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."

Comments

Re:Correction

[Chrisq]

And if you knowingly accept the subsidy from AT&T/O2, you can't ethically use another provider. If I thought they were ethically producing the phone, making sure the third world employees made a living wage, etc. I might care.

Too bad.

[DAldredge]

Too bad. I was going to buy one.

What Brilliant Morons

[flyneye]

What absolutely brilliant business people.They've thought so far ahead as to include reasons to:
        1.Steal and unlock the phone in question.
        2.Alienate the Mac-ies that usta love them with what will surely be a pathetic contract for the customer,ensuring that it will be the last "Mac" equipment they ever buy.
          3.Repeat all the same mistakes they made over the years with their ever regrouping and reinvented computer hardware line.(more customer alienation)
          Its always nice to see someone who's learned from their mistakes.I'm certain they can repeat them exactly.
          I'll wait for other manufacturers to come up with similar features on phones that can be used with the service of my choice(and it won't be long)and possibly better hardware as it's seen what bugs the i-phone spews forth.It's a given that anyone else will be cheaper as the laws of competition dictate.
          I suggest Appletosh jettison those in charge who "think different" and replace them with those,like me,who "think ahead".

Re:I couldn't disagree more

[Achromatic1978]

Jesus Christ, listen to you. "OMG, other mobile manufacturers are screwed! They're doomed, I tell you!"

What. The. Fuck?

Here's a little hint for you. Nokia sells more phones EVERY THREE DAYS than Apple EVER HAS.

Is the iPhone something they're watching and responding to? Of course it is. That's not saying anything.

"In store activation is going to be seen as a huge draw" - uhh, as opposed to EVERY OTHER PHONE ON THE MARKET?

Gruber: "Platforms have staying power, and, once entrenched, are very hard to displace."

Me: "Great. Thing is, the iPhone has less than THREE PER CENT of the market (and that's being generous). Symbian, for one, has upwards of SIXTY. I think it's a little premature to be saying that the iPhone platform is 'entrenched'."

Re:Thank goodness for Android

[theplate]

Yeah man, that Android is gonna smoke the iPhone someday! I can't wait to see a beta of the dialing application during Obama's second term. Android is Ogg Vorbis.