iPhone Supposedly Gets Unlocked, AT&T Apparently Freaks Out
from the on-what-grounds dept
There were several reports last week that the operator lock on the iPhone had been broken, meaning that people might be able to use the device with service from a company other than AT&T. The first to emerge was from a New Jersey teenager, who came up with a complex method involving soldering and software; then two separate companies later said they had software-only unlocking methods. To be sure, these unlocking methods and services will only ever appeal to a small number of users, as most general consumers won't really care, or won't want to go to the trouble. With that in mind, it really doesn't seem like AT&T has much at stake financially, but that apparently hasn't stopped its lawyers from threatening one of the software providers. The company claims it got a call from a law firm representing the company, tossing around things like copyright infringement and "illegal software dissemination" in what appears to be an attempt at intimidating the company to keep them from releasing the software (particularly since the DMCA doesn't cover phone unlocking). It's worth reiterating that these are supposedly AT&T's lawyers, not Apple's -- but it's not clear what standing AT&T would have to sue, making this look like little more than a SLAPP situation. Apple's remained quiet on the matter, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the company close the loophole or re-lock the phones with one of its software updates, since it has a financial stake in iPhone buyers activating and using their phones on AT&T thanks to its revenue-sharing deal with the operator. Of course, it could take the more enlightened view that it doesn't want to frustrate and annoy the customers who would go to the trouble of unlocking their iPhones -- but if it were going to do that, it wouldn't have locked the device to AT&T in the first place.
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Filed Under: iphone, slapp, unlocking, wireless
Companies: apple, at&t
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Not like it does a lot of damage to AT&T anyway, since T-Mobile is the only other GSM carrier of note in the US.
The people who should really be worried are the TelCos in Europe and Asia, who are still negotiating exclusives on the iPhone in markets it hasn't launched yet. Their users now have a choice between a hacked iPhone now, and a locked one months or years down the road, which is going to hurt them a it more than this will AT&T.
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Same here, I could have sworn it was ruled that companies could not prevent phone unlocking for the purpose of service changes.
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If you signed a contract that says you are allowed to use the Phone Z on Network X for Y Years and you agreed to those terms, you're screwed. I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some sort of anti-circumvention clause in the contract, either.
Just sound random thoughts, since... er... I really don't give a rat's ass about the iStatusSymbolOfTheMoment. (I'm really interested in OpenMoko, tho... ko. =))
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Besides, I'm not 100% certain that you had to sign a contract to BUY the phone. I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure that those people who bought a ton of them to sell on ebay would have been left high and dry if that were the case.
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Hmmmm, maybe just a guess.
Perhaps, just maybe - some companies should spend resources on providing a better service. Rather than to sue those who would go to great lengths to avoid their service.
Actually - that says a lot right there - more than anything... Why are some so 'dedicated' to using another service?
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Maybe the AT&T service has horrible quality in their area or not at all.
I can't even get the iPhone in the state I live in because we don't have AT&T. I would purchase a hacked iPhone just so I would have the opportunity to use it!
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Locked to AT&T?
'Course, the fact that AT&T and T-Mobile don't share all of the same GSM bands has little to do with it. Or that Verizon and Sprint use CDMA, which means the iPhone can't be used there either. Which means that a software lock is actually a bit superfluous, since from a hardware standpoint the phone can't be used effectively with anyone else in the US.
And has it been approved for sale in the EU? Passed their version of the FCC?
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Re: Locked to AT&T?
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re: locked to at&t
The iPhone is quad band, so it covers 850,900,1800, and 1900. It WILL work with T-Mobile, and it WILL work overseas if it's unlocked.
If you've the engadget.com video, you'll see them actually make a call after unlocking with a T-Mobile prepaid SIM.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html
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In any case, iPhonesimfree.com was the first to report and actually demonstrate/prove that they have a working software only solution. They have made no mention of being called by Apple or AT&T lawyers. Uniquephones has never proven to have a working method of unlocking the iPhone, they were not the first to report to have a software only unlock, and yet they receive the call from lawyers. I don't buy it. I call BS on Uniquephones.
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Seconded
I have NEVER gotten good service from Att...or Sprint for that matter. As far as using a hacked Utool in Europe...yes they work. legal?...no. But who cares?
If you really want to play with toys a little thing like the law won't stop you.
Hence the German and Dutch hackers having so much fun
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I second the interest in the OpenMoko project. Essentially the same as an iphone but, get this, totally open source and 200 bucks cheaper. I never understood the desire of people to pay obsene amounts of money for a name.
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Termination Fees
A nice $200 check from people who *don't even want to be your customer* isn't such a bad business.
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If you really want to play with toys a little thing like the law won't stop you.
Hence the German and Dutch hackers having so much fun
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