How many here have an unlocked iPhone?

[aerospace]

To help sort out some controversy as to how many Iphones are really unlocked, lets see the percentage here as a sample.

My best guesses:

5-10k worldwide based on people not knowing the phone can be unlocked, being in a contract already and can't get out, not knowing how or where to get unlock software, etc.

 

[Goldenbear]

You left out the biggest reason the vast majority of people don't have unlocked iPhones: THEY DON'T CARE!

Also, I doubt any poll on this (or any other) site will accurately reflect the "Real World". This site (and others) tend to attract a larger percentage of people who are most likely to hack their toys (the geeks, if you will).

 

[aerospace]

that is the point

...if only 5% of people here have an unlocked phone for example then in the world of all iphone owners the percentage is probably less than 1

 

[CalBoy]

that is the point

...if only 5% of people here have an unlocked phone for example then in the world of all iphone owners the percentage is probably less than 1

I hardly think the five or six votes you have so far is a very good sample. Maybe if you sold your poll to Gallup, you'd be on to something Though, your poll should ask non iPhone owners if unlocking makes a difference to them. That would give you a better picture of what you seek.

 

[Sobe]

To help sort out some controversy as to how many Iphones are really unlocked, lets see the percentage here as a sample.

My best guesses:

5-10k worldwide based on people not knowing the phone can be unlocked, being in a contract already and can't get out, not knowing how or where to get unlock software, etc.

The percentage of people who have an unlocked iphone is going to be considerably higher here than in the general population. How high I have no idea, but it's a very skewed poll based on the population you are asking.

 

[CalBoy]

The percentage of people who have an unlocked iphone is going to be considerably higher here than in the general population. How high I have no idea, but it's a very skewed poll based on the population you are asking.

Well, according to the poll results thus far, 65% of the people who voted don't have an unlocked phone. But otherwise, I agree that this population is skewed, and that the poll won't be terribly reliable or accurate.

 

[KD7IWP]

But it's just so much fun! I'm curious myself to know how many MR folk have unlocked theirs.

 

[Sobe]

Well, according to the poll results thus far, 65% of the people who voted don't have an unlocked phone. But otherwise, I agree that this population is skewed, and that the poll won't be terribly reliable or accurate.

That's actually not true at all, and a classic problem with how people interpret polls.

I'm sure it will be very accurate and revealing ... about the users of this site.

It's when people extrapolate data that you can get into trouble.

If you're interested in this forum's tendencies with their iPhones, it should be perfectly accurate and appropriate for the task.

 

[CalBoy]

That's actually not true at all, and a classic problem with how people interpret polls.

I'm sure it will be very accurate and revealing ... about the users of this site.

It's when people extrapolate data that you can get into trouble.

If you're interested in this forum's tendencies with their iPhones, it should be perfectly accurate and appropriate for the task.

I didn't pay attention to the fact that he wrote, "people here." Ok, never mind

 

[Sobe]

I didn't pay attention to the fact that he wrote, "people here." Ok, never mind

well from the way the OP worded his post along with the poll, it looks like an effort to extrapolate from this population.

One certainly can do that if one wishes, but it's sort of asking for a result that doesn't accurately reflect the population at large.

Polls are generally very good at telling you exactly what you ask -- nothing less and nothing more.

 

[CalBoy]

well from the way the OP worded his post along with the poll, it looks like an effort to extrapolate from this population.

One certainly can do that if one wishes, but it's sort of asking for a result that doesn't accurately reflect the population at large.

Polls are generally very good at telling you exactly what you ask -- nothing less and nothing more.

Yes, I know the potential of polls quite well; I'm a poli sci major I thought this poll was titled, "is your iPhone unlocked or locked?" That's why I thought the OP wasn't going to get good results. However, since the title clearly singles out the people of this forum, I can see how it can still work (assuming that's what the OP wanted).

