O2 has announced it is looking into its current lock-in contract for the iPhone, after the news that that the telco is no longer the exclusive mobile operator for Apple's handset.
Currently, all those in an iPhone contract with O2 do not get their phone unlocked at the end of the tenure.
This is because Telefonica, the company behind O2, had sole rights to supplying the phone in the UK.
Situation changed
Now that both Orange and Vodafone have announced they are to stock the phone, O2 has said it is to take another look at the situation, saying in a statement to the Register: "We did not offer unlocking at the end of a customer's iPhone contract as we had the exclusive contract for the iPhone in the UK.
"Obviously, that situation has changed... and we are currently working through what will happen."
If O2 do slacken its lock-in rules, this will good news for O2 iPhone users who may want to switch allegiance once their contract has expired.
If they decide not too, though, then it looks like O2 has got you in for the long haul.
Via the Register
Your comments (4) Click to add a new comment
amit290
October 3rd 2009
4. Just unlock the phone with Ultrasn0w. Happily using mine on '3' network since I bought it. £5 a month add-on pack for Internet Max. They'll even give you the settings if you ring them up.
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dansus
October 3rd 2009
3. If O2 wont unlock your phone at end of contract, report them to OFCOM.
Not hard.
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big_ben
October 2nd 2009
2. I'm hoping the long-overdue competition will drive up the quality of service on the O2 network.
What bugs me about the O2 network isn't so much the poor 3G coverage (good coverage both where I live and work), but that despite a good 3G signal performance can be really poor because their network is creaking under the strain of all users. Try Central London at rush hour and you'll see what I mean.
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phibo78
October 2nd 2009
1. They bloody well should do, I can't wait to be able to use my iphone away from O2.
Their service is terrible, so frustrating when I struggle for GPRS service in some areas, and no service in other areas, when my parter is zooming away on her Blackberry without fail on Orange.
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