NJ teen unlocks iPhone from AT&T network

AP via Yahoo ^ | 2007 Aug 24 | Peter Svensson

[saganite]

There’s no software some hacker somewhere can’t undo.

[TexasAg1996]

AT&T and T-Mobile are the only carriers using GSM networks. You’re out of luck if you want to go to Sprint, Verizon, etc.

[Brujo]

There’s no software some hacker somewhere can’t undo.

Thus the ultimate futility of DRM, etc.

[Pablo64]

So are there legal ramifications for this? Is he still on the hook for the minimum 2-year contract (which I heard you had to sign to get an iPhone)? I wonder if he will get sued by anyone for doing this, or is the phone his to do whatever he wants with since he purchased it?

[Brujo]

AT&T and T-Mobile are the only carriers using GSM networks. You’re out of luck if you want to go to Sprint, Verizon, etc.

True, but the big news is that these phones will now start popping up in Europe.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Steve Jobs will unleash his merry horde of trigger happy lawyers...

[Brujo]

So are there legal ramifications for this? Is he still on the hook for the minimum 2-year contract (which I heard you had to sign to get an iPhone)? I wonder if he will get sued by anyone for doing this, or is the phone his to do whatever he wants with since he purchased it?

Unclear. I do remember seeing web sites that had video of iPhones being disassembled just so everyone could see what was inside.

[montag813]

You’re out of luck if you want to go to Sprint, Verizon, etc.

If you have Sprint, you are out of luck anyway, because they suck.

[Domandred]

Is he still on the hook for the minimum 2-year contract

I'm sure he is still under 2 year contract, unless he just bought himself out. However give it a few months (if not already) and people will be able to pick up an iPhone without signing up for a service for an extra premium (usually an additional $250) which is about the same as buying out the contract.

[montag813]

... it seems likely that a small industry may spring up to buy U.S. iPhones, unlock them and send them overseas.

But the iPhones in Europe use T-Mobile anyway.

[ShadowAce]

[Brujo]

Steve Jobs will unleash his merry horde of trigger happy lawyers...

Of course, but I am curious how long it will be before an iPhone gets used in Europe. Maybe it's already happened and there's video of the event posted on YouTube. LOL!

[Brujo]

But the iPhones in Europe use T-Mobile anyway.

I didn't realize the iPhone had been released outside of the US? When did that happen?

[garyhope]

As a Verizon prisoner,...uh customer, you don’t want to go to Verizon. My reception and signal strength dropped dramatically the minute I moved to Verizon. Lousy reception all around.

Shudda stuck with AT&T. Don’t listen to Consumer Reports. They are WRONG about Verizon.

[Pablo64]

I suppose that people like this kid do it just for the challenge of seeing if it can be done, regardless of whether or not it costs them more money, or legal fees, etc. Some people hear the words "You can't do that" as a challenge.

Thank God for people like that, as much progress has been made in the world by people doing the things that others told them they can't or couldn't be done.

[philsfan24]

hahah! so true!

[r9etb]

Steve Jobs will unleash his merry horde of trigger happy lawyers...

You'd think Jobs would have learned from the the "keep it here" approach that hammered his company into near-oblivion on the PC market (Microsoft even helped bail him out.)

[N3WBI3]

Its possible, neigh its likely that because he is distributing the hack he is in violation of the DCMA, if he had not distributed it he would have been in violation of the contract with Apple, whether or not that is a valid contract has never been tested in court..

[Brujo]

I suppose that people like this kid do it just for the challenge of seeing if it can be done, ...

There's a magazine, Make, dedicated to the tinkerer, HW hacker, etc. Their slogan is “If you can't open it, you don't own it!”