Vodacom will sell network-locked smartphones

[Bradley Prior]

Vodacom will sell network-locked smartphones

Vodacom is currently testing selling smartphones which are locked to its network, according to Vodacom consumer business unit chief officer Jorge Mendes.

Speaking at a media event in Vodacom World, Midrand, Mendes said that there are currently no regulations which stop mobile operators from engaging in this practice.

 

[Sinbad]

I thought it was declared unconstitutional or something?

 

[Thor]

Vodacom will get Rekt, this is not 2009 anymore.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

are we back in the 90s again? Whatdafuq ?

 

[Polymathic]

Consumers are not as clueless as they used to be

 

[ginggs]

I thought it was declared unconstitutional or something?

Not true.

SA mobile operators can lock your phone to their network

Asking whether a phone is network-locked is not the silly question many experts in South Africa thought it was.

mybroadband.co.za

 

[Mista_Mobsta]

Is this not standard practice across the world for various network operators?

 

[Sinbad]

Not true.

SA mobile operators can lock your phone to their network

Asking whether a phone is network-locked is not the silly question many experts in South Africa thought it was.

mybroadband.co.za

/looks at weather outside

Snow coming?

 

[supersunbird]

Is this not standard practice across the world for various network operators?

Only while the device is on contract.

 

[My_King]

Consumers are not as clueless as they used to be

I would like to agree however being a reader of this forum my opinion is different.

"I am with Telkom and have no issues"
"I am with Afrihost and have no issues"

Consumers might be as clueless as they used to be

 

[Mista_Mobsta]

Only while the device is on contract.

So device is automatically unlocked after the contract period expires?

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

Only while the device is on contract.

Then you have to pay them a fee to unlock it.

They start going along the network locking path, and I will leave them ...

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

So device is automatically unlocked after the contract period expires?

No then they charge you a fee, to unlock it, effectively making up the amount they ostensibly subsidized the phone for.

 

[ginggs]

So device is automatically unlocked after the contract period expires?

I had to request an unlock code after the contract expired.

 

[ginggs]

No then they charge you a fee, to unlock it, effectively making up the amount they ostensibly subsidized the phone for.

I think they'll only charge a fee if you want to unlock before the end of the contract.

 

[SilverCode]

Vodacom and Seacom seem to be drinking from the same legacy fountain of longing for the old days of being able to screw the customer (more than they already are).

 

[Polymathic]

I would like to agree however being a reader of this forum my opinion is different.

"I am with Telkom and have no issues"
"I am with Afrihost and have no issues"

Consumers might be as clueless as they used to be

You always going to get the lost cases but these days they are a lot fewer.

 

[STORMERSFAN]

He'll if it makes my contract R200 cheaper a month I'll be happy to lock for 24 months.. As long as they unlock for free once contract is up..

 

[Gudnews]

I don't mind and even like idea of having the option to have it cheaper and locked or pay a premium to have it unlocked.

 

[acidrain]

“It gives consumers a choice to pay R799 for an open device or R599 for a network-locked device,” said Mendes.

Seems to me that there is a choice whether to have a locked or open device so what is the big deal?