Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

Verizon’s New 1-Year Lock Policy & Regulatory Context

• Verizon previously had a 60-day automatic unlock requirement tied to spectrum/merger conditions; commenters note this was easy for iPhones and often trivial to trigger (“for travel”).
• New TracFone policy extends locking to 365 days and requires a user-initiated request, seen as a step back for consumer rights.
• Several see the long lock as a stealth switching cost and anti-competitive behavior rather than fraud prevention.
• Commenters highlight that the current FCC is moving toward laxer standards, with some blaming the administration and expressing cynicism about regulators “looking out for the little guy.”

Locking Mechanics & “Flex” Policies

• Older phones used modem-level locks via NCK codes; if not locked at manufacture, carriers couldn’t easily add a lock remotely.
• Modern smartphones (especially iPhones) often rely on software-level “activation policies,” which can lock to the first carrier they see (e.g., US Reseller / Flex Lock).
• Some dispute whether “unattached” phones can lock themselves; others link to Flex Lock explanations and advise verifying you aren’t buying such stock.
• There’s discussion of root access on Android and whether it can bypass modem locks; this is contested and unresolved in the thread.

Consumer Strategies: BYOD, MVNOs, and Travel

• Strong sentiment: buy phones outright (Apple Store, direct from OEMs, used) and avoid carrier financing/locks.
• Many advocate MVNOs (Mint, Visible, US Mobile, T-Mobile Connect, etc.) as dramatically cheaper than major carriers, though some note deprioritization or coverage tradeoffs.
• Some recount past hassles bringing unlocked phones to Verizon or dealing with store employees; advice is to avoid authorized retailers.
• Travelers emphasize the pain of locked phones abroad (blocked from cheap local eSIMs, forced into expensive roaming).

Economics, Affordability, and International Contrast

• Debate over whether “free” or financed phones truly cost more overall; some say carriers just spread normal phone prices over time, others argue the lock-in to expensive plans is where the cost hides.
• Several note that many Americans can’t easily pay $600–$1,000 upfront, while others counter that cheaper usable phones exist.
• International commenters describe countries where installment plans don’t inflate plan prices, locking is rare or illegal, and strong consumer protection laws limit contract terms.

Normative Views & Policy Ideas

• Numerous calls for legislation banning or tightly limiting SIM locks and long lock periods.
• One detailed dissenting view argues SIM locking is a useful “repossession” tool to manage credit risk and combat identity-fraud resale, though even that commenter concedes current SIM locks are a blunt, easily abused mechanism.