Why the next update should not relock the non-AT&T iPhone...

[carfac]

per jobs it sounds like the official policy towards unlocking/hacking is not in its favor, and in fact seems as though their stance is to proactively prevent it.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itunes/news/index.cfm?newsid=19123

First off, I have a biased position- I use an unlocked phone. But I think there is a difference between DRM and phone locking. It IS illegal to circumvent DRM, and not so to unlock a phone.

I see this similarity- DRM is mandated by Music Publishers, and Locking is mandated (presumably) by ATT.

I still feel that Apple will close current holes that allow unlocking, but my gut feeling (wishful thinking) is that they will not ReLock in the process.

Dave

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

Let's assume that your guesstimations are correct.

If it is that obvious, then why didn't Apple just sell unlocked phones to the world?

I have a hard time believing that they would dismiss these sales if it would amount to a doubling of sales.

May be they dont want to sell that much. But with over 6 million new connections every month I cant believe Apple cant sell 100000 iPhones/month in India. They might not be able to sell 10000 iPods in India but a phone is a completely different thing. Everybody I know changes his mobile every 4-5 months.

Last night I told my friends that I m getting an iPhone for myself for bout 500$(incl shipping) all five of them jumped on me and asked to get one for them too if I wish to stay alive. Two of them didnt even know iPhone`s features except it`s 8GB and manufactured by Apple. And the biggest plus point for them was how cheap it was. No one expected that a phone with such advanced features and this much hype to cost anything less than 1000$. All of them want one. And so do their brothers and friends and friends of their friends. I can sell more than 100 iPhones within family n friends even at 600$. Everybody wants one.

So dont underestimate India as a consumer base for iPhone. And btw no one is going to get it with a contract. Not if it`s available unlocked. Launch it with a contract and no one will buy it even at 400$. Give it unlocked and people still are going to buy it at 700$.

 

[adamyoshida]

I think that Apple knows the score here. They'll pursue, enough to satisfy AT&T - but I doubt if they'll be all that aggressive.

If I was going to guess, I would guess that we're now up to somewhere in the range of five hundred or so unlocked iPhones just in Vancouver, British Columbia. That probably means something like five thousand in all of Canada.

Add to that the rest of the world - and the rate these things are moving - and I think that 50,000 (AT&T's estimate) is pretty low. At the present rate, with the price cut, I'd guess there will be 100,000 unlocked iPhones worldwide by this time next month.

 

[Mydel]

Everyone saying that you are legal to unlock your phone is wrong! It is NOT legal. When you buy an iPhone you are agreeing to use the ATT network, which means you are still under contract with ATT. When you sign that contract you agree to be with them for 2 years!

It is only legal to unlock your phone after your 2 year contract is up for any phone!

You got the phone to unlock by using a program the exploited the coding in the iPhone....this is NOT legal.

And where does it say?? I cant find it on my phone....It has to be damm small print

 

[carfac]

And where does it say?? I cant find it on my phone....It has to be damm small print

Damn you! Its right there on your screen. You accept that every time you swipe your finger to unlock... the EULA is wriiten on that pixel just to the right of "Unlock".