Samsung now region-locking phones; stops you using local SIM cards when you travel

[LiLmEgZ]

Region-locking has long been the scourge of the tech industry for consumers. For those who don’t pirate content and who don’t steal devices – choosing instead to pay their hard-earned money to purchase what they want – it’s something of a kick in the teeth to be told that you can’t then use that device or watch that content that you’ve paid for, thanks to decisions made by manufacturers and rights holders that are largely designed to prevent you from saving a buck or two on your purchase.

More than a kick in the teeth, in fact, it has long been a middle finger from companies to the consumer that’s honest enough to pay for what he or she wants.

So it’s a particularly unwelcome development that Samsung has chosen to begin region-locking its smartphone range. The news, picked up by GigaOM, was first noted by British device retailer Clove, which posted details of “SIM limitations” on Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 3 on its blog.

If you travel internationally (outside Europe) and usually insert a local SIM card when in those countries, the Note 3 will NOT be able to use the local network. It will lose all mobile connectivity with the exception of emergency calls.”

[gren]

Is this for upcoming phones like note3 etc., or the existing one too?(as i have to sell my Samsung mobile b4 its too late)

[mara-]

Pathetic move. I would never buy a phone with this limitation. Let's hope other manufacturers won't start with this.

Cheers ;)

[LiLmEgZ]

Pathetic move. I would never buy a phone with this limitation. Let's hope other manufacturers won't start with this.

Cheers ;)