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Uniquephones's iPhone unlock release 'slowed' by AT&T lawyers

engadget.com — Seems AT&T is a bit annoyed at the idea. A middle of the night phone call from a Silicon Valley law firm is slowing down the release of the software to you.

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  • OS2Guy, on 10/10/2007, -15/+5Hogwash and no one believes you. You don't have *any* software that will unlock the iPhone because it isn't a software issue.
  • Takster, on 10/10/2007, -8/+6So where's the proof of this phone call? We're still waiting for the proof of the 450,000 registrants
  • staticfish, on 10/10/2007, -10/+8This "company" are a bunch of lying asshats. Do they honestly think that anyone believes that they have the true software unlock, and, they had actually made it themselves and not stolen/bought it from someone else.

    I thought not
  • xiambax, on 10/10/2007, -2/+12Put it up on pirate bay! give it to world free.
    Who would at&t point the finger at!
    • sachis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Thiese guys wouldn't do that because they are eyeing few hundred thousands from at&t fo not releasing it anywhere (if they really have the software)!!
  • wink21, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6Give the Engadget guys your software for free to prove it exists
  • insomniac8400, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5Unfortunately all AT&T can do is prevent American companies from selling the software. If they can prevent that, the software will be online for free, and/or be sold by companies overseas.
  • kris33, on 10/10/2007, -4/+29This is *****!

    A phone call is not an A) appropriate B) commonly used and C) legitimate form of communication to halt an operation of this type. Courts will ask for a paper trail which requires any law firm to first issue a certified letter (meaning you sign it when you recieve for purposes of recording events) stating what the possible violations.

    Think about it folks! How many times have you been late on a bill and recieved a phone call the next day? You don't, you get a letter and if the violation persists then a phone call is issued. This goes on with other legal such as rent, bills, loans, violations etc.

    If you are familiar with any of the P2P files networks or even Torrent sites, you will notice that they always recieve a letter from the law firm establishing their presence and enlightening the individual of who they are representing.

    A phone call is not substantial enough. There has to be something in writing stating the violations or possible violations that will occur if that individual proceeds with an act.
    • kris33, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I forgot to say that that was a quote from a current law student in Texas.
      • RyeBrye, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Do you have multiple personality disorder?
    • molecool, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Great - our 14 year old corporate attorney strikes again - LOL. Listen, this ***** happens all the time - you get a call from a lawyer giving you an 'unofficial' way out of a lawsuit (or whatever). This is not to say that Humpty, Dumpty, Fence & Eggs won't file some kind of injunction on Monday if those uniquephone guys ignore the offer/threat/suggestion they were given.
    • locojones, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2LOL You should tell your "current law student" to hit the books harder because they are absolutely dead wrong. There are no prerequisites to filing a complaint in court. The phone call was a courtesy.
  • pyry, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10Maybe if they weren't charging something for it there would be less of an issue. Who wants to pay $50 for an unlock code for their-- ... oh wait, $600 phone. Nevermind, proceed.
    • LoungeActx, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I'm no attorney...but I think selling it is the only thing AT&T can prevent. If these people give the software away for free I think they are good.
  • signal15, on 10/10/2007, -6/+1These guys haven't even proven they have something. $20 says they are lying and concocted the story to scare iphonesimfree.com into not releasing their real/proven unlock.
  • amfantasy, on 10/10/2007, -6/+8give it away for free. unless its something that actually costs money like a mod chip. Selling it is just wrong. People who sell bootlegs make me sick
    • LaSepultura, on 10/10/2007, -6/+5Should a music CD or Video Game only be sold for a dollar because the CD only costs pennies to make?

      Shouldn't the people who developed this be paid for their work?
  • clarkembree, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6press release from Uniquephones--- http://blog.iphoneunlocking.com/?p=15
  • Rikushix, on 10/10/2007, -8/+3"Seems AT&T is a bit annoyed at the idea."

    Funny, I would have thought they would ENDORSE SIM card fraud. Imagine that.
    • diulei, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8How is this SIM card fraud? Understandably AT&T is pissed, but as a consumer - if I buy a phone I should be able to use it on any damn carrier I want. Locked phones are *****.
    • TotalHalibut, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Hardly, since most if not all locked phones are heavily subsidised by the carrier itself, you're not paying the full cost of the phone by any stretch of the imagination. Whether this is true with the $600 iPhone on the other hand... who knows?
    • vtmn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3iPhones aren't subsidized.
    • fuzzmeister, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Give me one good reason why I shouldn't be able to unlock my phone. Just one.
      • SPECOPS, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Because AT&T wants you to stick with them and pay a monthly fee. (hey it's good for AT&T, you didn't say one good reason for the consumer)
      • rmxz, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0One good reason? Because you don't own the software in the phone - you just have a license to use it within the license agreements of the vendors in question. I don't have a copy of the Iphone's software licenses available - but software licenses for the most part are all pretty similar so I'll quote the Vista license "8. SCOPE OF LICENSE. The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the software." No doubt Apple's is similar.
  • CYR1X, on 10/10/2007, -9/+6***** this is the twentieth iphone unlock story on digg today, idc if you digg my me down i'll just post the exact same comment on the next iphone story.
  • mousky, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6AT&T is annoyed? How about people that are annoyed that certain features are locked? Imagine if GM 'locked' your car? "Yes sir, your vehicle comes with power windows, however, because of the discount we gave you, that feature is locked". Consumers have to stop falling for this *****.
    • ravenmuffin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I agree, but the analogy is more like:

