Unlocking, what's the deal?

[ItziBitzi]

I've been asking me about unlocking of mobiles in the UK and I hope someone will be able to shed some light on this subject for me.

I have the w910i and got it with a contract of Vodafone. It's a lovely phone and I'll continue to use it with Vodafone as I am absolutely happy with their service.

However, I am wondering myself: Is it legal to UNLOCK the phone at any time in the UK? In Germany unlocking is illegal during the first two years of a contract. I hear that's different in the UK and even the provider offer to unlock it?

My contract has been running for 6 weeks or so now, could I go into a Vodafone store, get the phone unlocked there at any time? Or only towards the end of my contract? If it's legal and do-able at any time, how mich is it?

(I am mainly interested in getting it unlocked as I may go back to Germany for a few weeks soonish and I consider using a SIM card from a German network to connect to the internet with my Laptop from there...)

[pav]

In the UK it is legal to unlock phones.

Depending on the network the phone is locked to depends on the price they will charge to unlock the phone. Some will unlock the phone for free (this will depend if you have met their requirements for the free unlocking). Another network will only unlock the phone if you are the the original registered owner and out of the min contracted period.

Networks normally charge around £15-00 to £20-00 when a unlock fee is required.

In some of the networks terms and conditions there is a clause about unlocking phones on their particular network, but you would need to check on what they state about unlocking phones.

Depending on the make and model of phones their are plenty of unlockers that will unlock your phone, either on line or at your local phone / market shop.

Again the price to unlock these phones will vary from free to around £45-00 depending on make and model.

What is lILLEGAL in the UK is to UN-BLOCK a phone (ie one that has been reported lost or stolen and has been barred), which is punishable by up to 7 years in prison.

[ItziBitzi]

Cool, thanks pav! :-) Much appreciated.

Can someone tell me what Voda's policy on unlocking is? Is unlocking a phone from them possible at any time during the contract, or are there any restrictions?

[pav]

Voda charge £20-00 to unlock your phone if it it under 12 months old and I believe it is free after 12 months.