The following is verbatim from the ActForChange website:
Tell Steve Jobs: Unlock the iPhone!
On Friday June 29, Apple will release the iPhone, with 3 million units available — seemingly more than enough to match the endless hype. However, if you want to purchase one, you’ll be stuck using it on AT&T. It doesn’t matter that the iPhone could work on other networks — Apple refuses to let that happen.
The iPhone uses technology (known as GSM) that should allow it to work on other wireless networks, including overseas. But Apple has configured the iPhone so you’re forced to use it on AT&T. An iPhone purchased in the U.S. will only work on the AT&T network, regardless of what SIM card is placed in it — it cannot be taken to another GSM network such as T-Mobile.
So, if you’re interested in an iPhone but are turned off by AT&T’s corporate policies — such as turning consumers’ information over to the National Security Agency without warrants, their efforts to wipe out net neutrality, or the close-to-100% Republican giving of their new chairman — you’re out of luck.
It is in fact perfectly legal, according to a recent decision from the U.S. Register of Copyrights, for American consumers to unlock their phones for use on whatever network they would like. Apple is trying to take away that right by locking the iPhone to AT&T’s network.
Sign this petition and add your name to the list of Americans calling on Steve Jobs, the President of Apple, to make the iPhone unlockable so that consumers can use it on networks other than AT&T. Then, forward the petition link on to some friends — let’s all remind Steve Jobs that the reason he’s in business is because of us.
Send this petition to:
Steve Jobs
We, like many other Americans, are anticipating the release of the iPhones. However, we, like many other Americans, will NOT be purchasing an iPhone when they arrive. We choose NOT to use the iPhone because it is ‘locked’ for use only on the AT&T wireless networks.
Having to sign a contract is one thing; stopping the iPhone from being unlocked is quite another. In December of 2006, the U.S. Register of Copyrights gave the legal OK to unlocking phones for use on other networks. This means we as consumers should be able to purchase a wireless phone, and if the network provider does not provide satisfactory service, we have the right to unlock that wireless phone to use on other wireless networks.
As one of the leading consumer electronics companies, I hope that Apple will use its influence to set an example and open up the wireless market. If Apple leads, we can all benefit.
We call upon you to respect our rights and publicly announce that you will allow the iPhone to be unlocked for use on other networks. I hope you agree that this will only allow you to sell more iPhones, and let EVERYONE enjoy the technology your company has developed.
Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]
http://actforchange.workingassets.com/campaign/iphone/
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Mike K” for the heads up.]
According to Wikipedia, “ActForChange is a progressive online activism site run by Working Assets that allows individuals to speak out on urgent issues to elected officials and other targeted decision-makers… Working Assets is also an “American [wireless] and long distance phone service and credit card company founded in 1985 and based in San Francisco, California.” More info here.
The free pub is coming not just from the left, but from every direction! Apple’s publicity people are harvesting the mother of all bumper crops!
Damn Hippies !!!
In other iPhone “news”, ZDNet is reporting “Apple will announce this week — possibly as soon as June 27 — that it has licensed the (Microsoft) Exchange ActiveSync licensing protocol.”
There’s no such thing as bad publicity.
Apple will never unlock the phone, until perhaps all other carriers can change their networks to support the features of the iPhone: specifically the Visual Voice-Mail.
One wonders what is involved in supporting Visual Voice-Mail and if it involves an open standard that other carriers/networks can adopt.
Wouldn’t it be great to have Visual Voice Mail available on your land line too via a future Apple device?
They have good points. I understand Apple had to give AT&T something in exchange for all the concessions they made but people aren’t off-base to be concerned about AT&T’s business practices.
Oh my gawd: “. . . or the close-to-100% Republican giving of their new chairman”!
That’s damned near un-American, except for American media elite, of course, who give only 87.5+% to the Democrat party. OR our beloved Apple, Inc. who are almost 99.9% AlGore-based.
Exclusivity is undeniably evil, unless it supports what WE believe in, eh, ActForChange? (Oh, the humanity–AND the hypocrisy.)
At the moment, this is about as urgent to me as what I’m going to have for dinner.
