Dubious achievement: Hackers ‘jailbreak’ the iPhone 3G

I could not imagine buying a cell phone that could not be unlocked. Don’t iPhone owners travel internationally?

I’ve been to Europe and Asia in the last 18 months, and bought local SIM cards for my ATT Tilt (a mobile Windows phone) in countries, and got vastly lower calling rates in those countries, not to mention a local phone number. I unlocked my Tilt by owning it 3 months with ATT, and calling up their international support and asking for the unlock code, which they gave me.

The revenue lost by ATT was about zero, because if they had not unlocked my Tilt, I would just have bought cheap phones (which would cost less than a small amount of roaming time) in those countries and thrown them away when I returned to the the US. The whole thing of not unlocking iPhones is silly, people have signed a 2 year contract.

And now the hacker do another extreme work.They have launch the pwnagetool-201

A lot of people here work under the premise that everything Apple does is for the money.

Of course Apple is in business to make money. I am an old hippie with very progressive leanings and so am sympathetic to that argument.

HOWEVER! I DO believe that things are not that simple. There are many motivations here. I think that the over riding motivation of Steve Jobs and of Apple, os to provide a great experience for the end user. (and to make a profit while doing that.)

In oder to provide the best user experience, it IS necessary to protect the user from malware. It is a great annoyance to have your computer immobilized by malware or a buggy program, It is another to have that happen to your phone. It could even be life threatening. People use their phones to cal 911, not their computers.

So, I - for one - see value in the App Store model. As for the fee they take - they are providing a service which at 30% many consider very cheap. And for the free Apps? 30% of 0 is 0. It seems like a grat plan to me.

The problem would arise IF they should be denying programs to the App store on any criteria other than security (or perhaps quality). Why don’t these programmers just write their programs for the App store? There is already (I believe) one VOIP program. Let’s see if these other ones come along or not.

Peace all!

In order to do that, to

The new iPhone is a great device. Almost impossible to hack or unlock this great devise. The Apple’s iPhone is now also supporting programmer’s applications and games.

JAILBREAK THAT HIPPIE!

cynik

Don’t be fooled by Apples propaganda. Apple says it’s the carriers that want the phone locked down and i’m sure there is some truth to that, but Apple has always been anti-competitive with it’s direct competitors. For example I can play apple encoded (ACC) music via windows media player but Apple doesn’t let me play WMA (Windows media) on an ipod. I could add tons more to this list but this is just a simple example.

Don’t be surprised if a many useful apps never make it on to the iTunes app store do to Apples anti-competitive actions.

P.S. I own a iPhone and a mac. Mac fan boys fail to see Apple as anti-competitive but they are.

Does imposing your “freedom” on others make you or others free? Apple is free to make any products and put in any regulations as it pleases. Why pay for it and complain it works the way as Apple wants? Go buy two cans and a string and see how far we have come to make a phone call.

Another neat App which allows you to make free calls and Skype Calls from via WIFI - WITHOUT a SIM card is fring:

http://www.fring.com/download/iphone

Again, only available on open (unlocked) iPhones.

Gerald, The point is the Apple Apps comprise a small subset of what’s out there from around the world. Apple Apps require access to a local Apple store - not easily done overseas or where only unlocked iPhones are available.
Some examples of Apps that have/are available:
1. Voice activated dialing App - “Just say “Mom” and it dials Mom.
2. VideoRecorder
3. Camera with zoom, timer etc. (CameraPro)
4. ScreenCapture
5 Compass
6. Periodic Table
7, WiFi access point logger
just a few of about a thousand available BUT not on the
Apple Apps store. Hopefully, Apple will open up to more developers around the world, and the need for parallel “open Source” development will decrease but in the meantime if I want to use my iPhone as a videoRecorder, the App store has nothing to offer.
Also, unlocking is required to insert SIMS while overseas,
or travelling from one coutry to another without encountering exhorbitant roaming fees.
Hopefully, Apple and AT&T will come up with attractive alternatives to enrich the iPhone experience without the need for Jailbreaking for more applications and unlocking to insert SIMS when travelling overseas.

So the Apple iPhone 3G got hacked and “jailbroken”, so what? The orginal reason why the last iPhone/iPod Touch got jailbroken was to install unauthorized 3rd party applications. Since Apple posted their iPhone/iPod Touch SDK and set up their App Store on iTunes, why would you want to risk breaking the warranty to get 3rd party apps when you can get them at the app store for either free or a small fee? If I had developed one of these “jailbroken” apps, I could get the SDK for free, then when it’s thoughly tested then hook up with Apple’s development program for $99 or $199 (I think) for enterprise apps, then post the app on the App Store and either charge a fee for the app or post it for free. So in short, what the point?

