Spring Nextel Agrees to Unlock Phones

Court Alerts

Wireless subscribers of Sprint Nextel Corp. may no longer have to buy a new phone if they jump to a new carrier.

As part of a proposed class-action settlement, the Reston, Va.-based provider, with operational headquarters in Overland Park, Kan., has agreed to provide departing Sprint PCS customers with the code necessary to unlock their phones' software.

That would allow the phones to operate on any network using code division multiple access technology, or CDMA. Competitors using that technology include Verizon Wireless and Alltel Corp., although the Sprint handset would still have to meet those networks' technical standards to work.

The codes won't work for Sprint's Nextel-branded phones, which use iDEN technology, and don't allow switching to AT&T or T-Mobile, which use global system for mobile communication, or GSM, technology.

Sprint made the offer as part of the proposed settlement of a California class-action lawsuit, filed last year, accusing the company of anticompetitive practices.

The plaintiffs claimed the software "lock" forced customers wanting to switch carriers to have to buy a new phone, throwing up a barrier to competition. A similar lawsuit was filed in Palm Beach County, Fla., and is covered by the proposed settlement.

On Oct. 2, an Alameda County Superior Court judge gave the settlement his preliminary approval. A final approval hearing hasn't yet been scheduled, said Sprint Nextel spokesman Matt Sullivan.

"We believe this settlement is fair and reasonable," Sullivan said, adding that the company denies wrongdoing and settled the suit "so we can continue to focus on our business."

Sprint doesn't expect to pay any financial damages as part of the settlement, other than possible legal fees, Sullivan said.

Sprint said it will share the unlocking code with all current and former subscribers once their phones are deactivated and their bills are paid. The company also will add information about the locking software and how to obtain the unlocking codes in the list of terms and conditions of service given to new customers, and instruct its customer service representatives on how to connect a non-Sprint phone to the Sprint network.

The settlement covers customers who bought a Sprint phone between Aug. 28, 1999, and July 16, 2007.

Related listings

  • Court: Free Teen Jailed for Consensual Sex

    Court: Free Teen Jailed for Consensual Sex

    Court Alerts 10/26/2007

    [##_1L|1328631439.jpg|width="130" height="90" alt=""|_##]Georgia's Supreme Court on Friday ordered the release of a young man who has been imprisoned for more than two years for having consensual oral sex with another teenager. The court ruled 4-3 th...

  • America's Cup challenge hits court

    America's Cup challenge hits court

    Court Alerts 10/25/2007

    [##_1L|1127116541.jpg|width="131" height="91" alt=""|_##]A New York Supreme Court judge has heard arguments about whether Alinghi, the Swiss team that holds the America's Cup, must meet America's BMW-Oracle 10 months from now in a race between giant ...

  • Ex-city worker pleads guilty to stealing NYC 9/11 funds

    Ex-city worker pleads guilty to stealing NYC 9/11 funds

    Court Alerts 10/24/2007

    [##_1L|1020223308.jpg|width="120" height="88" alt=""|_##]A former New York City worker has pleaded guilty to defrauding the medical examiner's office of millions of dollars in federal aid sent to the city after the 2001 attacks. Rosa Abreu faces a ma...

New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.

Business News

404 Not Found

404

Not Found

The resource requested could not be found on this server!