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iPhone Freed From AT&T, Twice
A very large number of readers sent in stories about one or the other of the two new claims to have unlocked the iPhone for use on other GSM carriers. A New Jersey teenager, George Hotz, posted instructions for unlocking the iPhone using a soldering gun and a lot of patience. This is from coverage in a local NJ paper: "If someone handed him an iPhone new out of the box, he could modify it in 'about an hour,' he said. A person following his directions might take 'a good 12 hours,' the teen estimated." Hotz has put up a YouTube video substantiating his claim, and is conducting an eBay auction for one of his two hacked phones. The other hack is by a commercial outfit called iPhoneSIMfree.com, whose claim Engadget has verified. The company will be selling licenses to the hack, minimum quantity 500, at a price not yet announced. These hacks are much bigger news for those outside America. Expect to see an industry spring up to meet European (and Asian?) demand for freed iPhones.
I think a hand-held video player that behaves like the iPhone is a worthy thing to want or have. I think a hand-held multi-media device that does 802.11 wireless access is DEFINITELY a worthy entertainment device to want or have. And yes, I realize the iPhone is all of that "and more."
But as a phone, it sucks and simply isn't worth the effort or money based on the fact that the user/owner can't change his/her own batteries. I pray the iPhone die a quiet but memorable death.
-1 troll me if you like, but there are other devices that are better and cheaper and for whatever limited set of features you want, there is probably a better alternative device that does those things better and cheaper. And let's face it... using AT&T's internet, it's SLOW. And I have yet to hear about an unlocked iPhone being used on any other carrier.