You know, all this “unlock the phone” tripe really irks me. Do they realize that there is significant change behind this item? Do they think that all of the nifty software goodness and light that they’re so dazzled with is just the Apple coding geniuses?
There are sure to be major changes required by the carrier to make things (like Visual Voicemail, the only obvious example) possible and useful.
Try to plug into Verizon, and the phone will choke – some major features will surely die. Tech != magic!
Why does OSX run only on Macs? Control the whole experience, and make it work great.
Hrm. These guys make a big stink about AT&T making contributions to republicans, when they did the same thing with their credit card, according to Wikipedia. Pot, meet Kettle.
He’s given close to 100% to Republicans…. oh the horror! Good thing I don’t have the same warped logic, otherwise I’d never buy a single Apple product with that @ss Gore on the board…
Looks like they are working on their own behalf if they’d stand to benefit from this as a wireless provider!
Dear ActForChange:
Apple has partnered with a single wireless provider to provide capabilities and to develop a working relationship that other wireless companies were unwilling to undertake. Verizon, Apple’s first choice declined. If you choose not to do business with AT&T there are other choices available to you, with a broad range of other phones. My suggestion to you is to address your complaints about Apple’s partner to AT&T itself. Get them to change their policies so you can buy and use an iPhone with a clear conscience. It is not Apple’s fault that other wireless companies were not willing to put out the effort to advance their technologies to work with the iPhone. Until they are, it is unfair to ask Apple to allow the iPhone to operate on their networks in a cripple fashion that dilutes the quality experience that Apple has designed into the iPhone.
What a bunch of dumb Asses (aka “loony Democrats”) these people are. They should go to the back of the line! The don’t deserve an iPhone!
Dear petition signer,
Your petition relies on the assumption that this Apple’s commitment to AT&T can, in fact, be simply dismissed whenever we feel like it. The reasons for our decision to go with a single provider was made not because we’re evil or stupid, but because it was the best business deal we could hammer out. If you have crunched the numbers and come out with different figures, by all means apply for a job with Apple’s Accounting department.
Since you yourself state that you “have the right to unlock that wireless phone to use on other wireless networks”, I suggest you go do that.
Signed,
Steve Jobs
This is a completely transparent, timed publicity stunt, IMHO.
How can these people “know” the iPhone can’t be unlocked? Surely they don’t have one, but, somehow, they just “know”?!
Would it be too much to ask these people to give the hacker community at least a few days to figure this out?
Obviously server based handshaking will not work on another carrier, and, for example, visual voicemail will not work since it requires the server.
I have great faith in the hacker community for the other stuff. And I wouldn’t be shocked if somebody comes up with a replacement for the visual voicemail server.
Sheesh. I can only wonder what cruft will be announced tomorrow.
And lets not forget the publicity stunt of last week – unlocked iPhones at puremedia, but with no price and no availability date and no quantity announced….
MDN magic word: “charge”. As in, are of the hucksters and crooks lined up to try and advantage of the iPhone launch? Yes?
CHARGE!
I’m not necessarily on board with this signature thing, but some people are quick to forget (or dismiss) the idea that there are millions of us who live in area’s between at&t’s service.
For me, the iPhone isn’t an option for any other reason than that the one company that can legally have the device on its networks has no intention right now of providing me service.
It’d be like not being allowed to buy a Mac because you happen to live in a certain town. It’s a very crappy on-the-outside-looking-in feeling.
I don’t understand why people get so militant about political parties. It’s like a gang and they’re defending their homies. Reality – They’re all crooks. Everyone should be an independent. The best that we can hope for is a balance and that the two sides police each other. Who cares if he donates to the Republican party with the proceeds of my iPhone. I donated to Planned Parenthood with the proceeds of my Apple stock. So there.
ActForChange demands Apple unlock iPhone.
You know what ActForChange can do? Invent your own cell phone, then go and pound a nail in an owl –oops– tree.
hey man, dinners IMPORTANT
This is just about the most assine petition I’ve ever seen. Almost makes me want the opposite just by it’s existence. But I’m not as petty as whomever wrote it.
