[TylerE]

But there is nothing inherent in offering cell phone service as far as locking phones. That's a totally separate issue. I assure you that you could buy an unlocked phone (at full retail) and use it on a network of your choice with an appropriate SIM card.

You just don't get the telco to pay for 2/3rds of your phone when you do that.

[schrodinger]

They pay 2/3 of the phone for your contract, which has nothing to do with locking or you using someone else's sim card.