Bell to Stock Carrier-Locked Phones in Retail Stores, Will Unlock During Activation Process

Bell will begin stocking carrier-locked smartphones in their retail locations and they will unlock the devices during the activation process.Internal documents obtained by MobileSyrup sites fraudulent activity and theft as the primary reason to only keep carrier-locked phones at their physical retail stores.

“Multiple robberies at stores selling smartphones, including Bell retail locations. In addition, going forward and also applying retroactively, fraudulent/stolen devices have also been locked and will continue to be locked rendering them unusable on any network globally.”

In a document submission to the CRTC, Bell referenced “multiple instances of armed robberies at retail locations.” Unlocked devices are very easily exportable and resellable by thieves across the world in black markets.