MW = saying, as in, “I’m just saying…”
Neo Cons suxxzor!!!
“there are millions of us who live in area’s between at&t’s service.”
It so happens that I live in an area that is poorly covered by everyone EXCEPT AT&T. The luck of the draw.
I know that Apple and AT&T have a five year deal, but I am wondering if it covers all potential new iPhone models and designs. Is it possible that a followup model will be made to run on Verizon or Sprint should those companies choose to support iPhones features?
Alec. We need millions of illegal immgrants now, just because 40 million babies have been wiped/sucked out. An Apple a day.
SB immigrants. Illegal that is.
Oops, I meant “its”, not “it’s”.
MW = found, as in “I found a typo.”
Most if not all GSM cellphones sold through companies like AT&T and T-Mobile are sold as locked phones. It’s standard practice. However, $30 and a quick trip to Chinatown (at least in New York) is all it takes to have it unlocked.
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It’s a free country you can dontate to whatever party suits you.
And no one’s forcing you to buy an iPhone.
I’m sure Steve has donated his share to the Liberals, who, for some reason keep turning on him: “Act for Now” “Greenpeace.”
Hmm…who are your real friends and loyal users Steve? Us Republicans even old Rush L. has sung the praises of Apple since the 1980’s.
Tell AlGore to call off his dogs.
Isn’t Steve Jobs the CEO?
The sense of entitlement in this country is disgusting.
Don’t these people understand that one reason the iPhone will be so awesome is because it is tailor-made for AT&T? It’s like the Mac, the reason it is so awesome is because it is a “closed” system in the respect that Apple controls all aspects of hardware and OS. If Apple unlocked the iPhone, the user experience wouldn’t be as good, and that’s what the whole thing is about. Visual Voicemail wouldn’t work, among other things. People like this need to understand how business works before they complain.
What slaughterable lambs some of you can be….jeeezz!!
Sure an unlocked phone on another carrier might not have all the features of the AT&T package but if the consumer is willing to pay the price being asked, why should they have it locked? Why should you be able to have the ipod aspect without the carrier’s service?
let’s go back to the old gas station/ car manufacturer analogy, Would you buy a car that only allows you to buy gas from one brand?
I’ve been an Apple supporter since Steve and Woz pitched their wares personally to computer clubs so feel free to accuse me of what ever floats your boat. but if Apple ( a corporation ) is playing financial games even if it is for a better product experience – reserve the right to complain about them acting in a parental role to tell me what is better for me.
So there you have it, prove me right by criticizing my point or remain silent and learn to be an individual and stand for you rights. I will follow Apple to the cliff but unlike some of you I will not jump
MDN word – read as in read and feed your brain
Commie Libs blow donkey!!!
“The sense of entitlement in this country is disgusting.”
Boy howdy.
Visual Voice Mail is given over and over again as the example of how AT&T “changed their network” to accommodate the iPhone.
I doubt if this actually involved *any* cellular network change. I would be very surprised if the control communication between iPhone and voicemail servers isn’t just Internet traffic directed to some AT&T servers. In this case, it should be relatively easy for a third party to make visual voicemail servers that work for any cellular network.
ActForChange:
a) Sounds like someone on the street accosting me at bank machines and coffee shops for money, all the while standing there in nike running shoes that cost more than my entire wardrobe
b) Still live with mommy and daddy
c) Should really take up masturbation – doesn’t hurt anyone else and removes the pole from their butt cheeks
d) Need more protein in their vegan diet
e) Should really be exploring the nature of ActiveX and why it is designed only to work with Microsoft
f) Should contact all DVD manufacturers and make all their movies backwards compatible to play on Beta Max systems. Talk about prejudiced
g) Pull their collective banana hammocks out of their butts
Idiots. Apple won’t unlock the iPhone because Cingular (now AT&T) was the only wireless carrier willing to make concessions and modify its network to make iPhone’s new technology work. In exchange, Apple agreed to an exclusivity arrangement.
Who care about the personal political donations of the AT&T CEO? That’s his money and his business.
