US Legislation: You Have the Right to... Unlock Your iPhone?
Representative Ed Mackey (D-Mass) wants to make Apple & ATT (and all other US providers) cry. How? By copying the French. Well, technically, by adopting a law similar to France's which mandates that cell companies "shall offer to consumers the opportunity to purchase subsidy-free wireless customer equipment."
Under this proposal, Apple & ATT would likely be forced to offer an unlocked (and unsubsidized) version of the iPhone. (Bidding to start at US$999?)
Potentially worse for the telcos, it would mandate a level of clarity, detail, and (gasp!) understandability for rate plans, including itemization and disclosure of taxes and early termination fees.
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Ars' coverage:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080227-new-bill-takes-on-cell-phone-unlocking-municipal-broadband.html
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