Cell Phone Unlocking: Should You or Shouldn't You?

When smart phones first appeared on the market, there was a lot of concern over whether it was illegal to unlock a phone or not. As the phones became ubiquitous, and case law became established in the field, the general consensus moved toward it being legal. There may be legal issues surrounding the issue in some cases, though. Here's what you need to know about cell phone unlocking to make an informed decision about whether to do it or not.

You might want to unlock your phone for several reasons. Some people subscribe to more than one service provider to get better coverage and they may not want to have to use two different phones. If your initial contract ends, you might want to get service through another provider, but use the same phone. Some people want to unlock their phones to be able to use programs or apps that are otherwise artificially limited to certain carriers. Unlocking the phone for one of these reasons shouldn't be a legal issue in the sense that criminal charges can't be brought against you.

Unlocking can be grounds for the manufacturer to consider your warranty void, though. This can be true for phones that have to be opened up to be unlocked and those that can be unlocked with the right Koodo unlock codes. If the phone stops working and would have been replaceable under the warranty, you may not be able to claim that replacement if you unlock the phone.

It can be a violation of your service contract to unlock a phone. Most service providers require that you sign a contract to get service from them initially and you should have a copy of this contract with the other paperwork they gave you when you purchased the phone and the service contract. If your phone was free or discounted, it was likely due to you signing a service contract, often for two years. Read through the contract to see if you agreed not to unlock your phone when you signed up for the service.

If you're unlocking your phone to install programs not authorized for your device, you may face other issues. Apps are often designed to be compatible with each other, but this isn't true of apps that weren't designed for your device so you may run into conflicts. The apps may also not be compatible with the OS, causing the basic functions of the phone to stop working. Unlocking your phone and installing these apps can end your ability to use the other apps' technical support features. This only applies to those who install these apps, however. If you keep these important caveats in mind, though, you should not run into problems unlocking your phone. Click here to learn more unlocking tips.