AT&T has taken the fight to iPhone unlocking-for-profit.
Press release via iPhone Unlocking:
iphoneunlocking.com, a subsidiary of UniquePhones (http://www.uniquephones.com). was poised and ready to release remote software unlocking services for the iphone today at 12 noon EST. The sale of unlocking codes is on hold after the company received a telephone call from a Menlo Park, California, law firm at approximately 2:54 a.m. this morning (GMT).
After saying they were phoning on behalf of AT&T, the law firm presented issues such as copyright infringement and illegal software dissemination. Uniquephones is taking legal advice to ascertain whether AT&T was sending a warning shot or directly threatening legal action. The logistics of different continents as well as it being a weekend factors into how the situation develops.
Until an assessment is made of the potential of legal action, Uniquephones is unable to release the unlocking software for sale. The company spokesperson also said that the company would also be evaluating what to eventually do with the software should they be legally denied the right to sell it. A substantial delay caused by any legal action would render the unlocking software a less valuable commodity as well as creating unforeseen security issues for the company.
Source:http://blog.iphoneunlocking.com/?p=15
In the event that they are denied release, all they have to do is “accidentally” upload a torrent (and say it was a Windows virus that caused the accidental upload) of the software to the Green Demon, or the Bay of Pirates, and voila…the entire world could have it now no matter how hard AT&T and it’s band of lawyers try to stop otherwise.
It’s as simple as that. Ofcourse, the monetary gains would be tarnished…but still, the world will know that infamous group who unlocked one of the greatest devices in history. That’s all you need as a motive.
As I said before, I think that making things “open source” is far far better than being so rude as to try and sell this kind of software. I say “Good for them; they are getting what they deserve!” They just end up screwing it up for everyone.
I would imagine that AT&T AND Apple will threaten T-Mobile also for letting anyone use their service with iPhones. Nice hack, but utterly useless waste of time.
Why should Apple care if someone hacks the iPhone so it’ll work on any network. More sales for Apple, isn’t it? Especially in areas where AT&T service is spotty, or people simply prefer another type of network.
If it involves a software hack, only a small percentage of home-brew types will do it anyway. I think Apple should stay out of THIS fight…
QUOTE: “In the event that they are denied release, all they have to do is “accidentally” upload a torrent (and say it was a Windows virus that caused the accidental upload) of the software to the Green Demon, or the Bay of Pirates, and voila…the entire world could have it now no matter how hard AT&T and it’s band of lawyers try to stop otherwise.
It’s as simple as that. Ofcourse, the monetary gains would be tarnished…but still, the world will know that infamous group who unlocked one of the greatest devices in history. That’s all you need as a motive.
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Yup, and they’ll find themselves under a lawsuit from AT&T *and* Apple legal so fast it’ll make their heads spin. No one is going to be fooled by the “it was an accident” excuse.
Yup, as simple as that.
Meanwhile, if Apple doesn’t already have it, they are working on and will successfully deploy their own bit of software that will absolutely BRICK anyone’s iPhone that has been hacked. I guarantee you, Apple anticipated this and they will not be outsmarted by these whiny loser “everything ought to be open source” shit wits.
I’m not going to be paying $600 for a device and then subject it to all sorts of potentially damaging and counter-productive hacking and other forms of messing around.
For what? Just to replace AT&T with someone else who is probably offering the same quality of service when everything is balanced out? On top of that, the New Jersey kid lost the visual e-mail feature – one of the strongest reasons to buy the iPhone in the first place.
No, thank you. Champions of “consumer freedom” can fork out their own $600 and go crazy!
Apple and AT&T have a business relationship that they must, with a capital M, guard zealously. End of story.
I am more annoyed someone would try to sell such software. that is just stupid in alll sorts of ways. a hack that is knowingly bypasses someone else’s contract is going to be fought. Software like that should be opened up for all. As it is the only way to dodge legal responsibilities. and even then it is uncertain.
While this is probably not even illegal, and there is therefore no reason for discussion, any consumer who is in favor of locked and limited hardware should go buy some M$ stock
An unlocked iPhone won’t work on “ANY” network.
Even unlocked; in the United States; it will only work on TMobile (and AT&T, of course).
An unlocked iPhone CANNOT work with Verizon or Sprint.
Their networks are not GSM; the iPhone hardware is incompatible with non-GSM networks, even if the iPhone is unlocked. Anyone who thinks otherwise is in for an unpleasant surprise. (Among what would be many others, such as losing Visual Voicemail; having to pay more for TMobile rate plans; and an ensuing list of other iPhone features, that are presumably tied to data services specifically over AT&Ts; network, which would no longer work).
All of the mainstream published news reports seem to be conveniently ignoring this. What reason would there be for unlocking an iPhone for use in the United States?
If you want to learn how the game works watch Apple. They don’t preannounce products prematurely (except when loose bureaucratic lips will leak as per iPhone), Apple says we have some great things to share with you, TODAY.
Or maybe this was a set-up anyway.