Of-course they will unlock the iPhone for you. AT&T (Cingular) have always done that for us who travel abroad in business. We could not function otherwise. We must be able to switch SIM cards when out of AT&T cover area. This is a huge deal for the traveling business force…I’m sure it’s not neglected!
I agree with Moo, after working in the US for 7 years I was shocked with the “I want” attitude of Americans.
The iPhone is locked to AT&T. You don’t like it? Then don’t buy it.
That’s your choice.
Was hat “..run by Working Asshats” ?
It’s just another group, piggybacking on Apple’s iPhone publicity to get some attention for their cause. No different than Greenpeace using the iPod as their whipping boy to generate some publicity for themselves. As much as I would like unlocked phones, this selfish use of Apple to drive their cause makes me sick.
I am shocked. And he gives his own money to the Republican Party!? My goodness, I’m never using the internet, or wireless products or viewing my cable TV ever again, and shutting it all down because a lot of that money ends up at ATT, and that’s where this Republican works!!!
Instead, I’m simply going to buy the iPhone and never pay my monthly bills to ATT. This way Steve Jobs, the big Democrat doner will be supported instead.
These groups are about as credible as Hilter was in treaty signing.
I bet those betches at Verizon are kicking themselves for losing the iPhone to Cingular/AT&T.
Oh, I know I’m going to sound like a dick but this has to be said;
For those who are lamenting the lack of choice in carrier, please take a moment to realize that Apple doesn’t owe you a fscking thing. They make a product available, if you choose not to use said product because of the carrier that’s your choice. If you can’t use said product because of your geographic location – move. Apple has chosen AT&T for whatever reasons they see fit and if it doesn’t work for you, tough shit. It’s just a cell phone. In the grand scheme of things it’s pretty meaningless.
Why are they dumb–asses or hippies. It’s true what they are saying. Not everyone want to go AT&T. You know, all the people that left AT& T in the Past because of Crud service now would have to go back if they want an iPhone?
The iPhone is great but it doesn’t mean AT&T is great also.
If unlocked, distribution of the iPhone will be widespread, Other Service providers will benefit, and Apple will benefit as well. In addition to increasing iPhone demand, awareness, and Profits.
This is so different than what apple did to the iPod which only works with iTunes. Apple is only benefting the cake only to one provider which is a service not everyone like.
Because they want an iPhone but are shackled to a contract with another company. If you want to go after someone ‘ActForChange’, why not petition Microsoft to open up ANY of the crap they make? The stir this device is causing is quite remarkable, I must say. It stretches to every corner of the Earth, it seems.
re we forgetting that the services on the iPhone are proprietary and that At&T was the only one willing to play ball?
if it was unlocked it wouldnt matter anyway.
I hate republicans as much as the next person, but this is a bit much. it’s kind of overreaching and assinine I believe.
These LOSERS!
What part of exclusive don’t they understand.
It’s just like the Europeans regarding the iPod and iTunes.
I can see it now – Europe will force Apple to sell iPhone to all mobile carriers because ITS NOT FAIR only one carrier can use the iPhone.
my 2 cents
Great. Another rant as well as rediculous demands by the hateful homos of San Francisco.
Game Over….
You lose…..
-Them
wouldn’t it be great if apple was forced to sell
an unlocked phone
sorry att its the law
haha
KL –
Are you REALLY that ignorant, or are you just trolling for comments? Please let me know so I can reply accordingly.
Thank you.
Bring back Cellular One – they were the best…. Oh wait they were bought by ATT Wireless then bought by Cingular…Then bought by ATT damn I guess they did pick the best service..
I’m not going to buy an iPhone whether it’s locked or unlocked, not because I cannot afford the phone, but because I cannot afford the $60 monthly, $720 yearly service contract. Besides, being an unrepentant, curmudgeonly misanthrope, I really don’t want to be in touch wherever and whenever I go. It’s just too much contact with the damned human race. I’m sick of us.
