LONDON – Mobile phone providers are to be banned from selling “locked” handsets, including iPhones, in the UK from December 2021. The announcement came from the country’s regulator, Ofcom, on Tuesday.
No More Locked iPhones From December 2021
The aim is to allow customers to easily be able to pick up a new handset and sign-up for the contracts and network that suits them best, instead of staying with their current provider or being subjected to delays and inconvenience. “We know that lots of people can be put off from switching because their handset is locked,” said Selina Chadha, Ofcom’s Connectivity Director. “So we’re banning mobile companies from selling locked phones, which will save people time, money and effort – and help them unlock better deals.”
Given that new iPhones usually go on sale around September/October time, it will be interesting to see what this means for sales of the next generation of devices. Will retailers effectively implement the rules earlier than they technically have to in order to help customers? Will consumers decide to wait a couple of months before picking up a new device in order to get a better deal? Alternatively, it may only really have an effect on iPhones launched after December, perhaps disadvantaging those who buy a new device in the fall.