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Unlocked iPhone Ads Anyone?
Seeing that this blog is currently the first web link for the search term "unlocked iphone", and seeing that I am interested in doing everything and anything to support and popularize the idea that a phone needn't and shouldn't be tethered to a wireless carrier, I hereby accept any ads for legit unlocked iPhones. Legit means the phones actually work when you put a sim card from another carrier in them. I don't really care if they are legit in the AT&T/Apple view of the world.
Leave me a comment to this post and I'll contact you and we'll figure out how to make it happen.
July 4, 2007 in Venture Capital and Technology | Permalink
Comments
I'd raise you one but you have more readers. I want an iPhone that lets me use its WiFi connections to make and receive VoIP calls. I'm offering a post and a FREE ad on my blog for the hacker who makes that work http://blog.tomevslin.com/2007/07/an-iphone-id-bu.html
A unlocked iPhone certainly would be a step in the right directiion, though.
Posted by: Tom Evslin | Jul 4, 2007 6:51:55 PM
the day I can run the iphone on T-mobile is the day I buy an iphone. Someone I don't think apple is going to stand in anyones way (see iTV hacks). ATT is another story.
Posted by: Daniel | Jul 5, 2007 6:14:15 AM
I don't think many people who know how the software itself works are going to want to help you here. Even assuming Apple opens up the API's to allow us to develop small applications to do things like VOIP (which is possible), they WON'T let us down to the level where we can tinker with the firmware. Further, we all signed non-disclosure agreements in order to get certain source materials from Apple, and I'm sure any iPhone SDK will also contain a list of what can and can't be done LEGALLY.
That being said, anyone who found a way to do such a thing would have Apple lawyers on him like a fly on a dung heap, and would be well deserving of it.
Now, an outside hacker, working totally white, IF he was handed an iPhone (not bought one because there are similar legal agreements there also) could theoretically tinker with it to get what you propose to work. However Apple has already likely considered the possibility and added countermeasures to the iPhones software, firmware, and even likely its hardware as well.
You might be better off waiting the 5 years it takes before Apple opens the iPhone to other carriers, or, if the thing really takes off, the three years it will take for the other carriers to start a court battle over "Apple controlling who can and can't offer cell phone service because 80% of the people out there want Apple branded phones".
Don't think this could happen? Look what's happening now with the iPod and the iTunes Store . . . .
Other cell phone makers have gotten a big wet splash in the face. Except phones as good or better than the first general iPhone within two years. Of course, by then Apple is likely to be 5 years further ahead ;-)
Posted by: Stephen Evans | Jul 5, 2007 12:52:23 PM
I remember that something like that happened few years ago with 3 in Italy; they locked their phones to their SIM card. If I do remember correctly the antirust ruled against 3 and they forced them to open their system. Now you can exchange phones and sim cards as you wish. Especially if you like me travel a lot overseas.
thanks
Posted by: Marco Bellazzi | Jul 5, 2007 2:35:43 PM
Fred,
Would you be interested in posting a bounty for a verifiable hack to unlock the iPhone? My company recently offered a bounty to get the Asterisk Open Source PBX running on the Apple TV platform. It took less than four days before a team of Apple hackers (http://www.appletvhacks.net/) got the system up and running.
Bounties generally identify the overall goal (i.e. unlock the iPhone) and then list a set of qualifications (i.e. must not required opening the case, must be simple enough that non-Geek mortals can execute the mod, etc.).
If you would be interested in posting a bounty I would be willing to go in with you. I want to be able to install 3rd party software (including a VoIP client) on the iPhone.
Cheers,
Steve
Steve Sokol
Sokol & Associates, Inc.
http://www.sokol-associates.com
Asterisk: Powering The VoIP Revolution
Posted by: Steven Sokol | Jul 5, 2007 5:48:13 PM
Walt Mossberg said, in today's WSJ, that the iPhone won't work at all without activation, specificly can't use it to wifi browse.
Maybe this is just ATT and not unlocked phones.
Posted by: rick | Jul 5, 2007 11:39:25 PM
I also would go in on the a bounty.
keep me posted.
Regards,
Anton Snegiroff
Lunapark Entertainment.
Posted by: Anton Snegiroff | Jul 6, 2007 5:10:42 PM
I also would go in on the a bounty.
keep me posted.
Regards,
Anton Snegiroff
Lunapark Entertainment.
Posted by: Anton Snegiroff | Jul 6, 2007 5:11:45 PM
Hi Everyone
I think you all will really hear where I am coming from on this one. I have been an ATT wireless customer in the USA since they brought on their GSM unlimited plan for 99.99. They have done everything to get me to switch to a new plan and even try to tell me that I need to switch to a Cingular plan, but I held strong and still have the plan. Now I can't even use any features on the Iphone I bought with my old sim or the new Iphone sim card that is now officially with ATT.
What grinds me is that I put up with the horrible service they initially had and never even bothered them. I figured it was new and would get better, which it did. Now I can't even use my Iphone and none of the managers or PR reps will not do anything. Wall Street Journal does not care. Thought maybe someone could help me as I already am on the network, I just need the sim part unlocked. My other unlocked phones work great.
I and millions of others are having this problem and I found someone with a similar story here.
http://www.collegehighway.com/article.php?sid=218&mode=thread&order=0
Either way, I really appreciate everyone thoughts and hope you have a wonderful day.
Kindest Regards,
Scott Loflin
Posted by: Scott | Jul 6, 2007 7:03:49 PM
OK, So I am about a month late to post here, but as you may have heard 3rd party gui apps are now being released. It should not be long now until we get a VOIP or sip client on the iphone.
Would anyone else be intrested in putting up $ for a bounty to make an open source VOIP / SIP client for the iphone?
-LiquidIce
http://iphonehacking.blogspot.com
Posted by: LiquidIce | Aug 5, 2007 12:33:06 AM
