Unlocking Our Voice

            The lines of freedom are blurred when it comes to technology, as we’ve seen repeatedly in the controversies surrounding content sharing and gaming. We all know about the music sharing fiasco with the “Napsters” of the industry and how Apple “solved” that problem with their iTunes app (those users are also locked into the Apple brand). As for a gaming example, we have X-box at our house, and had to pay an additional $60 yearly membership to Microsoft just to watch movies on Netflix (which we already pay to use!). Restrictions such as these are rampant in the cellular service industry as well, which is why the subject of unlocking cell phones has been an ongoing debate for some time.

            Briefly, to unlock a phone, users modify their phone’s settings so they can use it on a different carrier network, which gives them more control and freedom with the added abilities of paying less for services, getting better coverage, and having more choices. Another reason for unlocking a mobile phone, as David Baker, owner of UnlockMyPhoneNow.com explained, it’s often “to save the expense of buying new phones when they [users] switch carriers. They have perfectly good phones. Why should they buy more phones?" Good point, right?

            Well, it seems enough people have voiced their opinion about their freedom to choose to unlock their phones, it initiated a response from the White House. Yesterday, Senior Advisor for Internet, Innovation, and Privacy, R. David Edelman, responded to the 114,332 petitioners on the White House’s We The People blog site.  The shortened version of the official statement indicates that the White House agrees with consumers, and unlocking should not be illegal, as it was. He calls on Congress, the FTC, and service providers to come up with synergistic solutions that will fit the needs of all, especially consumers.  

 

             Perhaps this issue regained momentum from the increasing dissatisfaction of cell phone/ tablet users who are locked into brands, contracts, and restrictive relationships with corporate giants. It will be interesting to see how the subject plays out in Congress, between the politicians and the corporate lobbyists; even more exciting to see social empowerment at its finest.