Apple Officially Warns Against iPhone Unlocking

Today Apple issued its first official warning against iPhone hacks and unlocking tools, threatening owners that upcoming upgrades to the phone's operating system would cause a hacked iPhone to "irreparably" stop working while voiding your warranty.

Apple iPhone hacking software designed to unlock the device and make it usable on any GSM network (not just AT&T) has been spreading like mad over the last few weeks, with step-by-step tutorials being widely posted across the web. As iPhone prepares to enter Europe, where GSM networks are far more pervasive than in the US, the company has a lot to lose if angry telecom companies balk at Apple's terms. Analysts are already skeptical that the non-3G iPhone will be a hit on the heavily-3G continent.

As the carrot portion of its warning, Apple is noting that the new, highly-anticipated, wireless version of iTunes may not work if you hack your phone. The update should arrive before the end of the week. Don't be surprised if it comes along with plenty of new security features that prevent current iPhone unlocking tricks from working.

Here's the full text of Apple's terse notice: 

Apple has discovered that many of the unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs available on the Internet cause irreparable damage to the iPhone's software, which will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed. Apple plans to release the next iPhone software update, containing many new features including the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store (www.itunes.com), later this week. Apple strongly discourages users from installing unauthorized unlocking programs on their iPhones. Users who make unauthorized modifications to the software on their iPhone violate their iPhone software license agreement and void their warranty. The permanent inability to use an iPhone due to installing unlocking software is not covered under the iPhone's warranty.