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This is misleading. Carriers can impose restrictions on paid off phones like being subscribed to them for x months. My phone unlocked after 6 months.

It is only free and instant if you are in the military.

Well yeah. The carrier's job is not to sell devices. It's to sell the services that they provide. If you don't want that, you have to buy unlocked from the manufacturer and finance another way.

I wouldn't call it misleading at all. The terms are laid out that you have to subscribe. Carriers won't sell you a phone outright in their stores without it being activated on a new account. Believe me I've asked.

Aren't there more than 3 carriers?

Then why are Verizon Pixels unusable with other carriers?

Where'd you hear that?

Verizon Pixels have issues with BOOTLOADER unlocks. Not carrier unlocks. In fact, Verizon is legally obligated to unlock their devices even regardless of installment plan financing due to rules the FCC has in place on their wireless spectrum.