Europe will be different anyways, their laws, less corporate control of law and politics etc will mitigate some of this legal shit. DCMA = don’t come messing about.
Hint to the hackers (not crackers), find someone to front it, someone who has nothing to lose, offer 10% – and be honorable. Let at&t sue him for all he has = nothing.
Sorry it would be too voluminous to share with you what Apple is at, and most get bored less than half way through.
Land of the fee, home of the knave …. etc.
Cryptic? Hope so, pass through information > knowledge > understanding.
Have a great day
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At least AT&T is picking up the legal costs on this one.
> A substantial delay caused by any legal action would render the unlocking software a less valuable commodity as well as creating unforeseen security issues for the company.
Because Apple will defeat the hack with a software update by that time.
I’ve been with Verizon – great reception; now with AT&T for one year – terrible reception, and MANY dropped calls in spite of their ads.
I have decided to not buy an iPhone until America goes the way of Europe and allows you to use whatever phone you want with any service you want (at least I think it works that was in Europe). In other words, unlocked phones. This is one stupid system we have here!
MDN Magic Word: “figures”, as in, “It figures… we are getting screwed by cell companies”.
@DaveM
Absolutely agree! The only reason for a hack is to be able to brag that you hacked the iPhone.
^^^MikeR said it all right there, no need for more whiny posts^^^
ditto mikeR
why would anyone spend money on this phone just to hack it AND then have Apple brick it in a months time with a nullifying of the workaround
This sounds like a marketing ploy.
Step one:
“We are going to release software that will break your exclusive phone…” *waits for a reaction*
Step two:
“Well we invested substancial amount of money into this project and expected a hundred billlion dollar return within the first year” *waits for the volly to be returned*
Step three:
“Oh yes we will gladly accept your generous offer of 10 million dollars in compensation, the hack is yours. Good day sirs.”
*dances a jig*
Apple’s setting the Venus FLY trap.
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BIG surprise when folks de-HOOk their iPhone and try and re-sync with all the Apple goodies coming down the road can someone say .. video capture?
voice recording?
3g?
Folks that mod or mess around with the Iphone .. don’t you think Apple BEFORE the thing was invented even contemplated this scenerio? phone unlocked .. 3rd party app’s flowing left then right?
Don’t you think they at least PLANNED for that?
Either way .. unlock or toy or mod your iPhone .. I think .. expect major consequences down the line. Apple’s not stupid. They made the thing in the first place so .. stupid is as stupid does.
Once the dust has settled they’re going to pull off a sync manuever bigger than the iPhone release itself.
imon, I couldn’t agree more.
Surely, you knew this was what would happen — AT&T defending its turf. Apple had to know that such a crack would occur and I am sure they have responses in mind. All they need to do is regularly break the crack with new software to make going with cracked iPhones a choice involving periodic uselessness for owners of pirate iPhones.
But in the end, perhaps years out, the only solution is to untie the handset from exclusive use by one carrier. The whole mobile phone business model is going to change forever. But for now there will be war.
Apple has been going down this road of exclusive one track stuff, such as iChat etc. for some time, not good!
What happened to the computer “for the rest of us”… now more like for the few of us!
Where I live, I can get TMobile, but not AT&T. Any hack that works will be real tempting, unless AT&T moves their a$$es here.
You’re missing the point… Their real potential customers are NOT folks who will pay $ to use the iPhone on T-Mobile in the US, (despite the risk of software updates blocking the hack and losing visual voicemail functionality). Who would be crazy enough to do that ?
Most of their customers would be non-US users who want the iPhone so bad they can’t wait for it to arrive in Asia, Europe, Canada… very few can afford the AT&T roaming fees for daily use abroad, so unlocking is the only option !
A friend of mine from Toronto bought the iPhone in Buffalo when it came out. Roaming is incredibly expensive so for now he only uses it for Music, Movies and Wifi. He has another phone (with Rogers) in his other pocket.
When the hack becomes available, he won’t think twice. He’ll just swap the SIM and get rid of the old phone.
except for US residents experiencing poor AT&T reception in their area, agreed.
Can someone explain please (I don’t know the answer as I don’t personally own an iPhone and haven’t read the contract):
Unless the contract with AT&T specifies that AT&T owns the iPhone, or part of its value, till the end of the contract, then the person buying the iPhone owns it. Right?
If that is the case, an iPhone owner should have the right to do with it what they wish, and that includes unlocking it.
Furthermore, if the person who just bought the iPhone never signed such a contract with AT&T, then there is no legal case to start with.
Should this company sell unlocking software, it seems to me that it would be doing something perfectly legal. In fact, such software has been around for all other handsets for quite sometime now. However, some contracts specify co-ownership of the handset for the duration of the contract. On the other hand, pay-as-you-go usage does not, and the phone is yours to do what you will.
and say it was a Windows virus that caused the accidental upload
…or just accidentally leave it on a stock, unsecured Windows PC with a broadband connection. For good measure, use the same PC to talk about it online (gotta love those key loggers).
The rest will take care of itself.