Teen untethers iPhone from AT&T

[gldstwmn]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/0....ap/index.html

NEW YORK (AP) -- A teenager in New Jersey has broken the lock that ties Apple's iPhone to AT&T's wireless network, freeing the most hyped cell phone ever for use on the networks of other carriers, including overseas ones.


The New Jersey teen collaborated online with four other people to develop the unlocking process.

George Hotz, 17, confirmed Friday that he had unlocked an iPhone and was using it on T-Mobile's network, the only major U.S. carrier apart from San Antonio-based AT&T that is compatible with the iPhone's cellular technology.

While the possibility of switching from AT&T to T-Mobile may not be a major development for U.S. consumers, it opens up the iPhone for use on the networks of overseas carriers.

"That's the big thing," said Hotz, in a phone interview from his home in Glen Rock.

The phone, which combines an innovative touch-screen interface with the media-playing abilities of the iPod, is sold only in the U.S.

AT&T Inc. spokesman Mark Siegel said the company had no comment, and referred questions to Apple. A call to Apple was not immediately returned. Hotz said the companies had not been in touch with him.

The hack, which Hotz posted Thursday to his blog, is complicated and requires skill with both soldering and software. It takes about two hours to perform. Since the details are public, it seems likely that a small industry may spring up to buy U.S. iPhones, unlock them and send them overseas.

"That's exactly, like, what I don't want," Hotz said. "I don't want people making money off this."

He said he wished he could make the instructions simpler, so users could modify the phones themselves.

"But that's the simplest I could make them," Hotz said.

The modification leaves the iPhone's many functions, including a built-in camera and the ability to access Wi-Fi networks, intact. The only thing that won't work is the "visual voicemail" feature, which shows voice messages as if they were incoming e-mail.

Hotz collaborated online with four other people, two of them in Russia, to develop the unlocking process.

"Then there are two guys who I think are somewhere U.S.-side," Hotz said. He knows them only by their online handles.

[Sarah]

Well, whatever. Cingular/AT&T/Whatever they call it now sucks, so people shouldn't be forced to use it just because they want an iPhone. That being said, I'm not going to pay 500 bucks for the thing and then start experimenting with its inner workings.

[JazmenFlowers]

I don't know...I'm kinda torn because I certainly benefit from all those hackers out there that have figured out different ways to do different things. then, on the other hand, I think it's widespread knowledge like this that ruins a lot of great things.

[irishgrl]

collaborated with 2 guys in RUSSIA???????? Im a child of the Cold War, this makes me nervous.

I'd be looking over my shoulder if I were him.....either that or Apple needs to co-opt him ASAP

[Chrislit18]

I know, Im surprised that ATT/Apple hasnt taken actions yet,
but that kid [and co.] must really know what their doign if they were able to do that.

[SuzeQuze]

Woot! Stick it to The Man!