For many Americans, buying the latest iPhone or Galaxy device can mean being stuck with that wireless provider for the lifetime of the device. This practice is widely unpopular, with a new poll released by The Bull Moose Project, conducted by Fabrizio Ward, finding that 9 out of 10 consumers want to easily take their cellphone to a new carrier.
Millions of consumers remain tied to a single wireless provider because of a practice known as “mobile locking,” which can limit whether, or when, a cellphone can be used on a different network, even if the device was purchased outright or has already been paid off.
Mobile locking refers to software restrictions imposed by wireless carriers that handcuff phones to work on only one carrier’s network. For years, the biggest cellphone service providers have argued that unlocking cellphones would be unworkable – too complex, risky, or costly to implement at scale. But consumers heard that story before when people wanted to keep their cellphone numbers. And with enough pressure, carriers made it happen and seem to be doing fine. So the question isn’t whether unlocking can be done; it’s whether carriers will respond to what consumers actually want.
Unlocking policies often require consumers to meet specific conditions – such as waiting a set period of time – before switching to another carrier. As attention around the issue grows, public support for easier phone unlocking is mounting.
“Locked phones cost consumers real money,” said Aiden Buzzetti, president of The Bull Moose Project. “A locked cellphone is a financial anchor, tying families to a single carrier long after they’ve paid for the device, even if that service is bad or overpriced.”
A new national survey conducted by Fabrizio Ward finds overwhelming public support for making it easier for consumers to take their phones with them when switching providers.