A doubly bad day for AT&T: Second iPhone unlock publicized

As Erica announced earlier today, our colleagues at Engadget confirmed a software-only unlock for the iPhone that's got their unit happily working on the T-Mobile network. Fine and dandy, but here's where it gets confusing. The AP/CNN has reported that a New Jersey teenager named George Hotz (with the help of some friends) has also unlocked the iPhone for use with T-Mobile; this unlock is described in the story as taking "about two hours" and involved expertise with "both soldering and software," so clearly it's not the same process as the software-only unlock from iPhoneSIMfree.com that Engadget has verified. Commenters inform me this is the same George who appeared in a YouTube video a couple of days ago with a claimed unlock hack.

Aside from the TurboSIM process, these unlocks are the first widely-publicized and (presumably) stable methods of unlocking the phone. What are the odds of two completely different methods of unlocking the iPhone hitting the newswires on the same day (even if the George Hotz unlock was announced earlier in the week)? I'm no statistician, but I'm picking up a lottery ticket just in case.

Thanks to Lisa, Rae and Rikin for sending this in.

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Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/24/engadget-announces-first-full…

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iPhone Jailbreak/pwnage

As Erica announced earlier today, our colleagues at Engadget confirmed a software-only unlock for the iPhone that's got their unit happily...

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Michael Hannon

I really don't understand how hackers can exist withot violating the law. This kid was rewarded with all kinds of publicity for ripping through someones elses intended privacy. What is that all about? Why encourage them? I understand someone gave him a car.
Stop it. This simply lacks bacic integrity. Or don't we care about that anymore?

August 26 2007 at 7:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Michael Hannon

why isn't this illegal?

August 26 2007 at 7:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Michael Hannon

Why isn't this illegal?

August 26 2007 at 7:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Verde

Good! I think exclusivity agreements should be illegal anyways. Maybe once the unlocking methods become more common I'll get an iPhone and use it with my TMobile service!

I was bummed hearing iPhone was Cingular / AT&T only. I am very happy with TMobile and will not leave them for an iPhone.

August 25 2007 at 12:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

manish jain

does this work on a cdma network.

just kidding.

August 25 2007 at 10:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

epilepstein

Well I don't know if this counts as additional publicity, but the staff at the Apple store in Canada are informing customers inquiring about the iPhone's availability in Canada, that their best bet is to buy one in the states, unlock it and just use wifi instead of EDGE.

I'm assuming that it's not Apple's official position.

August 25 2007 at 2:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Michael

The phone is now up to $99,999,999.00 on eBay... If you don't believe it, see for yourself:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230164884672

August 25 2007 at 1:24 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Michael

The phone is now up to $99,999,999.00 on eBay... If you don't believe it, see for yourself:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230164884672

August 25 2007 at 1:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

vdnyc

AT&T is completely delusional if they thought nobody was gonna unlock the iphone. c'mon...

August 24 2007 at 11:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Craig

i hear you chip, particularly disappointing when they were tipped off about it two days ago.