Nokia takes a bite at Apple


They shouldn't be network-locked as well...

These posters that were seen in the Big Apple obviously takes issue with recent developments concerning the iPhone, on how it limits network choice and application usage. Nokia tries to score on these issues while highlighting one of its better aspects, giving the user the freedom to choose.

On a similar note, how I wish this were also true in our country. While Nokia stores sell open-line units, those coming from telco companies are more often than not network-locked, thus limiting network compatibility. Although in other countries, you can have your mobile phone unlocked for a fee legally, apparently, in our country, there is no legal way to do so.

Nokia Philippines and local telcos should take a hint from this ad and start releasing their handsets unlocked or at least provide a legal way to unlock it so that the freedom to choose will not only apply for those outside the Philippines, but also in our motherland as well.

Information and Links

Join the fray by commenting, tracking what others have to say, or linking to it from your blog.

Information
October 4th, 2007
2 Responses
Feeds and Links
Comment Feed
From This Author
Del.icio.us
Digg
Technorati
Categories
Nokia

Other Posts
Zune’s Second Wave
Lean, Mean Mobile Gaming Machine

 


Write a Comment

Take a moment to comment and tell us what you think. Some basic HTML is allowed for formatting.

Reader Comments

Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Silverlokk
Posted on:
10/6/2007 at 1:25 pm

Although I’m also annoyed at the carriers’ locking the phones to their respective networks, I have a simple solution: buy an unlocked phone, even if it’s more expensive.

BTW, as to “illegal” unlocking of network-locked phones, I presume you’re referring to the Greenhills “repair” shops? I myself bypassed that route when I got a Globe-locked Siemens M35i by downloading a lock off the Internet. I did this even if I was on Globe at that time, just for the heck of it. Point is that as far as I know, it wasn’t illegal, although it probably did void the warranty on the phone.

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Allan David Reyes
Posted on:
10/7/2007 at 9:25 am

Unlocking a network-locked phone might not land you in jail, but the mere fact that it voids the warranty means that it’s not legal by any stretch.

I asked both the network carriers and Nokia on how to go about unlocking a phone without voiding the warranty, and, as expected, their reply is that it cannot be unlocked. A Nokia representative even went as far as saying that it’s illegal.

Buying an unlocked phone is logically the best way to go, but in cases wherein you receive it as a gift or win it as a prize makes that option unapplicable.

This is why I believe that phones shouldn’t be locked at all. I don’t see the logic in it, except for the fact that through this means, the telcos putting their customers in a bind so that they stand to make more money.