SIM lock
The (also the) SIM lock , also called Service Provider Lock ( SPCK for short ), is a term from the mobile communications sector and describes the software-based restriction of a mobile communications device to operation with SIM cards that meet certain criteria - usually Maps from a specific service provider. This enables providers to sell devices for less than their cost price and to compensate for the deficit through usage sales on the network.
Mobile phones can be blocked so that they only accept SIM cards from certain countries, providers, networks or SIM types. Unauthorized removal of this lock is a criminal offense in many countries.
In Germany, SIM-Lock can be found almost exclusively in prepaid packages ; At times, Telekom Deutschland also activated the Netlock on many contract devices .
Legal position
Many countries have laws that prohibit SIM lock, for example Finland . In other countries, such as Hungary , the SIM lock standard and unlocking the phones is prohibited. In most countries, the legal regulations are somewhere in between - they allow blocking, but only for the duration of the customer's current contract. In Germany, two decisions are known according to which the data change (§ 303a StGB) is punishable by anyone who removes a SIM lock without the permission of the blocking provider.
In Austria , the unlocking of cell phones is generally allowed, because when you buy the device, it becomes the property of its owner, who thus has free power of disposal over the device. In Austria, a legal dispute between T-Mobile and Yesss was conducted because YESSS! Published links to free unlocking services. The litigation was in favor of YESSS! decided.
In the USA , a law was passed in October 2012 that makes unlocking a SIM lock without the permission of the network operator a criminal offense. It stipulates that all devices that were purchased up to 90 days after the law came into force can be unlocked without penalty. This was valid until January 26, 2013, unlocking devices purchased after this date is a punishable offense. The sentence can be up to $ 500,000 and / or 5 years in prison.
Others
The European emergency number 112 works completely without a SIM in some countries, in Germany it has not been used since 2009 due to excessive emergency call abuse.
Web links
- Official SIM lock removal for Telekom Germany cell phones (D1)
- Official SIM lock removal for Vodafone phones (D2)
- "T-Mobile sues new cell phone provider Yesss", April 29, 2005 ( Memento from December 17, 2006 in the Internet Archive ), Juridicum Vienna
- "YESSS! against T-Mobile lawsuit successful ” ( Memento from September 17, 2006 in the Internet Archive ), telecompress report on the judgment in favor of YESSS!
- "Mobile operators charge up to 150 euros for SIM unlocks", January 22, 2012 , DerStandard.at article