NTT DOCOMO, announced that customers may request to have the SIM lock capability removed in principle from any DOCOMO wireless device newly marketed on or after April 1, 2011.

The decision reflects DOCOMO’s desire to meet the needs of customers who want to use unlocked wireless devices on other operators’ mobile networks, by simply switching SIM cards, such as using a DOCOMO handset as a local device overseas.

To have SIM lock removed, the customer must take their device to any docomo Shop in Japan and sign a waiver acknowledging that certain services and features of the device and network might be disabled when another operator’s SIM card is used. The unlocking fee is 3,150 yen (€25,-).

Also from April 1, DOCOMO SIM cards (“FOMA™ cards”) and micro SIM cards (“docomo mini UIM cards”) will become available on a subscription basis for people who wish to use a non-DOCOMO device on the DOCOMO mobile network or a different SIM card in their DOCOMO device.