The software locks that wireless operators put on devices, such as the iPhone, may violate state and federal antitrust laws, but there isn't much consumers can do about it.
In this edition of Ask Maggie, I answer a reader's question about whether consumers could sue their carriers to force them to allow people to take their iPhone 4S to any carrier they want, given that this particular phone uses the exact same hardware on every carrier. And I explain why consumers aren't likely able to sue AT&T over its new policy to restrict the Apple FaceTime to certain subscribers on its Mobile Share plans.
Can you take a wireless carrier to court?
Dear Maggie, I have followed your articles and read all your responses concerning the locks carriers put on iPhones making them virtually impossible to use with other carriers, even within the SAME carrier (Sprint and Virgin Mobile) or even between 4G LTE networks, as to be expected with the iPhone 5.
When and who is going to take the cell phone carriers to a class action lawsuit to break these actions? It looks like there are several provisions in laws that describe and demand an open market and competition for customers to choose. How can this violation exist and continue like this when millions are involved?
I am almost in disbelief this situation has not been brought to the attention of regulators and/or Federal bureaus that are supposed to protect open competition.
Thanks for you... [Read more]
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