Let’s get some things straight here. EVERY cellphone sold by the US carriers is LOCKED. I don’t have experience with the non-GSM phones, but the GSM carriers (T-Mobile, as well as CIngular) WILL give you instructions how to unlock your phone. You don’t have to go to Chinatown and spend $30 (plus $4 for subway). Unless AT&T made some atypical arrangements with Apple about locking, if you call AT&T after having paid three monthly bills, they will e-mail you the detailed instructions for unlocking. I have done this with seven different phones (4 on T-Mobile, 3 on Cingular).
Of course, some features won’t work (on my Sony-Ericsson, the ‘Media’ button wouldn’t work on other providers), but the phone WILL work. You probably would be able to configure GPRS and EDGE for internet access as well (it’s a pain on Sony-Ericsson, but doable).
The petition makes no sense. Wait one week, then sign all the petitions you want.
As for Verizon (or Sprint), the iPhone will NOT work on these. Ever. Not locked, not unlocked. They are CDMA. No SIM card. Different technology. If you love your Verizon, then move over; there’s nothing to see here.
This unlock the iphone crap is lame. Obviously Apple has had to work with AT&T to do some magic on the back-end (visual voicemail, setup and activation through iTunes) which means it cannot “just work” with “any” service. It requires coordination with Apple to get the back-end (cellular) service up and running to provide a seamless experience for the user. Every other service provider will just have to wait their turn.
You people are f*cking strange. Nutty, really.
ActForChange or whatever may be a bunch of fruity liberals, but on this issue they are on the side of the consumer and what they are pushing for only helps the people that buy iPhones.
I understand why Apple is locked in, and other carriers had their chance, etc. But that that’s the problem of the companies involved–Apple, Sprint, AT&T, whoever. For so many people here to so emotionally take the side of one of those companies and to express such anger at a group that is asking for something that benefits you as a consumer is just…strange.
It is one thing to resignedly accept that you are going to get anally f*cked with a twelve inch dildo to get the iPhone. It is quite another thing–and just mentally deranged–to reply to someone saying,”Hey, you know you really should have to be anally raped with a twelve inch dildo just to get a phone” by yelling back, “Hey, go to hell! This is my favorite company in the whole world jamming all twelve inches up my ass and I only wish they had a couple more inches to jam up there, and if you’d only shut up maybe Apple would punch me in the cock a couple of times for extra pleasure.”
It’s a monopolistic practice. Pure and simple. People can care or not about that fact, but it’s still a fact. Progressives don’t believe that monopolies are ultimately good for consumers or business. As I recall, Mac users weren’t too crazy about the monopolistic practices of that other company.
Dear ActForChange
“In December of 2006, the U.S. Register of Copyrights gave the legal OK to unlocking phones for use on other networks. This means we as consumers should be able to purchase a wireless phone, and if the network provider does not provide satisfactory service, we have the right to unlock that wireless phone to use on other wireless networks.”
I have reason to believe you’ve misinterpreted the decision. In no way did that decision REQUIRE companies to unlock their phones. You have the right to unlock the phones, make no mistake about that, but the companies are not required to do it for you.. Companies like at&t and t-mobile are not obligated to tell you how to unlock their phones.
and to OpJ, ActForChange may be on the side of the consumer, but they seem to understand little about mobile technology. By implying that unrealistic demands are possible, they raise consumer expectations to unfeasible levels. Phones cannot simply be magically “unlocked” to work with any carrier. As stated earlier in these comments, different phones and networks use different variations of technology. For example, because the iPhone is a GSM phone that uses a SIM card, it cannot be unlocked for use on a CDMA network like Sprint, which does not. Those people “defending” the companies so emotionally are simply stunned at the ignorance of such groups about technology.
MDN Magic Word: “very”…some people are “very” ignorant about what can and cannot be done.
This petition should be directed to all the other carriers.
Cingular were the only carrier willing to accomodate Steves demands. All the other carriers turned him down because they thought they knew better having dictated to all the manufacturers including the “allmighty Nokia” on how they wanted the handsets to work, stunting any possible developements as long as they could generate extra cash from the technologies.
With that business model proven unfair to the consumer by Apple and the willingness of a small carrier to take on the giants, suddenly everyone wants a piece of the action?!
AT&T took immediate action and bought Cingular, the other carriers could have done the same, did they? No one said they couldn’t.
