Apple Officially Warns Against iPhone Unlocking
Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:59PM EDT
See Comments (12)
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:Â
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.Â
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7 Posted by erod45 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse
Obviously some of you guys haven't had an unlocked phone. When carriers lock their phones to their network, they not only prevent that particular phone from being used on other networks, but they also limit the phone's potential. Bluetooth is one of the features that carriers are able to limit on phones. Some companies only allow BT to function with headsets or a PC, but not with other phones. That being said, you can't transfer files from your friend's phone without having to first put it on the PC, then putting it on your phone. Also, some music files are not downloadable on locked phones (ie the various AAC files). Locked phones is a carrier's way of making money at the expense of the consumer.
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8 Posted by kupriaa1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse
If you do not like what MAC has done- dont buy one.
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9 Posted by soundslikedoom on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse
Free market and customer rights lessons from Germany: German government decided that Apple has no right to limit their users with one carrier and only allowed Apple to sell iphone in Germany if they let the customer freely decides the carrier they would use. Bottom line; if you let the client free to choose there will be no hackers. It is as simple as it is.
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10 Posted by jesus_walks_with_me93 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:33PM EDT Report Abuse
i think everybodys forgot its a phone. think about it, everyones like "oh my god apples going to make my phone inoperable? well i hate apple, blah blah blah.." well if you hate apple so much why'd you buy their phone? like the other guy said, when you bought the phone you accepted the agreements. i dont see why your gonna complain about how you dont like at&t but you buy a phone from at&t. just dont buy the phone, or wait til a phone comes out for a different carrier. new stuff comes out everyday. and dont forget its just a phone
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11 Posted by alt_zd on Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:22AM EDT Report Abuse
rogueist: nice prediction, but remember: it's apple, not microsoft. :P SRDesign and RPaladin: I side with paladin, while noting that everyone that was stupid enough to try to get the software dwnload after unlocking ran the risk of bricking their phone. Stone, once you buy something such as an iphone you can legally do ANYTHING to/with it. but you can't hold apple responsible. it's not like you're hacking apple servers; you're just voiding your warranty. completely legal. apple's terms are simply the conditions you must follow for them to replace or repair your phone; you don't have to listen to them. THINK b4 you post! -z3
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12 Posted by your_world_2010 on Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:59AM EDT Report Abuse
The easiest software to unlock your iPhone is http://softunlock.com It works and it is free. *thumbs up*
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6 Posted by mcmillen66 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:13PM EDT Report Abuse
I believe Apple intends to allow carriers other than AT&T within two years, so I'm not sure why it's so important for them to spend time and effort chasing folks who want to free up their phones early. It seems like a waste of resources.