Will unlocking continue with the iPhone 3G?

[MacBytes]

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Category: Opinion/Interviews
Link: Will unlocking continue with the iPhone 3G? (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20080613125136)
Description:: Although it won’t be as prominent as before, unlocking will likely continue on the iPhone 3G barring some changes.

Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)
Approved by Mudbug

[tothelimit]

quite possibly the most pointless 4 paragraphs I've ever read. :confused:

[thechidz]

http://www.macbytes.com/images/bytessig.gif (http://www.macbytes.com)

Category: Opinion/Interviews
Link: Will unlocking continue with the iPhone 3G? (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20080613125136)
Description:: Although it won’t be as prominent as before, unlocking will likely continue on the iPhone 3G barring some changes.

Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)
Approved by Mudbug

yes but thee wont be many until they stop the in-store activation process

[MacGeek7]

quite possibly the most pointless 4 paragraphs I've ever read. :confused:

yeah, pretty much

[Dan Uff]

No, I do not think hackers will continue to jailbreak the iPhone 3G now that Apple is allowing 3rd party development. What would be the point?

-Dan Uff

[zephead]

I think if unlocking continues, it'll be a bit more expensive than it is now. A current-gen 8GB iPhone costs $399 right now with no contract, and a 3G 8GB iPhone costs $199 on contract, which you'll likely have to either sign or leave the store with no iPhone. You'd have to pay the early termination is $200, plus the first month of service with AT&T, THEN you'd have a contract-less 3G iPhone for only slightly more than a 1st-gen iPhone, which is a pretty good deal considering the more advanced technology of the 3G iPhone.

[Kardashian]

No, I do not think hackers will continue to jailbreak the iPhone 3G now that Apple is allowing 3rd party development. What would be the point?

-Dan Uff

Unlocking and Jailbreaking are 2 different things.

Unlocking allows a different sim card to be used in the iPhone. For example, replacing an O2 or AT&T simcard with a T-Mobile one.

Jailbreaking allows access to the file system to install apps.

I believe both will continue.

People will want an unlocked iPhone, if only for travelling. And they'll still want to install apps which 1) aren't on the App Store or are 2) FREE.

[TEG]

No, I do not think hackers will continue to jailbreak the iPhone 3G now that Apple is allowing 3rd party development. What would be the point?

-Dan Uff

We are not talking about jailbreaking, but unlocking. Unlocking is removing the specific carrier lock that allows a phone to only be use on one network. Jailbreaking is the modification of the iPhone firmware to do things the phone won't allow you to do by default.

The former may continue, but through specialized services or instead by buying unlocked phones from outside the US. The latter will continue as there are certain things that programs in the AppStore can't do that people may want, like VOIP and Emulators.

TEG

[Slip]

Well if I had the power to decide, then yes. I for one know that I plan to buy an iPhone and then unlock it to use with my current SIM, whether this'll ever happen I don't know.

[friekunater]

I think it's just pure genius what Apple has done! They say that the iPhone is going for only $200, which, technically, it is. However, customers who want to unlock will have to pay the same price as the first-gens with the early-termination fee, therefore enticing people to stay on AT&T so they don't have to double the final cost of the phone. Pure genius!

[gkarris]

If Skype and iChat aren’t delivered (contrary to any argument a carrier puts forth), I think it will continue.

How about if Apple makes it exclusive only to certain carriers? In that case, I think unlocking will continue... :eek:

Do people actually get paid for these articles?

:D

[Fuchal]

I think it's just pure genius what Apple has done! They say that the iPhone is going for only $200, which, technically, it is. However, customers who want to unlock will have to pay the same price as the first-gens with the early-termination fee, therefore enticing people to stay on AT&T so they don't have to double the final cost of the phone. Pure genius!

Pure genius!

Sounds like every other subsidized phone in the WORLD.

[vandy1997]

Of course jailbreaking and unlocking will continue. Some of these articles could be answered in one word: "Yes.". Jailbreaking will continue to provide apps that Apple will not permit on the App Store (such as apps that run other apps (emulators), apps that use the iPod or SMS or other core iPhone features that Apple does not want anybody to touch, apps that use VoIP over the cellular network, apps with adult content, and any other apps that Apple decides not to permit onto the App Store). Installer (the major "App Store" for jailbroken phones) has been available for quite a while (before the App Store was even conceived), and it functions well to distribute free or paid apps. Apple has not provided MMS, voice dial, video recording, cut and paste, certain bluetooth profiles, flash, turn by turn GPS, and other similar features that can be remedied using software applications. If Apple does not permit these on the App Store, they will undoubtedly appear in Installer. With respect to unlocking, there will still be countries in which the 3G iPhone will not be available, and it may not be provided by certain carriers, so hackers will want to find a way to unlock the phones. Also, it will likely need to be unlocked to use in a country other than the country in which the phone is activated. Finally, it may have to be unlocked to use with multiple SIM cards. As long as the features that users want aren't offered and as long as these phones are locked and not permitted to function to their full potential, there will be hackers who will want to undo such restrictions. And thank goodness for them! Otherwise, we would not be getting the App Store, and we would be using web apps - not really functional if you don't have a signal!!

[MacSimoPark]

Although I'd be tempted to predict that Apple's strategic pincer-movement of in-store activation and the App Store will win the battle of the jailbreak, what Apple developers and fans will and can do never ceases to amaze me.

Although there will be much less demand (and consequently supply) of solutions and un-official apps, it is quite possible that there will emerge a perfectly usable 3G iPhone Jailbreak.

[macFanDave]

from activating the iPhone in the store and going home and canceling the contract right away? I believe it's a law (I'm not sure whether it is federal or state) that a contract can be cancelled within 3 days.

[izibo]

from activating the iPhone in the store and going home and canceling the contract right away? I believe it's a law (I'm not sure whether it is federal or state) that a contract can be cancelled within 3 days.

In order to cancel the contract, you would have to return the phone. Otherwise there would be an early termination fee.

[150hp]

I'm only interested in an iPhone for Skype but I want GPS too. So hearing of instore activation is a real let down for me.

[lpp71]

i hope it does... Thats how it should be...

[macFanDave]

In order to cancel the contract, you would have to return the phone. Otherwise there would be an early termination fee.

Alright, Plan A won't work. Back to the drawing board for Plan B! MWAHAHAHAHA!

[retroneo]

It will certainly continue in Australia. There are reasons that many people will prefer not to use the two carriers that are selling it here.

Telstra has dramatically greater coverage, and Three has dramatically lower prices.

However, I think the exclusivity is only for a couple of months and Three and Telstra will carry it later this year.

[thorbenh]

Some weeks ago I booked a flight to NYC (from germany) in order to buy an iphone and to spend some USD as it is so cheap right now ;)

Unfortunately by flight back is 2 days before the launch. Right now I am planning to change my flight but the chance to get a 3G is pretty bad, I guess.

How could it be that so many people are selling 3G devices at eBxy without contract (by saying that delivery is after 11 july)? Is it just that they are HOPING to get them unsubsidized or what????

[ok0510]

yeah, pretty much
No, I do not think hackers will continue to jailbreak the iPhone 3G now that Apple is allowing 3rd party development. What would be the point?

[Slip]

No, I do not think hackers will continue to jailbreak the iPhone 3G now that Apple is allowing 3rd party development. What would be the point?

For access to un-supported apps such as VOIP which Apple won't let through (I'm referring to it over the cell network) or apps that don't get accepted. Plus people love to tinker; it'll continue