Will Apple sell an unlocked 3G iPhone?

[adseguy]

Originally Posted by Youngbinks

I wonder how long it will take to unlock the new iPhone once it's released. You'd think that after the latest firmwares have been unlocked with relative ease Apple would step it up even more to make sure it remains locked.

the 2.0 software IS going to be the software for the new phone IF it comes out very soon after the SDK. We have already seen the chipset it's going to use in that software.

Come on guys. I see some of you on the boards all the time. It's pretty much a done deal. Another 2 year ATT lock and the phone will pretty much be the same with a few hardware tweaks here and there. Absolutely no unlocked version will be sold due to the ATT agreement for the next 4 years..

[patrickj]

Originally Posted by adseguy

the 2.0 software IS going to be the software for the new phone IF it comes out very soon after the SDK. We have already seen the chipset it's going to use in that software.

Come on guys. I see some of you on the boards all the time. It's pretty much a done deal. Another 2 year ATT lock and the phone will pretty much be the same with a few hardware tweaks here and there. Absolutely no unlocked version will be sold due to the ATT agreement for the next 4 years..

Did you glance at any of the posts above yours? I don't think anyone has said they expect to see it sold unlocked in the US. The poll / discussion is mostly about whether it will be sold unlocked in other countries, where there are no carrier agreements in place ...

[themanofthedark]

its pretty safe to say that very few people in Russia will do a contract type thing.

prepaid plans are the way to go for Russia, thats how they do it.

[jslappa]

I think the writing on the wall is pretty clear here.

1. At least the first 200,000 May production iPhones will be 2.0 FW
2. Phones will still be locked to AT&T here in the US
3. Regionally unlocked abroad where consumers demand such

Historically, it has been relatively easy for Apple to keep a tight seal on new hardware. Heck, it wasn't uncommon for knowledgeable "geeks" to buy a Mackbook when a new model released days later. As Apple's products gain market share, it will become exponentially more difficult to keep testers and suppliers from spilling the beans on new products and software. It's also clear that the FCC has roughly a 5-week turnaround (at least) from the time patents show up on their site to the time those products reach the market. Some companies don't have as efficient of a supply chain as Apple, so many take longer.

With Italian sources claiming a late June release for the 3G iPhone, we should realistically see FCC documents sometime between now and May 21st. While the FCC affords companies the right to have their proprietary data shielded from the public, the majority of new product info will be posted online.

After Ebay'ing my iPhone 2 weeks ago, I can't even stomach surfing the web on my Nokia N95. Other than taking 5mpxl pics and shooting video, I just use it for calls. Man, I miss that 3.5 glossy touch UI! Hurry up with that new iPhone, already.

[Youngbinks]

Originally Posted by adseguy

the 2.0 software IS going to be the software for the new phone IF it comes out very soon after the SDK. We have already seen the chipset it's going to use in that software.

Come on guys. I see some of you on the boards all the time. It's pretty much a done deal. Another 2 year ATT lock and the phone will pretty much be the same with a few hardware tweaks here and there. Absolutely no unlocked version will be sold due to the ATT agreement for the next 4 years..

I know full well that Apple isn't going to SELL an unlocked phone, I was referring to how long it might take hackers to get the new FW unlocked. After iDay it took that kid 500 hours to get the phone unlocked and with 1.1.3 and 1.1.4 the FW was unlocked in practically no time at all. My question was wether the new FW would be immensely more difficult to unlock than the recent releases.

[Hayesimus]

i Doubt it. Now that people know what they are doing.

[themanofthedark]

I repeat this.

iPhone 2.0 will come with iPhone firmware 2.0 which has already been unlocked.

[jslappa]

themanofthedark

iPhone 2.0 or 1.2 (whatever) have been unlocked, but only on BL 4.6 and/pr 3.9. We have to assume that Apple will have a new bootloader or the next iPhone. So, while your logic is good, you have not taken into account the possibility of a new bootloader.