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Apple Cracks Down On iPhone Unlockers
An anonymous reader writes "It looks like Apple and its wireless operator partners have finally figured out a way of cracking down on iPhone unlockers by making it a requirement to sign up for a contract before you can get your hands one. "It's obvious why this has happened though. This method means you're tied into a contract, or you're paying O2 and Apple a massive wad of cash for the privilege of owning a 3G iPhone. We're disappointed about this decision, but it does make business sense." Both ATT in the US and O2 in the UK are implementing the new activation system on July 11th, when the iPhone 3G goes on sale."
The contract lock-in insures that the new iPhone is more expensive than the last.
If you do the iPhone math, the new phone will cost you more than the older phone despite the "half the price" ad campaign.
If AT&T really drops free sms, it'll cost even more.
I don't mind paying more. However, for somebody like me not in a G3 area, why should I have to pay the G3 transfer higher prices?
Or you get the contract and immediately resell it on one of the contract trade sites: http://www.google.com/search?q=trade+cell+phone+contract
Italy does not have an "exclusive" carrier agreement. Also, France does not allow a phone to be sold only when tied to a contract. In fact, I think France forbids the selling a phone without an unlocked option. There's also some similar weirdness in Germany. So, regardless of what Steve said alluded to in his presentation, not much will change wrt the current iPhone options in Europe.
Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws-Plato
The iPhone alternative (for freedom lovers)
"This article explains how to get an even better mobile Internet experience, without having to do business with either AT&T or Apple--with no contracts and no $60 per month bill just to surf the Net."
(Surveillance State blog)