Free the iPhone from AT&T 314
Acererak was one of several readers who noted that DVD Jon has released information on unbricking an iPhone. You sacrifice all cel phone functionality of course, but you have an iPDA that will work on your WiFi. Currently the hack is windows only but it doesn't look very complicated.
Why "Of course"? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Why "Of course"? (Score:5, Interesting)
The interesting question would be if you could use any AT&T SIM card in the iPhone after activating it with this hack (or if not whether the hack could be changed so that becomes possible). If so, this allows you to completely avoid the "lock-in contract" by obtaining whatever the "I already have a suitable phone and I just want an AT&T SIM card with no lock in contract" plan is.
voip (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Or... Not (Score:4, Interesting)
Cancel within 4 days and you get the activation fee refunded; and since you are within 30 days there is no early termination fee.
Essentially you are buying a very expensive iPod/WiFi web browser.
The service providers are the problem. (Score:4, Interesting)
To me the activities the US carriers engage in is just as bad if not worse than DRM. It's a big problem and unfortunately I don't see many people calling attention to it.
Re:Yeah make it worthless, then I can afford one!! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Unlocking a Cell Phone is LEGAL (Score:3, Interesting)
In other words, the sim-lock defendings are nothing but BS from the Telecoms. They just don't want to admit that they are so greedy.
Re:Unlocking a Cell Phone is LEGAL (Score:3, Interesting)
The subsidy is based on the idea that you'll use your shiny new phone a lot. People who get a phone cheap and then hardly make any calls are money-losers for the phone companies, they're balanced out by those who use their phones a lot. This balancing has tremendous benefit for society - it means I can basically assume somebody will have a mobile phone regardless of their personal wealth, because the actual equipment is so damn cheap. Without locking, people would sign up for a contract to get a phone that is subsidised on the assumption of usage, then immediately swap the SIM for a cheaper pay as you go module. Now the original phone company is losing money because they bought you a phone but you aren't making any calls with them.
Now you could argue that any business model that involves (temporarily!) tying the phone to the company who paid for it is somehow immoral or wrong because it sounds like DRM, but that's an argument that won't carry much weight outside of slashdot. The system has worked well for a long time and has meant everybody can afford a phone regardless of their usage. Are there alternative business models that don't involve locking, yes of course, but would they allow poorer people who want a phone but don't use it much to be a part of the system ... probably not.
I'll repeat the point I made above - I'd be interested to know why Apple did an exclusive deal with AT&T. What's in it for AT&T is obvious, but what's in it for Apple if AT&T aren't subsidising the price and hoping to make their money back by attracting high-paying power users? I can't see any reason why Apple would do that if not to reduce the price for the consumer significantly, which is what sim locking is normally about, so it makes sense. If AT&T are not subsidising the product in any way, then I would also join those wondering what the point is. I'd really like to see a citation for your claim that AT&T don't subsidise the iPhone. Is that announced anywhere?
Re:Apple cares because they get a slice of the... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Its very hard to understand this (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Yeah make it worthless, then I can afford one!! (Score:3, Interesting)
Of course, I'm a pretty big guy and I don't wear tight pants - so YMMV.
In the winter, I've got coat pockets that make it even easier - in the summer, my shorts tend to have those big superfluous pockets, so that's a no-brainer too.
And the important part of 'the n800 is bigger' is that the nokia's screen is 800pixels wide.
Despite what Jobs would have you believe, the real internet is not 480 pixels wide, nor is it browsed by zooming in and out and sidescrolling as a matter of course.
As a mobile browser the iphone is far ahead of other phones, but it's still a ways behind opera (with flash) on the n800.
The n800 also has 2 SD slots, a usb port, a non-recessed-to-hell headset jack, is infinitely hackable and has a superior landscape thumbboard. Taken together it's exponentially better as a mobile platform. Particularly for anyone on this site.
The only advantage the iphone has over the n800 is integrated phone capability.
If you take that out (as DVD Jon has) the iphone costs far too much for far too little.
Re:Yeah make it worthless, then I can afford one!! (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm obligated to point out that the first generation Nano can play MPEG 1 and 2 videos full speed if you use Rockbox firmware.
Yea, the screen is small, and I'm totally ignoring your larger point.
It just needed to be said.
Here's how I freed an earlier AT&T-only phone (Score:2, Interesting)
I can confirm that it worked with an earlier AT&T-only phone on the pre-Cingular version of AT&T Wireless (circa 2002 version).
The phone is the Siemens S46. The unlock technique is simple.
Find somewhere without a cell signal. In my case, this is a corner of my basement, as long as the phone is in an old coffee can.
Turn off the phone.
Remove the AT&T SIM card.
Replace with a different SIM card.
Turn the phone back on.
Confirm you have no signal.
Dial 911.
Because the phone, by law, MUST make 911 calls, even without a SIM, the phone will eventually unlock and seek other GSM signals. With this phone, the Siemens S46, you can then stop the outgoing 911 call, attach the T-Mo signal, and you're in.
There you go.