Working Assets could have made this call months ago, did they? it is only now that the tariffs have been announced that they realise that their business model is in the firing line, after all, if you have direct accesss to the internet on your iphone, you could also make long distance payments that you would probably have needed them to do for you in the past.
So what is exactly is there motive for publishing this petition? Money? M$ and its crippled cohorts ie all the other carriers…
It will be interesting to see what business model the iphone will craft out in Europe now that the bastard carriers who turned Mr. Jobs down when he first approached them way back when are clamouring for the rights for the iphone business.
danielin9200
I really don’t know much about mobile tech. So, you’re saying that there isn’t another single network or service that could work with the iPhone other than AT&T?
We want free pot and free love too! WTF is with the Republican remarks ? I think they are saying that they should have a choice to support who they want to support… But Apple shouldn’t because, it’s, uh, wrong to do what you want if, uh, you’re not them. So, everyone’s free to choose to do what ActForChange tells them to do or they will call you names. That’s what democrats do, right ?
Oh, and death to amerika.
Yeah, sure, I’d like an unlocked iPhone. But, as it has been said:
When Apple presented the product NO CARRIER wanted it EXCEPT Cingular (now AT&T).
Now that the device is a success even BEFORE it was launched, everybody is crying “we want it too! Why can’t you give me an iPhone too?”
You know? Good for AT&T to bet for a winner and get a 5 year exclusive.
I’m not winning by the decision, since I live outside the USA, but I respect those who risk when others don’t.
One thing I’m not fond of is the turning over of phone records to Homeland Security without a warrant or a fight. Before anyone says “So what I don’t have anything to hide.” Please study history. I sure the same arguement was heard in pre Nazi Germany. It is a slippery slope. One need not be a tree huggin hippee to want to hold onto Consitutional Rights. Would it be ok to have a government agency search your home and business and take any information they wanted? If so, roll over and accept the implant.
The iPhone still rocks.
So what if you travel a lot, e.g. for business. I have an unlocked phone and when I’m abroad of an extended period of time I just get a local simcard. If you can’t get unlocked iPhones then what are you supposed to do? Get a new phone in every country you have to be for a few months?
Mr Jobs You rock, sorry for being a pain , keep going- ignore this petition, a bunch of sorry ars want it all.
Cheers
Anthony
What a fucking joke!
The iphone isnt even out yet and some idiots are doing this.
The thing is they havent a leg to stand on – the iPhone has zero market share at the moment, if it had 99% then yes I would understand it.
BTW, this is NOT the way you go about getting anything from Steve Jobs.
IF and I mean IF he wants to do this he will – but dont hold youre breath!
Even If Apple was demanded to do this it cant anyway.
Apple has a 5 year EXCLUSIVE DEAL with AT&T!
re: You people are f*cking strange. Nutty, really.
ActForChange or whatever may be a bunch of fruity liberals, but on this issue they are on the side of the consumer and what they are pushing for only helps the people that buy iPhones.
I understand why Apple is locked in, and other carriers had their chance, etc. But that that’s the problem of the companies involved–Apple, Sprint, AT&T, whoever. For so many people here to so emotionally take the side of one of those companies and to express such anger at a group that is asking for something that benefits you as a consumer is just…strange.
It is one thing to resignedly accept that you are going to get anally f*cked with a twelve inch dildo to get the iPhone. It is quite another thing–and just mentally deranged–to reply to someone saying,”Hey, you know you really should have to be anally raped with a twelve inch dildo just to get a phone” by yelling back, “Hey, go to hell! This is my favorite company in the whole world jamming all twelve inches up my ass and I only wish they had a couple more inches to jam up there, and if you’d only shut up maybe Apple would punch me in the cock a couple of times for extra pleasure.”
—-
The fact that they are even doing this is plain stupidity!
They obviously know FUCK ALL about the iphone!
The iPhone is not just like any other mobile phone!
It relys on special backend services that Apple and At&T have probably spend £100,000s on developing over the last 3 years.
Apple approached ALL the othe providers but they all told Apple to fuck off.
It’s not Apples fault that those narrow-minded and backward thinking companies arent involved with the iphone.
