone was actually locked. That means that your device will only function on your carrier’s network.

Some people thought that it was just a simple matter to replace the SIM with one from another carrier and continue to use their smartphones. The problem is that you cannot just get a new subscriber identification module, or SIM, you know, that integrated circuit that securely stores the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and the related key used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devices, to transfer your device to another carrier.

The only way to accomplish that would be to find someone who knows how to break the lock, thus giving you an unlocked device that can be used on any carrier’s network. You could buy an unlocked phone, but it is still an iffy proposition as to whether it will function properly or not.

According to Android Police, you can usually request an unlock code from the carrier if you are not under contract or still paying off the device. However, you should know by now that nothing is that easy. Apparently, Sprint does not fall under that category. It claims not to have any mechanism designed to unlock phones for use on other U.S. carriers.

Supposedly, that is the case for right now. There is a sort of unlock feature, but that seems to be for a very limited case. You can get a SIM unlock on your Sprint phone that will allow it to work internationally. Another unique case since Sprint is the only carrier that operates in this fashion.

There is however, a possibility that this situation is going to change next year. Below is a statement written by Sprint as described in its unlocking FAQ:

Question: I've been told by another carrier that Sprint needs to unlock my SIM slot in order to use my phone on the other carrier's network.

FAQ: For eligible devices, Sprint will unlock the SIM slot, to the extent that a device SIM slot is capable of being unlocked. It is important to note that not all devices are capable of being unlocked, often because of the manufacturers' device designs, and that even for those devices capable of being unlocked, not all device functionality may be capable of being unlocked. Specifically, devices manufactured with a SIM slot within the past three years (including, but not limited to, all Apple iPhone devices), cannot be unlocked to accept a different domestic carrier's SIM for use on another domestic carrier's network. Sprint has no technological process available to do this. In accordance with Sprint's voluntary commitment contained within CTIA's Consumer Code for Wireless Service (“Unlocking Commitment”), Sprint is working to ensure that all devices developed and launched on or after February 11, 2015 are capable of being unlocked domestically.

Question: Sprint’s unlocking policy appears to apply only to postpaid customers. I am a prepaid customer. Am I eligible to have my device unlocked?

FAQ: Neither Sprint nor its prepaid affiliates (Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless) currently unlock devices for prepaid customers. However, in accordance with the Unlocking Commitment, Sprint and its prepaid affiliates are working to create new policies and procedures in order to unlock prepaid devices, or to provide the information necessary to unlock the devices, after certain eligibility requirements to be established are met. Consistent with the Unlocking Commitment, Sprint and its prepaid affiliates will implement these new policies and procedures no later than February 11, 2015.

As you can see from that last sentence, it does appear that Sprint is planning on giving its devices the ability to have an unlock function. Of course, this could be due to the fact that the wireless association, CTIA’s Consumer Code for Wireless Service was put together towards the end of 2013. Oddly enough, one of the items included is a requirement that carriers need to adopt a more consumer-friendly procedure for unlocking their devices. It seems that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had to put its foot down and make some threats in order to get this passed, however, Sprint and other carriers did get on board.

Now that we are seeing most, if not all of the carriers offering plans that do not require a contract or long term commitment, it will be interesting to see if customers unlock phones when they move to a different provider with no guarantee the phone will work properly.