US phone unlocking deadline set to expire

Many Americans unlocked a phone to switch
network or to cut costs when abroad

From Saturday, Americans will have to get permission to "unlock" their smartphone so it runs on more than one mobile network.

On that date a 90-day time limit that made it legal to unlock phones without permission is due to expire.

Many Americans unlocked their phones to avoid running up big bills when travelling outside the US.

An online petition has been started asking for unlocking without permission to be made permanently legal.