Sure the other companies can come on board, but it aint gonna happen for at least 5 years when At&Ts; contract expires with Apple!
So my message to you idiots that made this petition is – NO CHANCE IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN!.
Now go back to your shit windows OS mobile and start saving your money for an iPhone!
Steve,
I am sure the consumers who can afford to fork out $500 or $600 to buy the 2 models of iPhone, can surely pay a little more for you to unlock the iPhone. We can pay what you may receive from AT&T for each iPhone. What happened to USA’s Democratic System???
I thought other companies turned Steve down and so he ended up with AT&T. I see one other person above mentions this too. So it’s not Apple’s fault the other’s didn’t want to sign on.
Story on Verison rejecting Apple:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-01-28-verizon-iphone_x.htm
http://digg.com/apple/Verizon_rejected_Apple_iPhone_deal
@ spark , I believe At&T exclusivity is only guaranteed for 2 years. Gotta give the suckers who passed the first go round a second chance.
Nobody is mentioning the people that CAN’T use a iPhone because they are locked into existing plans. They’ll be finding out exactly how much those “free’ phones actually ‘cost’ if they try to get a iPhone and switch to AT&t. $200-$300 to get out, then multiply that by the 2-3 phones on their multi-year “contracts” and it’s just not feasible.
These contracts are going to cause a lot of pain in the upcoming weeks.
Only one word comes to mind, regarding these guys–NAZIS! So just f@#$$$k off and die
Does anyone understand how businesses function?
They are depending on profit!
No profit – no salary, no development, no new products …
And yes, even if you don’t like it, even Apple needs profit!
So please read a book about economy and stop waisting your time with this discussion.
@ Randian:
As usual, Repugs miss the point.
It isn’t un-American to give to the Repug Fascist Party. However, it is REPUGNANT and a sure sign of mental illness and/or defective genetics.
As an American, I have the right not to associate, in any way, with really stupid, fascist morons who are systematically destroying American prosperity while profiteering from death and destruction. Or the supporters of these fascist pigs.
That is my right. If you weren’t an idiot, you would feel the same way.
1.
hii..i m from india and wanted to buy a iphone…..but my query is will the iphone work in india…on indian networks ..can it b hacked n made 2 wrk in india…..can a sim card b put in it??? pls REPLY SOM1 ON devil8955@hotmail.com
Their solution is the tPhone
seriously, if you designed the iPhone, put a lot of effort into it, made it all working with heaps of money spent. Then someone outside, who had nothing to do with the development of the iPhone says to you, you can sell it this way, and though you invented it you have no control what you can do with it…
Don’t think that logic holds… because it sux
duster,
iPhone was designed exclusively for at&t, just like the iPod was designed for iTunes. Good luck getting it to work with T-mobile or any other GSM carrier. Even if you were able to unlock the phone somehow, tweaking the settings on it would be a really big pain in the ass. Text messages, email, mobile internet (true mobile, not wi-fi), all those “extra” features advertised by Apple wouldn’t work without the right settings. Different carriers, different phones, use different servers and ports for SMS, MMS, mobile internet, even email (because it requires a data plan). This is true for every phone that has functions other than voice calls. Even on my RAZR, I had to explore almost every other setting on the phone just to get my voicemail working because the preset voicemail number on the phone was not MY voicemail number, which I didn’t happen to memorize. Let’s not get into getting text messaging to work.
That said, although some carriers are able to transfer settings over the air for some phones (like the RAZR, but sometimes it doesn’t work, as in my case), getting them to do so is still a pain in the ass, much less finding out which phones they can do it for. When was the last time you got a branded and locked phone to work completely (all features) with another carrier?
The most you’d probably get out of iPhone on another carrier is the ability to make and receive calls, functions that are reliant on the SIM card’s settings alone, not the phone’s settings. If that satisfies you then by all means, unlock your iPhone yourself (if you can because it seems neither Apple nor at&t will) and “use” it with another carrier.
