Its not a phone lock, its a brand lock (Score 1)

The lock-in to a particular network certainly isn't new, nor is limiting the phones connection to a single network, it is just alot more noticeable to consumer. If you missed on on the Nokia NXX as it was only available on a competing network, partly because you knew the NXX+1 would be available within months (In keeping with the fast pace of the mobile phone industry). Now, if you can't get the iPhone, you know you wont have it for several years. This is like Sony Ericsson limiting its phones to Verizon. This is what is mostly new. Its a low volume, high profit approach, sound familiar for Apple? Its not the features of functionality of the iPhone that the networks are opening up their networks for, they are simply trying to replicate another phone that people actually get excited about. Oh, and one more thing, the best trend that Apple has hopefully brought to the market is to not let the carrier bastardize its UI with logos and links to its online services.