I haven’t re-jailbroken my iPhone after 2.0, but there are several Apps I miss and would happily pay to use. Apple has to approve them first, though.

Touchpad Pro is probably the best example. It allows you to use the multi-touch display on an iPhone or iPod Touch, rather than a mouse, to control a computer. Just as Apple built an App called Remote that makes the independently developed app called Signal unnecessary. I would expect them to do the same with something like Touchpad Pro.

I’m a huge Apple fanboi, but I also think it’s important to pay developers for innovative work. I’ll gladly pay for Touchpad Pro in the App Store, but if Apple doesn’t want to let me, I’ll jailbrake the phone so I can buy it directly from the developer.

I find the complaints that Apple is interfering with customer “rights” in how they use their iPhones. If you treat the iPhone like a toy, and it doesn’t work as a cell phone, then you lose your warranty. Hmm. Apple’s software upgrades turn it into a brick.

Well, I have a brick here that if Apple would provide me with an free upgrade that could turn it into a cell phone, I would really be happy. In fact, I have a whole stack of bricks !

This idea of anti-trust laws needing to be enforced is pretty interesting. I think it is an antiquated notion, a cute but feeble ideal that has no place in the modern political world.

Remember, it isn’t Apple who put the iPhone in jail. It is the networks. Apple needed to cut a deal with unlimited data: without it, nobody could afford to use the thing. In return, networks wanted safety for their golden goose. So Apple made sure the iPhone could not be used to its full potential, as a mobile broadband modem, as a VOIP phone, etc.

The key point is the cost to the consumer for mobile data. THAT is the golden goose. If you think AT&T make a lot of money selling you the right to use the airwaves of your great patriotic nation (and they do), it is nothing compared to the tax revenue that is gathered selling the airwaves to the corporate sector.

So, for example, when you break your iPhone out of jail…. then what? So what? What can you do? Sure there are lots and lots of apps available, but how do you actually use your phone? Pay for mobile data on an unlocked contract?

How? Exactly, how, and how much does that cost?

There’s the rub. It doesn’t matter if you set your iPhone free. The network is still going to have its pound of flesh if you try to use the airwaves. Your airwaves. Their airwaves. Yours, that were sold, for your benefit.

Welcome to corporate feudalism. You pay tax to support a state that sells you, body and soul, to corporations, who make you pay for everything you do.

Simple things as ” it will brick your phone..” If you follow the instructions and not get click happy and read… their will be no such thing happening to your iphone.. Just another threat by a big company to hold people to there paid products.

Most phones are locked into networks. Why can’t I buy a generic phone and go with any provider? It’s all about the money boys. I’m really sick of it.

Yupp..said no to At&t.and yes to
iPhone 3G unlock

I was in Europe for 9 weeks and used local SIMS in
my iPhone to avoid exhorbitant AT&T charges.
2. I use a neat video recorder app available on my iPhone. I understand Apple has not released a videorecorder app on its App site yet. The one I use is a free download initially.
3. I use a camera App with zoom, timer and numerous options not available among Apples 500 approved Apps
4. There must be several thousand Apps available for free download, many which otherwise would not be available.
4. On a bright note, as with many, I swore I’d never return to AT&T, but I reluctantly joined before needing to unlock my iPhone to go overseas. So far, the new AT&T seems much improved over the old AT&t monopoly days, but typical AT&T folks have a long way to go to get up to Apple employee competence, so on technical issues, such as turning of the US data plan when overseas, I’ve had to get an Apple expert on the line to explain to the AT&T emploee how to temporarily remove the US data plan while overseas. Many would probably just given up in disgust but with Apple on you side, AT&T seems to listen.

The last jailbreaks took as much work as plug and click, and everything was done for you in about two minutes. The database of apps available on jailbroken iphones is much larger than the apple store.

A lot of us may think it is not worth it, but once you do it, it is hard to go back, best of all you can find a lot of the paid apps on a jailbroken iphone for free.

Another misconception, if you “BRICK” your phone, you can always restore it, so there is no real way to screw up.

Posted By Ben Gagnon, Bloomington Indiana : July 20, 2008 11:28 am
“Hacking the Iphone is of more value than establishing the very freedoms that allow you to express your opinions?”

The US constitution is worth nothing if we lack the will to demand the freedoms it gives us.

The real mystery is why you feel it necessary to make a personal attack. Could it be because you knew your argument was flawed?

