The black art of unlocking

Two floors up from a small central London dealership, four people sit at long desks in a cramped, damp room. They are surrounded by boxes, cables and PC monitors.

This is the nerve centre of a leading exponent of the mobile industrys black art, unlocking; a shadowy and misunderstood trade that is frowned upon by the networks and manufacturers but which is keeping many small dealers afloat.

Our man, in sandals and baggy shirt, comes highly recommended. If you want to know about unlocking, this is the guy to speak to. He is the best around, a source says.

Such is the clandestine nature of the business of unlocking and the twitchiness of its practitioners that most of the people Mobile News speaks with about the matter prefer to remain anonymous.

Our man, called K for the purposes of this article, is equally cautious. In the end, we pose as a Kent-based dealer that is looking to set up an unlocking business, and K opens up immediately, even offering to train us.

For the full story see the latest edition of Mobile News.