Edit: The thread and poll do ask, "is your iPhone unlocked?" Those titles don't mention anything about "here" that's only in the OP's post. I knew I wasn't reading it ALL incorrectly

 

[aerospace]

Edit: The thread and poll do ask, "is your iPhone unlocked?" Those titles don't mention anything about "here" that's only in the OP's post. I knew I wasn't reading it ALL incorrectly

It helps to read the post entirely

anyone its just for fun, i'm not creating a report for the CEO of Tmobile or mailing my findings to the IRS....

 

[CalBoy]

It helps to read the post entirely

anyone its just for fun, i'm not creating a report for the CEO of Tmobile or mailing my findings to the IRS....

I know. It's actually a good poll for MR; I just got thrown by the title and the actual content of your post.

 

[ZaniCWB]

To help sort out some controversy as to how many Iphones are really unlocked, lets see the percentage here as a sample.

My best guesses:

5-10k worldwide based on people not knowing the phone can be unlocked, being in a contract already and can't get out, not knowing how or where to get unlock software, etc.

Check the poll options, because there's no such thing as an AT&T iPhone... there's only Apple iPhone (and the CISCO one, but it doesn't matter for this poll) and if you want real statistic, at least for MacRumors population, ask the moderators to put a poll in the main page (I know, probably they will refuse to do it, but asking doesn't hurt).

AT&T is only the service provider, it doesn't own the thing. Also, I can go to an AT&T store and buy one without having to sign a contract or activating it. BTW, the poll is biased in my opinion.

 

[aerospace]

ask the moderators to put a poll in the main page (I know, probably they will refuse to do it, but asking doesn't hurt).

yea that'll happen

AT&T is only the service provider, it doesn't own the thing. Also, I can go to an AT&T store and buy one without having to sign a contract or activating it. BTW, the poll is biased in my opinion.

if you want use it you have to activate or hack it yes, which is what unlocking basically is. 6 of one, half a dozen of another

 

[CalBoy]

Check the poll options, because there's no such thing as an AT&T iPhone... there's only Apple iPhone (and the CISCO one, but it doesn't matter for this poll) and if you want real statistic, at least for MacRumors population, ask the moderators to put a poll in the main page (I know, probably they will refuse to do it, but asking doesn't hurt).

Only one option is written as "ATT iPhone" and it is that way because I think the OP wanted to specify that the phone was still using an ATT contract, but that the voter had chosen to unlock it for the fun of it. It could have been better worded, but I think that was the intent of calling it "ATT iPhone."

AT&T is only the service provider, it doesn't own the thing. Also, I can go to an AT&T store and buy one without having to sign a contract or activating it. BTW, the poll is biased in my opinion.

This is correct, but like I wrote above, I think the reasoning was based on the unique nature of that option.

How is the poll biased? Please explain

PS: OP, the poll displays "Iphone" instead of "iPhone." Did you type it this way, or is it an error?

 

[alljunks]

I have ATT, but I will unlock it just because I can...

 

[aerospace]

so how many people are not going to buy an iphone now that steve claims the will be trying to break it?

not sure why but i'm even more excited to get one. guess its the rebellious part of me... if i'm not allowed its so much sweeter!

 

[CalBoy]

so how many people are not going to buy an iphone now that steve claims the will be trying to break it?

not sure why but i'm even more excited to get one. guess its the rebellious part of me... if i'm not allowed its so much sweeter!

Personally, it does kind of bother me that Jobs would say that he's going to make it tougher for the consumer to unlock it, but I can understand it from his point of view. ATT and 02 wouldn't be too happy if a million iPhones are sold, but no one activates it. They're giving up a lot to partner wiith Apple, and they expect something in return. In a way, Jobs is simply protecting his business interests.

However, if you buy an iPhone, it is your property, and you can do whatever you want with it. If you want to unlock it, then you should be able to unlock it without having to go through a bunch of hoops. In this case, my sentiments lie with the people who have other carriers. Phones are the property of the person who bought it, not the company that made it.