Who cares about any of this stuff?!! Just buy the damn thing on ebay unlocked.. there are a few features that won’t be available..eg. ability to skip over voicemail messages etc.,but for the most part most of the features will be available. Many small cell phone stores will be able to unlock this phone, as they do many other phones…I guarantee that one will be able to purchase an unlocked iPhone on ebay within 3 weeks
I agree, most feature that people care about (best iPod ever made) can function regardless of the cellular network. However, unlocking the phone may not be as easy as entering a special code (like the IMEI unlock code for many Samsung phones). Small cell phone stores had better have a Mac expert on hand if they want even a glimmer of hope of hacking the phone (pretty much the only way to unlock the phone, seeing as the iPhone runs off a real OS, not some cheap GUI like on most other phones). And even if they happen to have a Mac expert who can decode the iPhone version of Mac OS X, what if the lock is hardware based (like the TPM chips in Intel Macs? What then? It’s not like you can emulate hardware (which takes a lot of power) easily on a phone. After all, this is Apple we’re talking about, not some other cell phone manufacturer.
MDN magic word: “works” let’s see if unlocking the iPhone “works” before we go out and blow our hard-earned cash on an iPhone.
oh well go buy an HTC touch…..i mean im a mac guy and all….but i live in canada and it looks like i wont be getting one anytime soon!
To the idiot who said that OSX only runs on Macs – thats a false statement. A friend of mine has it running on an HP computer – yes, a PC. OSX has an Intel-based version that runs properly on a PC.
They are trying some neat software over at
Official iphone unlock Last time I checked some cool stuff up. Right now it looks like they switched the site around
I doubt Apple/at&t will ever unlock the iPhone. A business agreement was made, those are never one sided – so both parties would gain something in the venture.
The fact that I am waiting for an activation to process because of the shear number of activations backing up everything means they are selling.
The fight is lost before it has begun.
Oh look! Ignorant moaning by douchebag conservatives! Who saw that coming? Only a moron can profess to be free market AND for locked technology. Think about it, you tools.
And those of you whining about why people care where corporate profits go – are you really that insipidly stupid? Do you wonder why your fellow conservatives want you to buy American? Are you saying you’d still buy from a vendor if part of the overpaid CEO’s wage packet was forwarded to Osama bin Laden?
Idiots.
Yes, other carriers rejected the iPhone because Apple’s terms were unfavorable. It works for AT&T because that company can use it as a loss leader to pursue the re-assembly of the old Ma Bell monopoly. Jobs missed a trick by not just selling the iPhone unlocked from the beginning and skipping over all carrier deals.
The other carriers were not short sighted. Does anyone remember the ROKR handset? A massive failure and there is little indication that the things a carrier would profit from are present in the iPhone. Right now that’s a lot of money going to Apple but not AT&T. Apple is still selling music through iTunes and carriers aren’t getting access to that. So no data sales for AT&T. The best it can hope for is swiping some new subscribers and convincing people to sign up for data plans.
To those of you talking about “true” mobile networks – the iPhone works far better over Wi-Fi than the EDGE mobile net AT&T is using for it. Jobs was afraid of a 3G iPhone but really EDGE is next to useless. It’s a nice handset but aside from visual voice mail and the touch screen it’s already outdated and well behind many other smart phones.
Actually, crabapple, you don’t understand the history. AT&T did not buy Cingular. It’s the other way around. Cingular bought AT&T. Then, they subsequently changed the name of the whole company to AT&T because Cingular has a terrible reputation. The existing company is Cingular under the guise of AT&T. It’s a simple marketing ploy, and a smart one at that. The hope is that people will forget all the bad customer service provided by Cingular and be happy that AT&T is now running the show. Unfortunately, it’s not the case. AT&T, as we knew it, is gone. All that terrible customer service is now being spread across the entire enterprise that has been created by the purchase of AT&T.
Buy an object, expect it to work.
Locked means limited working ability, and this cant stand.
The iphone will be unlocked sooner or later, and thats a fact.
Petition? Not my cup of mud.
This is a total waste of time. Apple will never unlock it. They have signed a 2 year exclusive contract with ATT. ATT has spent money to support this thing and would sue Apple out of business if they unlocked it before that contract is up.