Being unfamiliar with the business landscape in Germany and the rest of Europe, it’s tough to comment on what this could mean in the long haul. In America, we’d be afraid that this would set a precedent. Thankfully, in California we’ve seen the opposite decision — that locking phones might not be fair practice, for at least as long as the contract runs. The concern, it seems, wasn’t the locking of the phone, but rather the enormous cost that comes with the two-year commitment. That’s 1,176 euros, the rough equivalent of $1,734, just for the two years of service. In the U.S., the minimum iPhone charge over two years comes in just slightly below that. Whatever the ultimate outcome, we really hope it doesn’t lead to a widespread practice of locked phones in Europe. [Washington Post]]]>