A valid point was made that a company should be permitted to market its product as it sees fit; the Declaration of Independence made reference to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and the Bill of Rights guarantees certain things. None of the foregoing contemplated one having the right to use an iPhone on whatever network one wanted. However, the notion that a company should not be permitted to sell a product that will only work on a certain network is anticompetitive and indeed unlawful in some parts of the world (e.g., Finland).

all u guys who r defending apple r idiots ..at&t shouldnt have a monopoly on the iphone thats why so called HACKERS cracked it now we can use it on other networks so we arent ass rapped with monthly charges from at$t
…good job guys dont listen to the haters kkep up the good work …

What a bizarre idea that you purchase something yet do not have the right to use it as you wish. Bring back anti-trust enforcement, it shouldn’t take hackers to enforce consumers rights to use what they purchase.

Imagine an auto maker trying to pull the same stunt. A car that only runs on there highways, has special seals to prevent installation of any but there own products. Thats exactly what anti-trust laws are for, lets start enforcing them, and stop letting the concept of intellectual property grow without bounds.

I would never unlock my iPhone. What a waste of effort. Hopefully the iPhone dev team guys get picked up by a company and are put to good use.

I think it’s hilarious that another commenter thinks this struggle is as important as our basic freedoms. What an idiot. What about Apple’s freedom to build and sell their product however they choose. You are under no obligation to buy anything from them so freedom has nothing to do with it.

“The cause served by such efforts is as noble as that of the founding fathers of my nation and no less important….possibly more important in fact.”
- Doc

Really? Hacking the Iphone is of more value than establishing the very freedoms that allow you to express your opinions ( no matter how idiotic they are)?

How you got through medical school (if you ever did) is a complete mystery to me.

“Ok ok ok, it’s fun and satisfying to buck the “man” and break open a restricted environment. The iPhone environment is restricted for a reason - most users don’t want to have to deal with any more stability issues than absolutely necessary, and by vetting applications Apple keeps the buggiest out, and presents a safe way for developers to reach iPhone users. Of course Apple take’s a cut, but they are the sales channel so are entitled.”

I guess you’ll need to step aside from big brother, and if you think the program is buggy… not use it.

Apple’s main concern is not stability. don’t fool yourself, it’s revenue, revenue, revenue. if it wasn’t revenue, why didn’t we have a 3G iPhone before? I can tell you why… dollar signs, and loads of them. the first iPhone release was geared to say “Lets make sure we make the most money off of this incase it’s a total bust.”

To this day I still can’t believe no one batted an eye at the 2-year contract full priced iPhone… and Steve Jobs unveils the idea that your new 3G iPhone is “Less expensive”, when the truth is that now it’s “Subsidized.” like it should have been before - to proove my point attempt to buy an iPhone without a contract, and see how much AT&T charges you. Officially - 499 for the 8GB and 599 for the 16GB. I don’t applaud Apple for correcting mistakes. Perhaps now that the bugs are worked out, they can work out a way to work in a nice free method for developers to make programs for the thing - like maybe voice recognition software? (will not consider buying until this is an option - my POS 100 dollar Motorola can do it, why can’t the 499 Apple do it?)

Open Source is the term used for software freely provided to the public with few or no restrictions for such use. It’s easy for the average consumer to be convinced that someone else should be able to dictate to them what is allowed on their personal hardware and how and when and where and how much they can use it. A real smart company in today’s tech market would make everything free or really cheap and offer comprehensive packages (platinum editions)for the discriminating consumer instead of waving the red flag at the hacker community and treating consumers like mindless tech-idiots.

Ok ok ok, it’s fun and satisfying to buck the “man” and break open a restricted environment. The iPhone environment is restricted for a reason - most users don’t want to have to deal with any more stability issues than absolutely necessary, and by vetting applications Apple keeps the buggiest out, and presents a safe way for developers to reach iPhone users. Of course Apple take’s a cut, but they are the sales channel so are entitled.

Locking the carrier just supports the business model, which is ultimately determined by the cellular industry model of subsidizing phones by way of lower initial prices to get people to sign up for plans. The main point is that this phone offers greater functionality for a fair price vs. its competition, and that Apple has established a business model that is based on reasonable compromises to give stability and to provide Apple and Apple’s carriers with sustainable revenues.

Apple has also provided an engaging challenge for the pwning community. So who loses?

Apple will never release an app that lets you use the phone as a modem for your computer, even though you’re paying for unlimited data. This is the only way to avoid buying another $200 modem and paying another 60 buck a month.

So what happens when people start writing software with bugs (or viruses) that deliberately picks random phone numbers and just starts dialing them?

A few million phones… all start making 1000s of random calls to people.

Fun?

