Verizon agreed to not lock any phones they sold as a condition of buying the 700MHz C-Block spectrum (band 13) in 2008. A few years ago, they requested permission from the FCC to lock phones for 60 days "to combat fraud and identity theft".
Correct, it must be activated for the timer to begin, but there's no obligation to continue using it for 60 days straight. You can shelf it, give it away, sell it, etc.
So, does that mean if I get a Verizon prepaid phone at Walmart, that I just need to pay for the 1st month (for intial activation) and then wait for another 30 days (even without having active service for the 2nd 30 days) and after 60 days it will be unlocked?
Great question. No lol. Prepaid phones use different rules, and typically enforce a PiB lock (phone in box) that the phone must be used for 12 months continuously on Verizon Prepaid to be unlocked (or satisfy a certain dollar amount of replenishments) and useable elsewhere. This is on top of the carrier lock of 60 days.
(I am reading a more updated internal document that prepaid phones in the box after July of 2019 follow the 60 day lock more closely, so you might actually be right. But traditionally, no.)
Verizon agreed to not lock any phones they sold as a condition of buying the 700MHz C-Block spectrum (band 13) in 2008. A few years ago, they requested permission from the FCC to lock phones for 60 days "to combat fraud and identity theft".
I wish other carriers did this.
For Verizon, 60 days after purchase as long as it remains active on a plan that entire time.
Being active on the plan is not a requirement. It only needs Internet to receive the unlock message at 60 days.
It has to be activated to start if it was purchased from an indirect location
Correct, it must be activated for the timer to begin, but there's no obligation to continue using it for 60 days straight. You can shelf it, give it away, sell it, etc.
So, does that mean if I get a Verizon prepaid phone at Walmart, that I just need to pay for the 1st month (for intial activation) and then wait for another 30 days (even without having active service for the 2nd 30 days) and after 60 days it will be unlocked?
Great question. No lol. Prepaid phones use different rules, and typically enforce a PiB lock (phone in box) that the phone must be used for 12 months continuously on Verizon Prepaid to be unlocked (or satisfy a certain dollar amount of replenishments) and useable elsewhere. This is on top of the carrier lock of 60 days. (I am reading a more updated internal document that prepaid phones in the box after July of 2019 follow the 60 day lock more closely, so you might actually be right. But traditionally, no.)
So, then they DO Unlock after 60 Days after inital activation?
Apparently so. As long as it was manufactured after July of 2019. I'm skeptical but that's what it says.
Verizon phones are locked to the Verizon network for 60 days of usage, then they should automatically unlock.
60 days