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Sprint to require locked SIM cards on iPhone 4S units starting today

You might not be crazy about this.

Per SprintFeed, new iPhone 4S users on Sprint will have the SIM card locked from Friday, November 11 onwards, a last-minute leak uncovered. The activation process from here onwards will require that customers at least initially use a Sprint SIM when traveling abroad. Sprint’s memo allows for an unlock through the Worldwide team, although it didn’t reaffirm whether this was possible for free following the 60-day window mentioned earlier.

Existing subscribers whose iPhones were already activated before November 11 should still keep their unlocked SIM slots and have the freedom right away to use a GSM carrier’s SIM.

The move adds a restriction and, during the period that the SIM card is locked, will make customers pay more than they have to for roaming. If a temporary lock, however, it’s most likely to prevent customers from exploiting Sprint to buy an unlocked phone, cancel service, and promptly go to another carrier or another country with a fully functioning GSM device.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.