SIM Relocking Tool to Come

You've got to love those guys

/Strokes his Unlocked iPhone lovingly - It's alright my precious. You're safe now....

I wonder if the guys who sold the unlock kit for $100 have thought to sell the relock kit for another $100. That's just good business right there.

just dont upgrade new firmware!!!!

Why do the hackers have to do this? I applaud them for doing this, it is a responsible thing to do, but I would also think it would be something Apple might do, too.

I would think that Apple has the goal of getting the unlocked phones back to locked status- that is what their warning was all about. I would think it would be in Apple's interest to make a relocking tool that everyone would view as "safe". And it probably would not be too hard for them to do.

I am not saying that Apple has to, or I insist they do, or that I have a "right" to an Apple relocking tool. Nothing of the sort. I AM saying that is Apple was really so caring and concerned about this, it would be in their self interest to release a relock, and it would take little to no effort on their part.

just dont upgrade new firmware!!!!

Absolutely! It's hardly rocket science. Just wait a few days for the "open edition"* of the new firmware.


* expression borrowed from the PSP community.

just dont upgrade new firmware!!!!

Agreed! Why is this such big news? I walk in to work this morning, and two people ask "Oh did you hear, since your phone is on T-Mobile, it will be diconnected by the end of the week!"

Most people who hacked their iPhone knows that when a new firmware comes out (not just this upcoming one, but the two previous), its best to wait it out until things are confirmed. I don't see how this is any different now. I actually thank Apple for sending out this warning so that people will think twice about updating.

Why do the hackers have to do this? I applaud them for doing this, it is a responsible thing to do, but I would also think it would be something Apple might do, too.

I would think that Apple has the goal of getting the unlocked phones back to locked status- that is what their warning was all about. I would think it would be in Apple's interest to make a relocking tool that everyone would view as "safe". And it probably would not be too hard for them to do.

I am not saying that Apple has to, or I insist they do, or that I have a "right" to an Apple relocking tool. Nothing of the sort. I AM saying that is Apple was really so caring and concerned about this, it would be in their self interest to release a relock, and it would take little to no effort on their part.

Self-preservation dictates that they let someone else relock the phones. There are a number of ways to unlock the iPhone, none of them identical. If Apple releases a relock tool and it bricks someone's phone, they are responsible, or at least they will be seen as responsible. That's obvious enough. The iPhone Dev team will be fine. Anyone crazy enough to unlock their phone with a third party tool (and I don't say that pejoratively, because I would also do that if I needed to not be on AT&T) should be willing to use a third party tool to re-lock it to get future updates.

Why do the hackers have to do this? I applaud them for doing this, it is a responsible thing to do, but I would also think it would be something Apple might do, too.

I would think that Apple has the goal of getting the unlocked phones back to locked status- that is what their warning was all about. I would think it would be in Apple's interest to make a relocking tool that everyone would view as "safe". And it probably would not be too hard for them to do.

I am not saying that Apple has to, or I insist they do, or that I have a "right" to an Apple relocking tool. Nothing of the sort. I AM saying that is Apple was really so caring and concerned about this, it would be in their self interest to release a relock, and it would take little to no effort on their part.

Agreed. It would be in Apple's best interest to do so.

Agreed. It would be in Apple's best interest to do so.

Why should they spend their resources writing tools to fix phones that people are intentionally breaking, and doing so without the blessing of Apple, who clearly, clearly told the world this was an AT&T exclusive.

Agreed! Why is this such big news? I walk in to work this morning, and two people ask "Oh did you hear, since your phone is on T-Mobile, it will be diconnected by the end of the week!"

*snip*

Actually, this is what it's about. Both Apple and AT&T know that there's nothing they can do, either legally or technically, to re-lock iPhones without the user's consent. They also know that the hackers and tech-savvy users of the unlock software are also fully aware of this. The only thing that they can do is give out carefully crafted (and completely true) information, worded such that it will mislead and scare off the less technical users that might otherwise be tempted to try an unlock.

I noticed the same semantic tricks being played on Apple's UK website after the O2 launch. A couple of examples:

Question:

Can I “unlock” iPhone and use it with another wireless carrier?

Answer:

O2 is the exclusive wireless carrier for iPhone in the United Kingdom. If you currently use another wireless carrier, you can choose to transfer your number when you activate your O2 account.

What this implies:

No, O2 only.

What this means:

We're fudging the issue by talking about wireless rather than telephone providers. You can't use any other wireless providers because O2 are the only ones with EDGE in the UK. We're not saying anything about telephone service providers. See if you can work out why!

Another question:

Can I use the SIM card from my current mobile phone?

Answer:

You should use the SIM card that came pre-installed in the iPhone.

What this implies:

No.

What this means:

You can if you know what you're doing.