unlock

The exact details of AT&T's revenue-sharing agreement with Apple have not been disclosed, but one analyst thinks that over the two-year life of a user contract, the amount exceeds the actual price of the iPhone.

Silicon Alley Insider spotted a research note from Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster estimating that Apple is receiving $18 per month for each iPhone subscriber, under the revenue-sharing agreement between the two companies. Apple has confirmed that such an agreement exists, but has not shared the details about exactly how much cash it's getting from the revenue AT&T makes … Read more

Throughout all the hoopla over the hacking of the iPhone, it was never very clear how many people were actually trying to escape from AT&T. Apple ventured a guess on Monday.

During a conference call to discuss the company's blowout fourth quarter, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said that of the 1.4 million iPhones sold since June 29, 250,000 were bought with unlocking in mind.

"Where we don't know precisely how many people are doing that, our current guess is there were probably 250,000 of the 1.4 million that we … Read more

While reading AppleInsider today, I came across two stories about analyst opinions on the current state and future of the iPhone. And while both provide some valuable information about where Apple may stand in its contract with AT&T, they made me think -- what should Apple be doing to maximize profit and shareholder value?

And while my conclusion is based upon some complicated mathematical calculations, the result had nothing to do with bricking iPhones and everything to do with Apple maintaining its relationship with AT&T as well as iPhone unlockers. In fact, the result of my calculations may surprise you.… Read more

Free yourself from AT&T! The iPhone revolution is at hand! You'll no longer suffer the tyranny of forced cell phone use for at least another, uh, couple of weeks!

Through the magic of technology, it's now possible to unlock an iPhone from AT&T's network through a software download developed by iPhoneSimFree.com. Engadget and Gizmodo tested out the process, and it does appear that the software will let you use the iPhone on any GSM network either inside the U.S. or overseas.

It's not the first piece of iPhone unlocking technology. … Read more

My friend Pat and some of my other friends have been asking me whether or not unlocking an iPhone is legal.

As a lawyer, I'd prefer the question to be stated in another way: Is it unlawful to unlock an iPhone? (Perhaps I'm channeling Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City, but the way the question is phrased in the law can make all the difference).

While the question can be asked more precisely, the answer, as you may have guessed, is anything but precise. But if an iPhone is unlocked, I'm pretty sure you've voided … Read more

What would you give to get your hands on the world's first unlocked Apple iPhone? How about three more 8GB iPhones plus a Nissan 350Z? That's the price for which overnight teenage tech celebrity George Hotz, who unlocked the iPhone enabling it to work on any network, has agreed to part with his hacked gadget. According to his blog, Hotz accepted the offer on Saturday from Terry Daidone, the founder of cell-phone refurbishing company Certicell. If only Hotz had held out for a BMW or an Audi, he could have used his new ride to play music from … Read more

When Steve Jobs and company first envisaged the iPhone, a few things surely came to mind. First, Apple wanted a phone with an appealing design and advanced functionality. In essence, the company wanted a device that was nothing like its predecessors. And while it achieved this feat, Apple was still in need of a carrier. It went to Verizon and others, but it was AT&T that was able to offer it what it wanted: revenue sharing on activations and service plans. Basically, Apple was able to sell the device, make a profit and even capitalize on the iPhone'… Read more

One of the biggest gripes we've heard about Apple's iPhone has nothing to do with the headset itself; rather it's over the AT&Tcarrier exclusivity. While phone locking (and unlocking for that matter) is nothing new in the cell phone world, the iPhone is a special case considering how much hype still surrounds it.

That's why it was inevitable that someone would figure out how to unlock the iPhone and free it from its AT&T shackles. Though we've heard a lot of promises, mostly unfulfilled, a real, workable solution now seems to … Read more

One of the most popular questions regarding the Apple iPhone asks whether Apple will sell unlocked models. So far, the consensus has been that such a move is unlikely, but much to our amazement, we noticed today that PureMobile.com, a online cell phone retailer, is touting unlocked iPhones on its Web site. It appears to be the 8GB version of the phone in black (is there any other color?).

Now before you whip out your credit card, we have to stress that PureMobile won't allow you to buy anything at the time of this writing. It only says … Read more