As part of a proposed settlement of a 2006 class action suit, Sprint Nextel has agreed to let customers unlock their phones so they are usable with other wireless networks. The settlement has the potential to greatly impact cell phone customers, especially those making similar claims in pending suits against T-Mobile, AT&T and Apple.

Under the settlement, which has been tentatively approved, Reston, Va.-based Sprint Nextel will provide customers leaving for other carriers with the code necessary to unlock their phones' software.

Sprint Nextel proposed the deal to settle the class action filed last year in California, in which customers claimed the locking of phones–which prevents use of the phone with any phone carrier other than Sprint Nextel–was an anticompetitive practice. Under the policy of keeping phones locked, customers were forced to buy a new phone to use with a new carrier.

The settlement currently is awaiting final approval by a judge for a California Superior Court. If approved, the settlement will affect customers who bought a Sprint phone between Aug. 28, 1999, and July 16, 2007.

The unlocked phones will be able to work on networks using the CDMA (code division multiple access) technology, which include Verizon Wireless and Alltel Corp. The phones will not work on GSM networks such as those of AT&T and T-Mobile. The codes will not apply to Nextel-branded Sprint phones, which use a different technology.

As part of a proposed settlement of a 2006 class action suit, Sprint Nextel has agreed to let customers unlock their phones so they are usable with other wireless networks. The settlement has the potential to greatly impact cell phone customers, especially those making similar claims in pending suits against T-Mobile, AT&T and Apple.

Under the settlement, which has been tentatively approved, Reston, Va.-based Sprint Nextel will provide customers leaving for other carriers with the code necessary to unlock their phones' software.

Sprint Nextel proposed the deal to settle the class action filed last year in California, in which customers claimed the locking of phones–which prevents use of the phone with any phone carrier other than Sprint Nextel–was an anticompetitive practice. Under the policy of keeping phones locked, customers were forced to buy a new phone to use with a new carrier.

The settlement currently is awaiting final approval by a judge for a California Superior Court. If approved, the settlement will affect customers who bought a Sprint phone between Aug. 28, 1999, and July 16, 2007.

The unlocked phones will be able to work on networks using the CDMA (code division multiple access) technology, which include Verizon Wireless and Alltel Corp. The phones will not work on GSM networks such as those of AT&T and T-Mobile. The codes will not apply to Nextel-branded Sprint phones, which use a different technology.