Unlocking Your iPhone
Unlocking Your iPhone: Is It A Good Idea
We have all heard about unlocking
your iPhone so that you can use a different SIM in it. This may be a good idea
in certain situations. Many people want to unlock their iPhone to get around
using AT&T as their cell phone service provider. Others just want to use
the iPhone for internet and music capabilities and they do not want to use it
as a phone at all. They hack the firmware so that they do not have to activate
the phone on any network in order to use it. Here is the question before us.
Unlocking your iPhone, is it a good idea?
If you are looking to unlock your
iPhone to use it on another network such as T-Mobile then you are breaking the
law. It is illegal and in violation of Apple's agreement with AT&T to use
it on another network. Apple receives royalties from AT&T for every iPhone
that is connected to their network. Apple loses money on every hacked iPhone.
Many feel that it is ok to hack the iPhone's firmware so that it can be used on
another network. It is the author's standpoint that this is ethically wrong.
Whether you agree with AT&T and Apple's agreement or not is up to you. If
you do not agree with it then do not use the iPhone as a cell phone. In this
case, I do not agree with the hacking of the firmware.
On the other hand, if you do not
want the high expense of AT&T's iPhone service and you are looking to use
the iPhone for its music and internet capabilities then hacking into the
firmware so that you do not have to activate the AT&T cell phone service is
OK. You should be able to buy the iPhone and use it for the music, video and
internet capabilities without having to connect to AT&T's cell phone
network. You can use places that offer free WiFi to access the internet via
your iPhone. The iPod does not give you internet capabilities. Therefore, if
you want to have internet, combined with awesome content then you really do
need an iPhone and you should not have to purchase expensive cell phone service
in order to enjoy the reason, most people buy an iPhone in the first place.
Unlocking your iPhone, is it a good idea? In this case, yes it is.
Then there is a third reason to
hack into the firmware. This is really in a grey area as it uses the full capabilities
of the iPhone, including using it as a phone. You can add Skype VOIP service
for about $10 a month and then you have a WiFi phone. If you are using the
iPhone in this way and do not want to use AT&T's cell phone service you are
still going to have to hack into the firmware so that you do not activate the
phone with AT&T. Is this in violation of the AT&T, Apple agreement? No,
it is not. That agreement is for AT&T to provide exclusive cell phone
service for the iPhone. The VOIP service is not a cell phone service. Therefore,
if you are not using another cell phone service provider for your iPhone you
are not violating any agreement. This is one way to get around the exclusive
contract with AT&T and still be able to send and receive calls. The only
drawback is that you need to be in an area where you can pick up a WiFi signal
in order to use your Skype VOIP service.
Unlocking your iPhone, is it a good
idea? It depends on your views. On one hand, there are legal and ethical issues
with hacking into the firmware in general. However, your intent on why you are doing this also
comes into play. Apple and AT&T have an exclusive agreement as far as cell
phone service goes. Apple does not recommend the use of any other SIM card
other than the one that came with your phone but it does not specifically
prohibit it either. If you bought the iPhone to use for content and internet
only or even if you plan to use it as an expensive Skype VOIP phone, that is
your business and you should be able to do this without signing up for
expensive cell phone service you do not need. Unlocking your iPhone, is it a
good idea? Perhaps.
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