"Until recently, Verizon had the most consumer-friendly unlocking policy of the major nationwide wireless carriers in the US. This was because of rules imposed on Verizon's 700 MHz spectrum licenses and merger conditions on the firm's purchase of TracFone, which resulted in phones being unlocked after 60 days. Verizon used to sell phones that were already unlocked, but in 2019, it obtained a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission allowing it to lock phones for 60 days to deter fraud."
"Verizon did not mention this plan when we contacted the company's public relations team on Friday. At the time, Verizon confirmed the current policy but didn't say whether it had any plans to change it. We contacted Verizon again yesterday morning and today about the statement reported by Android Authority and have not received a response."
"Verizon started overhauling its unlocking policies after receiving the latest waiver, and the rollout has been confusing. When the new policy was put online with an effective date of January 27, it applied the 35-day delay only to cases in which a customer uses a Verizon gift card to buy a phone or pay off the remaining balance."
Verizon obtained FCC waivers changing unlocking requirements tied to its 700 MHz spectrum licenses and TracFone merger conditions. Phones had been unlocked after 60 days under those rules, but a 2019 waiver allowed Verizon to lock devices for 60 days to deter fraud. Verizon later said 60 days was insufficient to prevent fraud and received a subsequent waiver lifting the unlocking requirement. Verizon revised its unlocking policy and introduced a 35-day delay initially applied only when customers used Verizon gift cards to purchase or pay off phones. The company later extended the 35-day delay to more scenarios while keeping a January 27 effective date. Verizon did not respond to requests for comment.
Read at Ars Technica
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