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Engadget confirms software unlock for iPhone

In less than two months, Apple's iPhone has been successfully unlocked via software courtesy of iPhoneSimfree.com. The iPhone is currently tied exclusively to AT&T for the foreseeable future, but the new software hack allows users to hop to competing GSM networks such as T-Mobile.

According to Engadget, the unlock process took no longer than a few minutes and caused no harm to the iPhone used. Once unlocked, the iPhone was able to successfully make and receive calls using the T-Mobile network. For the most part, all other iPhone features are also intact including EDGE support and SMS send/receive. Visual voicemail isn't in the cards as it is an AT&T network-specific feature; however, normal voicemail is accessible using the software hack.

Engadget also notes that the software hack is completely upgrade and restore resistant. They verified this by performing a full system restore using the v1.0.2 update.

"Again: we can confirm with 100% certainty that iPhoneSIMfree.com's software solution completely SIM unlocks the iPhone, is restore-resistant, and should make the iPhone fully functional for users outside of the US," said Engadget's Ryan Block.

For those still a bit unsure of the validity of the iPhoneSIMfree.com's claims, Engadget has posted a small video to ease your mind.

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Hmmm
By PitViper007 on 8/24/2007 3:48:50 PM , Rating: 4
So how long will it be before Apple either sues iPhoneSimfree.com or tries to get them thrown in jail for the hacking they did to unlock the iPhone, or both?




RE: Hmmm
By majorpain on 8/24/2007 4:01:02 PM , Rating: 3
or simply buy iPhoneSimfree.com, hire the peeps that made it happen and simply unplug it... :D


RE: Hmmm
By crystal clear on 8/25/2007 2:49:02 AM , Rating: 2
Its cheaper to buy them rather than sue them - better & cheaper than paying those high priced lawyers/firms.


RE: Hmmm
By murphyslabrat on 8/27/2007 10:29:19 AM , Rating: 3
What I don't get is: Why the hell would Apple want to sue someone for allowing 5 times the user base? I have no idea what the current market-share standings are of the different providers(I just spent 15 minutes looking for something-to no avail), but I imagine that AT&T couldn't own more than 33% of the market, so Apple stands to gain considerable increase in sales of the iPhone.


RE: Hmmm
By cigar3tte on 8/27/2007 11:12:51 AM , Rating: 2
if anyone is suing this, should be AT&T/Cingular.


RE: Hmmm
By energy1man on 8/27/2007 3:13:31 PM , Rating: 4
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2006/posthearing/rep...

Link to library of congress copyright office's position on why unlocking phones should be legal.


RE: Hmmm
By brizz on 8/30/2007 5:05:24 PM , Rating: 2
I am sure Apple worked something into the contract with AT&T to where they get some of the money back from the overpriced plans that are forced on to the iPhone owner. If the phones are resold and not put on the AT&T network that money disappears.


RE: Hmmm
By murphyslabrat on 9/17/2007 12:38:02 PM , Rating: 2
However, that is one iPhone that may not have been sold in the first place.


RE: Hmmm
By Murst on 8/24/2007 4:01:30 PM , Rating: 4
I doubt you can get arrested for hacking your own phone... you own it. Its like getting arrested for hacking into your own computer or breaking into your own car.

However, there may be some issues with them distributing the software, although that'd have to be for a court to decide.

As far as I'm aware, you can do anything to something you own, as long as it doesn't cause harm to others.


RE: Hmmm
By Melric on 8/24/2007 4:04:58 PM , Rating: 1
Unfortunately, you can. Your car is not covered by the DMCA which has several anti reverse engineering provisions.


RE: Hmmm
By Murst on 8/24/2007 4:10:17 PM , Rating: 5
You do realize that the DMCA contains the following EXEMPTION :

quote:
Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network.


This is specifically *allowed* under the DMCA.


RE: Hmmm
By PitViper007 on 8/24/2007 4:38:01 PM , Rating: 2
Thanks. I knew there were exeptions, but didn't know that one specifically was in there.


RE: Hmmm
By SunAngel on 8/24/07, Rating: -1
RE: Hmmm
By masher2 (blog) on 8/24/2007 4:49:40 PM , Rating: 5
RE: Hmmm
By SunAngel on 8/24/07, Rating: -1
RE: Hmmm
By kamel5547 on 8/24/2007 5:53:19 PM , Rating: 3
I see nothing about out of date technologies in the clause. Neither was that reported by the broad media when this clause was first added...

IMHO you are misreading the clause.


RE: Hmmm
By Murst on 8/24/2007 5:53:54 PM , Rating: 4
I'm sorry, but exactly did you arrive at your conclusion from the DMCA? The portions you emphasized have nothing to do with the point you're trying to make.

There are other portions of the DMCA that apply to formats no longer being sold on the market, but that has nothing to do with cell phones.


RE: Hmmm
By deeznuts on 8/24/2007 5:38:18 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
If you believe that's an actual DMCA clause, this is your week to play the lottery and win.
Ouch! Maybe you need to see if it is or isn't an actual clause first, before spouting from the MOUF!

I do believe it is an actual DMCA clause, so if we all play and don't win, asskicking, your house, next Friday?


RE: Hmmm
By Samus on 8/24/2007 8:25:39 PM , Rating: 2
Right, limitations of modifying vehicles are usually specifically related to safety and emmisions. Not the ECU.

No safety or emmisions devices can be modified, such as removing catalytic convertors, carbon catch tanks, EGR systems or airbags (unless used excluseively for off-road use)


RE: Hmmm
By AToZKillin on 8/26/2007 6:37:02 PM , Rating: 2
Actually, the DMCA probably wouldn’t apply. FYI, the text of the DMCA says “No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.” By “this title,” it means Title 17 of the U.S. Code, which deals with copyright. So in a nutshell, the DMCA makes it illegal to crack code that prevents access to copyrighted material. Here, it looks like the code was protecting access to non-AT&T wireless networks, not copyrighted material. So unless Apple, AT&T, the government, etc., find some law besides the DMCA that unlocking the iPhone violates, there’s no case against iPhoneSimfree.com.