Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

AT&T and Apple Tightening Policies to Reduce iPhone Unlocking

I really hope that AT&T does use IMEI, because it would mean that I could refuse a two year contract and simply not use the phone on a wireless carrier's network, which would be an appealing option to me. And If I ever wanted to use the phone on the network, I could just take it into AT&T and activate it w/o any fines.
 
Jstick said:
Ok...ok thanks
Click to expand...

Don't worry, you're not alone.
The amount of text messages (if any) included in the new data package is a is a HUGE question for me as well.
The 200 included in the current data package is a drop in the bucket for me.
Being partially deaf and having some speech issues, I actually "talk" on my phone only a few minute a month.
But I can crank out 1200, 1300 text messages a month without batting an eye.
I already have to pay an extra $10 a month to get the 1500 text messages on top of the $20 data service with my iPhone.

So if AT&T follows the same thinking, I'll have to pay $40 a month with the new data package.

If it wasn't for those blasted few minutes a month I do speak on the phone, I could drop my voice service all together and take advantage of the unlimited data/text messaging plan AT&T has for Deaf and Speech impaired people.
 
buy a $200 iphone with contract pay a termination fee $175, so you got a $375 iphone to do whatever you want, if you have bad credit then i dont know what you will do.. but $375 is not bad at all
 
Personally, the 2-year contract doesn't bother me all that much. What I'm concerned about is:

1) Whether an existing non-iPhone customer under an existing contract will be able to purchase an iPhone

and

2) If iPhones will be treated like all other phones or have special "you can always get a new iPhone" treatment. Meaning if I was to buy one on July 11, assuming I am eligible, and they released another model in a few months (maybe 32GB, different colors, whatever doesn't matter) will I be eligible to upgrade (and accept another contract of course)? If not then one must be *very* careful about when they purchase and make sure it has all the features you want because you're stuck with it.
 
grego33 said:
Personally, the 2-year contract doesn't bother me all that much. What I'm concerned about is:

1) Whether an existing non-iPhone customer under an existing contract will be able to purchase an iPhone

and

2) If iPhones will be treated like all other phones or have special "you can always get a new iPhone" treatment. Meaning if I was to buy one on July 11, assuming I am eligible, and they released another model in a few months (maybe 32GB, different colors, whatever doesn't matter) will I be eligible to upgrade (and accept another contract of course)? If not then one must be *very* careful about when they purchase and make sure it has all the features you want because you're stuck with it.
Click to expand...

your fine paying $30 data plan (you will have to get this if you have an iphone) and at least $45 call plan, so thats about $75 minimum just to have an iphone every month!
 
The SIM

SchneiderMan said:
buy a $200 iphone with contract pay a termination fee $175, so you got a $375 iphone to do whatever you want, if you have bad credit then i dont know what you will do.. but $375 is not bad at all
Click to expand...

I have a feeling ATTpple has come up with a way to make sure only the ATTpple 3G SIM will work in the new iPhones. It will be interesting to see how this plays out once the phones are released and people take the challenge and try to hack out of the ATTpple network. Steve should know people don't like to be treated like they are buying a Microsoft product.
 
are you with att? i am, any pre-paid/gophone sim is a 3g sim card lol
i have a 3g sim card on gophone.. the iphone is not the first 3g phone
 
KaiMac said:
I have a feeling ATTpple has come up with a way to make sure only the ATTpple 3G SIM will work in the new iPhones. It will be interesting to see how this plays out once the phones are released and people take the challenge and try to hack out of the ATTpple network. Steve should know people don't like to be treated like they are buying a Microsoft product.
Click to expand...

I'm betting that they have some kind of hardware solution for keeping the iPhone on AT&T, something that can't be unlocked without physically opening the iPhone.
 
grego33 said:
Personally, the 2-year contract doesn't bother me all that much. What I'm concerned about is:

1) Whether an existing non-iPhone customer under an existing contract will be able to purchase an iPhone

and

2) If iPhones will be treated like all other phones or have special "you can always get a new iPhone" treatment. Meaning if I was to buy one on July 11, assuming I am eligible, and they released another model in a few months (maybe 32GB, different colors, whatever doesn't matter) will I be eligible to upgrade (and accept another contract of course)? If not then one must be *very* careful about when they purchase and make sure it has all the features you want because you're stuck with it.
Click to expand...

To point 2) = I believe this is going to be the future of how and when all ATTpple customers will be able to buy the newest iPhone. If your contract is not eligible for an hardware upgrade, then you won't be getting a new iPhone from ATTpple at anything close to the subsidized price. That will be a money losing strategy for ATTpple. NOT gonna happen. The iPhone buying experience is now the exact same as buying the lastest Razr or Samsung piece of junk. Sorry Mr. Customer, you're not eligible for a hardware upgrade until July of 2009/2010. Nice one Steve.
 
Tankgunk said:
I'm betting that they have some kind of hardware solution for keeping the iPhone on AT&T, something that can't be unlocked without physically opening the iPhone.
Click to expand...


the first unlocking of the iphone was a hardware unlock.. then came along software unlocking :)
 
hwojtek said:
There is no way for any mobile equipment to log on to any GSM or 3G network if it doesn't transmit the IMEI first. IMEI is for mobile phones what MAC address is for network interfaces. It just needs to be there.
Click to expand...

I'll rephrase then. I hope that AT&T uses IMEI as a penalty for not signing a contract. I'd much rather that AT&T did something that actually stopped people from using other networks than gave out huge fines.
 
