Are phones from providers in Finland locked?

[Mikie]

Well the topic says it all. Are the phones that are sold through the cellphone providers here in Finland as part of a plan, are they unlocked?

If I purchase a plan and phone here, can I pop out the SIM card and use another SIM with the phone?

Thanks.

[Gnu007]

No, they're not. We bought our boys new phones from one dealer, then used SIM cards from another service provider because the call rates are better.

[onkko]

I just checked Sonera and Saunalahti, in their page reads "phone can be sim locked" so better ask before you sign anything.

[TampereOwl]

And people in mobile phone shops get all snippy about 'illegal' things when you ask them to unlock them.

[sinikala]

Well the topic says it all. Are the phones that are sold through the cellphone providers here in Finland as part of a plan, are they unlocked?

If I purchase a plan and phone here, can I pop out the SIM card and use another SIM with the phone?

Thanks.

If you buy the phone upfront (pay the full price of the handset) and subscribe to a monthly plan for calls, then the phone should not be locked, I bought my first 3 phones here that way, and changed from Sonera to DNA during that time.

My most recent phone I took when I switched to Elisa seemed so much cheaper to buy over a 2 year period, so I have been paying for calls + a monthly payment towards the cost of the handset, and that is locked. Once the handset is fully paid off and you own it, then you can ask them to unlock it for you.

That is the point of the cheap offer, they lower the price of the handset but make the profit through the line rental and calls.

You don't get something for nothing.

[Karhunkoski]

No, they're not.

You mean the ones you bought your boys were not locked. Other phones can be.

[sinikettu]

The law in Finland..
In Finland carriers are not allowed to sell simlocked GSM phones, but they can simlock 3G handsets.
If you buy a non 3G mobile it will not be SimLocked.

If you buy a 3G phone on a annual contract basis it will be locked.

If you pay full price for a 3G phone with no strings/contract ties, it will not be Simlocked.

The details..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_lock

This is a well known work around....if you know how..or know someone who knows how.
Most phones can be unbranded(unlocked) by uploading a different firmware version, a procedure recommended ONLY for advanced users.

[Karhunkoski]

I vaguely remember the phone laws changing in 2006? hmm

[Bulletti]

I vaguely remember the phone laws changing in 2006? hmm

Yeah, they allowed kytkykauppa.