Offical iPhone Software Carrier Unlock Discussion

[wildonrio]

Originally Posted by chris

Doesn't Apple get a slice of each iPlan? I wouldn't be so sure the halls of Cupertino are filled with smiles today.

Yes they do get a slice, I forgot about that. But I'm sure they'll make their money back with all the T-Mobile customers they will make now.

I find it interesting that AT&T lets iPhone buyers take the iPhone home without signing a two year contract! Now T-Mobile people can just walk in, buy the iPhone, go home, hack it to pieces and then use it for the same price an AT&T customer would pay.

If AT&T were smart, they would make all iPhone buyers sign a contract before leaving the store with the iPhone, you know?

[chris]

Originally Posted by wildonrio

Yes they do get a slice, I forgot about that. But I'm sure they'll make their money back with all the T-Mobile customers they will make now.

I find it interesting that AT&T lets iPhone buyers take the iPhone home without signing a two year contract! Now T-Mobile people can just walk in, buy the iPhone, go home, hack it to pieces and then use it for the same price an AT&T customer would pay.

If AT&T were smart, they would make all iPhone buyers sign a contract before leaving the store with the iPhone, you know?

You have a very good point. A shift in business practices would solve their problems. Then again, for the Apple Store that would be a major shift in their way of doing business.

[wildonrio]

Does this mean that if you use it on T-Mobile that you don't need to sign a two year contract? Does this mean that if we all would have waited, we could have taken our iPhones home, not signed a contract with AT&T, and then just used it with T-Mobile on a month to month basis?

[chris]

Let's not forget there will be a hefty price tag on this unlock software. Personally, I have no interest in using T-Mobile. The bigger picture is how it affects users outside the US. How many people outside of the US have been clamoring for the iPhone. That's a pretty big market. I'm curious to see if Apple takes any legal steps against the company selling the solution.

[adseguy]

Here's a question for everyone then. if you read the process it's not too easy, but i can do this on the weekends for some extra cash. How much do you think people are willing to buy an unlocked phone for?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Worlds-Second-Un...QQcmdZViewItem

That kind of trend on e-bay won't happen, but if i can profit $150-$200 out of it, then I'm all in for doing this for people. What do you guys think?

[adseguy]

That's right you can now use your iPhone with any GSM and SIM compatible network. For the majority of us this means we can use T-mobile as the only other option, but for the rest of the world, they can get on the iPhone wagon now.

Details:

http://www.iphonesimfree.com/

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/i...ugust-24-2007/

[lymn]

Seriously, who charges for hacks -- AT&T is going to come at them with some crazy DMCA legal power? Disgraceful members of the sub-ethical community.

Real hackers do it because they know information wants to be free...

[chris]

Originally Posted by lymn

Seriously, who charges for hacks -- AT&T is going to come at them with some crazy DMCA legal power? Disgraceful members of the sub-ethical community.

Real hackers do it because they know information wants to be free...

Well said. I enjoyed the blog of Geohot who said he was off to college to become a brain surgeon so he could "hack the brain".

[adseguy]

I'm sorry you didn't know that this was going to be the eventual outcome from an unlock. to be honest most thought this day would come sooner. Heck we're still waiting for a somewhat released SDK for hackers.

the only problem is that T-Mobile is really the only other GSM carrier for America and then you'd have to pay a higher cost to get the unlimited data.

[chris]

<------Let's try and keep the bulk of the unlock discussion in this thread. At least for a little while.------->