It has become easier than ever to buy an iPhone and unlock it for use on a non-AT&T GSM network, but I’ve got 3 good reasons you shouldn’t do it.
- Apple will break the unlock in the next update. Both the software and hardware unlocks appear to rely on hacks to firmware for the baseband, the chip that talks to the cellular network. This firmware has already been updated once, and there are strong hints that it will be updated in the next firmware release which will come before the end of the month when they roll out the the iTunes WiFi music store.
- Apple will break the unlock in the update after that. The software unlock relies on a buffer overrun bug in the main iPhone firmware. This kind of bug is often a security problem, and will likely be patched when they release features or fix other bugs. (Update: If the iPod Touch is any indication, Apple is going to make it more difficult to get 3rd party apps onto the iPhone, which will complicate any software unlock.)
- Apple will release cool new features. Sure, you can pass up software updates, but how long will you be able to hold out as Apple keeps on rolling out cool new features for your phone?
- Apple will keep breaking future unlocks with software updates. Chances are that the iPhone hackers will continue to unlock the iPhone each time Apple relocks it, at least for a while. The problem is, we don’t know how long it will take them to do it. More importantly, at some point the best of the iPhone hackers are going to get tired of playing cat & mouse with Apple and move on to work on something newer and cooler.
- Apple may be releasing a fully supported iPhone in your country soon. European’s may be able to buy iPhones as early as this coming Tuesday.
You may still decide the risks are worth it to have an unlocked iPhone, but my advice would be to wait and see what happens over the next couple of weeks. Will Apple relock phones? How long will it take the hackers to create a new unlock?
That’s all very true. It really depends on where do you live. If you’re from USA that’s really no point. AT&T is an annoyance but bearable. In Europe and Asia, the iPhone support will come. It is official. It can take a few months but it will be there.
Here in South America, mainly Brazil, the conversation is different. Apple is virtually non-existent here. The Apple company here was without a president for years, just to give a hint of how bad things are for Apple here. We don’t have Apple Stores and we can’t buy on the USA store because it requires a USA address, even if you do have international credit cards.
So, the next firmware is pointless to us because its main feature is the iTunes Store, which we can’t use. Of course, there will be newer features soon. It’s a trade off: we choose that we like the iPhone and we want to use it here, but with the compromise of no additional upgrades anymore.
My hope is that the system itself stays compatible enough between upgrades. That way maybe we will be able to extract individual Apps and repackage it as backports for older firmwares. There already is Installer.app and the PXL format. How long until someone opens a new firmware, isolates the different bits and repackage it for us to reinstall? Just an idea.
In the meantime, I am very happy to be able to use my iPhone here in Brazil, all activated and unlocked. Congratulations for the iPhone Dev Team for their hard work.
However, in some European countries the law does not allow to sell locked phones or the providers must provide the unlocking codes. I doubt that in these countries you will be able to buy an iphone.
gaaah!! i want one tho! when will it come to canada
i was planning on getting one from the US in a couple of weeks. but now im not so sure!
Where can i buy unloacked iphone, a reliable source will be highly appreciated…
Thanks,
Vivek
You can buy them in some kiosks in the malls here in Montreal. It`s true that they are unlocked and can`t accept firmware updates but by the time wireless carriers in Canada get their butts in gear there will be an iphone v2.7.6 using a foled display.
miraaaaaaaa no puedes comprarlooo
I dont understand Apple why they only sell through one company in Denmark .We are angry at Apple and I really concider not to buy and boycut Apple and They also get to have a bad reputation :no mms,and extra locked and no tv ……too bad kris from Dennmark