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Handset Locking Strategies

Handset locks have been available to mobile operators for several years. However, there are inconsistencies in the way in which they have been deployed between markets, within markets and across international mobile operator groups. The current report describes the wide diversity of handset lock strategies found across 31 operators in eight European markets. It poses and addresses the following questions in order to provide insights into best practices in the deployment of handset locks:

1. Operator Policies - What are operator motivations for the use handset locks and how/when are the different types of handset lock applied?
2. What are customer motivations when requesting a SIM lock removal?
3. What influences the level of charge an operator can apply for the removal of a handset lock?
4. What Risks and Rewards are associated with low/high charges for unlocking handsets?
5. What are the limitations of Handset locks and how should this impact on Operator strategies?

Price: EUR 2,500.00 / GBP 2,000.00

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Table of Contents


1
Overview
1
2
Background
2
2.1
What is Handset Locking?
2
2.2
Technical Issues & Standards
2
2.3
Handset Locking Categories
3
2.4
The Handset Locking Process
4
3
Operator Handset Lock Policies
6
3.1
Austria
6
3.1.1
Mobilkom A1
6
3.1.2
T-Mobile
6
3.1.3
Telering
6
3.1.4
ONE
6
3.1.5
Hutchison 3
7
3.2
France
7
3.2.1
SFR
7
3.2.2
Orange
7
3.2.3
Bouygues Telecom
7
3.3
Germany
7
3.3.1
T-Mobile
7
3.3.2
Vodafone
7
3.3.3
O2
8
3.3.4
E-Plus
8
3.4
Ireland
8
3.4.1
Vodafone
8
3.4.2
O2
8
3.4.3
Meteor
9
3.4.4
Hutchison 3
9
3.5
Italy
9
3.5.1
Hutchison 3
9
3.6
Spain
10
3.6.1
TME & Vodafone
10
3.7
Switzerland
10
3.7.1
Swisscom Mobile & Orange
10
3.7.2
Sunrise
11
3.8
UK
11
3.8.1
Orange
11
3.8.2
O2
11
3.8.3
Virgin
11
3.8.4
Vodafone
11
3.8.5
T-Mobile
12
3.8.6
Hutchison 3
12
3.9
Policy Comparisons
13
4
Strategic Considerations when Establishing a Handset Lock Policy
15
4.1
Customer Motivations for Lock Removal
15
4.2
Consideration of a No Lock Policy
16
4.3
Influences on Unlock Charges
17
4.3.1
Competitor Policies
17
4.3.2
Regulator Intervention
18
4.3.3
Operator Strategy
18
4.4
Risks/ Rewards of High & Low Unlock Charges
19
4.4.1
High Unlock Charges
19
4.4.2
Low Unlock Charges
19
4.5
Limitations of Handset Locks and how this should impact on Operator Strategies
20
5
Recommendations for Operators
21