U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill that allows subscribers to make "unlocked" phones - unlock their mobile devices and to move from one operator to another with existing smartphone. In July, the law approved the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives .
The law stipulates that unlocking can not be punished unless the subscriber has fulfilled all contractual obligations to the cell phone company. According to a statement on the website of the White House, Barack Obama signed into law, which comes into effect from today and will run for three years.
Most subscribers in the U.S. get phones at a reduced price in exchange for signing long, usually two-year contracts with cellular companies. Phone is locked so that it can not be used in another network provider.
The need to adopt a law arose after the agency in charge of copyright Library of Congress decided that an independent phone unlocking infringing cellular operators. This, in particular, jeopardize the prosecution of those who carried out the unlock - Self unlock phone provider without notice.
Thanks to the efforts of civil society activists, the U.S. government lifted the restriction on "wholesale unlock" phones, which was designed to limit the activities of companies buying up massively contract phones and selling them under the guise of officially unlocked.