SchneiderMan said:
the first unlocking of the iphone was a hardware unlock.. then came along software unlocking :)
Click to expand...

My point was that unlocking the iPhone might absolutely require a hardware unlock of epic proportions with no software unlocking possible.
 
KaiMac said:
To point 2) = I believe this is going to be the future of how and when all ATTpple customers will be able to buy the newest iPhone. If your contract is not eligible for an hardware upgrade, then you won't be getting a new iPhone from ATTpple at anything close to the subsidized price. That will be a money losing strategy for ATTpple. NOT gonna happen. The iPhone buying experience is now the exact same as buying the lastest Razr or Samsung piece of junk. Sorry Mr. Customer, you're not eligible for a hardware upgrade until July of 2009/2010. Nice one Steve.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I'm sensing. I wish they'd realize that the iPhone and other smartphones are not quite the same as any old thing you get for voice. Oh well, I guess I can just wait and hope until AT&T releases the details of the plan pricing/rules/etc. If it's going to be treated like any other phone then I'm not eligible anyway :).
 
SchneiderMan said:
that wont happen, hackers will an can hack anything with some time.
Click to expand...

Okay, imagine an independent chip in the iPhone that recognizes a physical feature of the AppleT&T SIM, and if it doesn't see it, it physically disconnects the SIM from the rest of the phone. You would have to modify the hardware or SIM in a physical (detectible, warranty voiding) way to unlock it. Have to. It's not connected to the software. Sure it might be easy to make a modification to the SIM, but it would be physical.
 
Tankgunk said:
Okay, imagine an independent chip in the iPhone that recognizes a physical feature of the AppleT&T SIM, and if it doesn't see it, it physically disconnects the SIM from the rest of the phone. You would have to modify the hardware or SIM in a physical (detectible, warranty voiding) way to unlock it. Have to. It's not connected to the software. Sure it might be easy to make a modification to the SIM, but it would be physical.
Click to expand...

ok, but lets not dream about that because its irrelevant.
that would cost more money and it will not be there
 
tsk tsk!!

The only useful update to the iPhone is the GPS. GPS would be a great asset to have.
3G? whatev'z. It's still slower than wifi...which is slow enough as it is. I mean, this is America. Our Internet speeds are pretty much slower Europes "Dial up speed". When I'm out of my house, I'm not browsing the web. I'm listening to music or Im on a subway train where I can't get a signal anyway.
All the apps are lame...SUPER LAME. Web apps in general are lame. I use jailbroken iPhone, use T-Mobile and have downloaded a few internal apps that are useful but, that's just 2 or 3. Imagine using AT&T and paying Apple for useless crap. Because that's what they will be posting in iTunes. EBay app? come on people. I'm running a business. Give us useful applications, or come up with a iPhone app builder that is a "click, drag and build"...almost like a new iLife or iWork application. Not many people can figure out Xcode or Cocoa/Cocoa touch and people need apps that are complimentary to thier needs. And those needs are different for every single person.
Steve Jobs was way off when he said that most people won't buy an iPhone due to the price. It's that lack of flexiblity of carriers that keeps people from buying it. I'm happy about my current iPhone. I have no reason to bump up to a new one. It's basically the exact same iPhone. Have fun with AScam&Scam...I'm sorry AT&T.
 
ATTpple learned....

Tankgunk said:
Okay, imagine an independent chip in the iPhone that recognizes a physical feature of the AppleT&T SIM, and if it doesn't see it, it physically disconnects the SIM from the rest of the phone. You would have to modify the hardware (or SIM) in a physical (detectible, warranty voiding) way to unlock it. Have to. It's not connected to the software.
Click to expand...

When Steve said they have learned a lot from the initial release of the iPhone. I guarantee you that the unlocking of the iPhone and using them on other carriers was #1 on the list of things learned. No way it is going to be possible without some major hardware hacking this time. iPhone 1 has a ton of value on eBay for those who want to hack the phone, but the 2.0 firmware version may end this as well. iPhone 2 will be protected from that happening again. ATTpple learned this lesson for sure. If you want to keep hacking your iPhone 1, then be very careful about loading 2.0. Steve and ATTpple want to control the masses, so conform and use the ATTpple network or go buy an HTC.
 
This has basically crushed my hopes. When I heard the iPhone would be sold for $199, I literally jumped out of my seat and yelled in excitement. I planned to sell my iPod touch and buy an iPhone as soon as they came out. "Perfect," I thought. "Now I'll be able to buy the iPhone to have, then when I get into college, I'll activate it since I won't have another phone anymore." Well, guess what, now I have to. There's gotta be some loophole, though...It doesn't make sense to me. So Apple is now getting none of the contract profits, so they're going to just allow AT&T to penalise people for just wanting to buy THEIR phone? Well, they've lost my purchase (not that that means much to me). Not because I don't want it, but because I can't afford a monthly plan in High School. Goddamn. -.-
 
SchneiderMan said:
ok, but lets not dream about that because its irrelevant.
that would cost more money and it will not be there
Click to expand...

My method could be done without a chip, using only a small switch positioned where a notch in the AppleT&T SIM would be, that would disconnect the SIM if it was depressed. Not expensive.
 
SchneiderMan said:
buy a $200 iphone with contract pay a termination fee $175, so you got a $375 iphone to do whatever you want, if you have bad credit then i dont know what you will do.. but $375 is not bad at all
Click to expand...

Don't forget the $39.99 for voice and $30 for the data for 1 month. Cancellation before 30 days = Return equipment
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back