The article misses the point, and perfectly displays the lack of understanding on the part of those in the financial world and (and government). The efforts to free users from the restrictions on their devices, placed there by entities such as Apple and Microsoft, transcends the matters addressed in the article. I am no “hacker”, though I was a network admin before I was a physician and am very in ouch with the issues at hand. These issues are core concepts of freedom and liberty, they are not to be relegated to the side as if they are solely the concern of a “subculture” or “niche”. The world now virtually runs on technology, and the world community will not tolerate the restrictions on freedom by large corporations, or anyone for that matter. The cause served by such efforts is as noble as that of the founding fathers of my nation and no less important….possibly more important in fact.

you clearly got no concept of what iphone “device” users wants and needs. apple has not accepted a single app that controls the network elements of the phone. not one!! meanwhile. he jailbreak app store has plenty of them and more coming. to top it off, who wants to be locked into apple’s app store. a music file is one thing, an app’s a little different. there is maintenance, upgrades … all subject to apple’s review. finally, who wants to be with att?? i’d nearly pay anything not having to be with at&t. they are the absolute lowest of the low. so as far as i’m concerned my needs for unlock/jailbreak are as pertinent as they were a year ago. looking at the download rates, i’m not the only one. say no … to at&t.

Don’t be fooled by this clueless reporter, you’ll always be able to hit restore if something does go wrong.

And just to deepen the article a little more, the main reason why people are “pawning” their phone is for the free apps, because what you, mister “news guy” don’t understand is that, yes maybe 25% of apps on the appstore are free, but not all 25% of those apps come even close to being usefull and even less (for all apps in general) are evenly distributed outside of the US.

The “pawnage” installer on the other hand gives you a wide choice of apps (maybe more than the appstore has to offer even now, absolutely free.

I think you are underestimating several things. Here’s my take on why pwnage2.0 is important.

1) For original iphone owners it allows us to continue to use the great software that’s been developed outside of the official channels without being ’stuck’ on the last OS version (1.1.4).

2) For new 3G iphone users it opens up the opportunity to use this same software.

3) For original iphone users it doesn’t just allow us to use cheaper prepaid (or otherwise) local sims but also to run on T-Mobile here in the US.

I think that underestimating the value of open software development for this platform is a mistake. I wouldn’t want my iphone if I was limited to the original 1.1.4 unjailbroken software set. In the same light I was unwilling to consider a 3G phone until I could run whatever I wanted on it. While the App store does indeed have some great software on it, Apple is limiting and controlling the software available. Given some of their ‘rules’ it makes the phone far less useful to me. Software that runs in the background and other lower level programs (SSH, SCP) are really beneficial. Wether they like it our not Apple has produced a nice little general purpose device and shouldn’t be controlling the software released for it any more than they or Microsoft should be controlling what people do with their PC’s.

The unlocking issue is more interesting now however. There will still be a push to unlock the 3G iphone, and it will be unlocked. That being said the use of unlocking it is less than it used to be.

There are several factors at play here:

1) You can simply ‘pay’ to get the phone unlocked (as you point out, it’s just more expensive - but that’s only money and for those of us who really like our toys we tend not to worry so much about the money).

2) The big deal breaker in the US is that even if you get an unlocked 3G iphone it won’t really give you the bang you might want because the 3G’s radio’s are not able to communicate with T-Mobile’s pending 3G network so your stuck on AT&T anyway. This isn’t really a reflection on Apple. AT&T is using the same 3G technology and frequencies that the rest of the GSM world are using. T-Mobile made a bad decision in their choice of frequencies and are forcing their customers to only use T-Mobile US only phones (not even the T-Mobile europe phones will work on the US T-Mobile 3G network).

The end result of this is that guys like me who were sticking with T-Mobile, but running iPhone’s on their network will now strongly consider switching to AT&T. The release of pwnage2.0 actually may get rid of the only thing holding me back from making that switch. I might wait a little longer however until pwnage unlocks the 3G iphone as well. Or I might just spend the money to get an unlocked iPhone from Italy, CH, etc.

You see - I don’t want to be told which carrier to use - or which network I can use my phone on, but I do want maximum flexibility. It’s ironic that ultimately my decision to switch to AT&T is influenced more by T-mobile’s poor choice than Apple and AT&T’s attempts to control what I do with MY phone.

In short without pwnage2.0 I wouldn’t even consider a 3g iPhone. I know I’m not alone.

“pwned” is gamer jargon, not hacker jargon.

ex ped: I’ve seen it used in both subcultures.

I doubt the statistic is @ February 2007; the iPhone was not released until June 2007.

ex ped: Meant 2008. Fixed now. Thanks.