Apple iPhone partially unlocked, allows calls sans AT&T contract

10 Comments

“Apparently, the amazing code wizards at the iPhone Dev Wiki have been able to partially unlock the iPhone using a new application called iASign. It won’t fully unlock the iPhone for use with other companies, but the hack will allow you to use any existing Cingular/AT&T Pre-paid/MVNA SIM so you don’t have to get a two-year contract with AT&T,” Jesus Diaz reports for Gizmodo.

Full article, with more details and links, here.

10 Comments

  1. First Post?

    Don’t know whether this is good or bad, I’d like to see the iPhone not tied in with a specific cell phone company.

    Especially if the phone wants to gain a foothold in the Enterprise market, a lot of companies will pay for an employee’s cell phone provided that employee uses the company’s carrier (Cingular, VZW, T-Mobile, etc.)

    By limiting this phone to just one company it is crippling how big the iPhone market can be. Also think of all the “spoiled rich kid” teenagers that can’t get the phone unless mommy & daddy are using the same company. This is also a huge untapped market.

    I hope within 2 years apple gets rid of this Cingular only deal, it’s really ruining the market.

    That being said, it really bothers me when people invent these apps. They signed a contract when they purchased their iPhone, and agreed to adhere to certain rules, by doing this they are violating the rules. It is against (MW) policy to do so, and I hope that they shut down, either by apple or someone else.

    Reply

  4. They spend all this effort doing this for nothing.

    All Apple will do is do a software update next time you put your iPhone in the dock for charging and BAM – hack no more!

    What a waste of effort and time, if these hackers actually used their time better and created legal software they would all be very rich by now!

    Reply

  6. ‘They would all be very rich by now’.

    Perhaps they wouldn’t. Perhaps they don’t have a bright new idea among them.

    It’s always easier being critical of, and taking apart, others’ ideas.

    Parasites.

    Reply

  8. Anthony: You do NOT sign any contract when buying the iPhone. in fact, you never have to activate it at all or even may try if it will blend.

    You voluntarly sing a contract if you connect the iPhone to your Computer/iTunes and do set up a contract with AT&T. But you are never obliged to do so.

    Yes, the iPhone is intended to work only with AT&T, but hey, you bought it and paid for it and it’s your’s and you may do with it whatever you want.

    Reply

  9. I don’t understand. I thought you could already use an existing AT&T/Cingular card, and not sign a two year contract. All you have to do is not put in your Social Security No. You might have to use 999-99-9999 instead, but according to all the reports, it then allows you to use a pre-paid card.

    Reply

  10. This is just a middle step to these guys. The only thing they get from this is some glory and maybe a working iPhone to themselves (they might live overseas). Obviously visual voice mail is something they can live without.

    Of course Apple will make a firmware update which will disable this unlocking but after the principle of cracking the iPhone is clear it is not hard to make a new one …

    Reply

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