      You're only allowed to drive on roads in our neighborhood and you must buy your fuel from us.
    • thripper, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Actually, many of them do that. You see, it is less expensive to develop 3 models of a car, and sell 20 versions of them . The trick is to disable features from the car's computer. They do that. A lot. (perhaps not in the case of power windows but there are other things.)
  • ravenmuffin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+15There's a high probability it's a scam to harvest email addresses (claimed to be around 500,000).

    Consider the evidence:

    1. The company's been claiming to know how to do it since day one.

    2. Just hours after Engadget's Ryan Block received a preview demonstration of another firm's solution (iphonesimfree.com), they announce their own to ride the publicity.

    3. No independent witnesses have confirmed the validity of their claim.

    4. Any communication from lawyers would have at least taken place through fax and/or registered courier mail.

    5. It is Apple's product, so why would AT&T be making the threats?

    6. Apple also has more to lose: $11/month revenue sharing, 10% from European partners, FOR EVERY IPHONE UNLOCKED. AT&T would simply lose a handful of customers to T-Mobile. (You still need GSM service from *someone* and AT&T's plans aren't bad.)

    7. These "dramatic" types of plots (midnight calls from lawyers, release in 24 hours!) are typical methods to create urgency and encourage people to submit their email address.

    Based on the evidence, there's more probability it's a scam than otherwise.

    The case is stronger for iphonesimfree.com being genuine.

    Although the Engadget story and video demonstration are not without their own red flags, the biggest of which: it was done by Ryan Block, the guy who spread the story that the iPhone was delayed until October on the basis of a faked internal Apple email.

    There's a possibility he was either duped again, or was being deliberately mischievous by demonstrating a TurboSIM instead to call Veronica's (pink!) iPhone.

    On balance, though, I believe the iPhone was genuinely unlocked by iphonesimfree.com, by a technique that does through software what geohot's hardware hack did.
    • Tobark, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2You work for some corporate scum . I just cant figure out which one yet.
  • haoqfu, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0this is a world full ***** and lair for the purpose of money and fame. ***** AT&T, YOU SON OF BITCH
  • Tobark, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2***** ATnT . Thier service sucks. If it wasent for the I would not have returned my iPhone
    • Gutterpunk, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0If you are with a carrier only for the phone, you are the idiot in this story.
  • invasi0n, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Why you are only blaming AT&T? Why don't you also blame APPLE because they didn't make a phone and simply SELL IT like all those computers they make?
    • jasonj75, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1No doubt...Apple shopped their ***** around looking for a carrier to lock it to...Just because AT&T thought they could stomach Apple's price tag doesn't make AT&T the only bad guy in this.
  • meig, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I'm surprised no one else has thought of this. Isn't it possible these guys just used George Hotz's (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20424880/) method then gave that phone to Engadget? He posted all the directions on his blog.
    • Gutterpunk, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0"These guys" aren't the one who gave a iPhone to enjgadget.

      But I though the same thing about the iPhoneSIMfree.com. Thing is that their web page doesn't seem to ask for registration or any other thing associated with scammer or email harvester.
  • dizavin, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0this is ridiculous. why would you even want to unlock an iphone? what makes it so desirable IS the features that come with the plan and service they offer. once you "unlock" the phone, no matter what way you slice it, you will lose functionality. and then the phone looses value to the user.

    it boils down to status. people don't want the iphone because of all it can do... people want the iphone because its "cool" and it will impress their friends and people on the street that they don't even know. and they want to do that without spending as much money as they can. and leave the people who busted their asses night and day to make this thing possible, left holding the bag.

    this piece of technology is brilliant and the people who made this are geniuses, by no stretch of the imagination. and if they want to charge a little bit to make their efforts worthwhile? well *****, that's up to them and they can do it if you want. it's THEIR phone. not yours. if you think it's too much to ask, then by all means: make your own damn touchscreen cellphone.

    stop talking like Apple and AT&T are some kind of totalitarian oppressors, stealing you blind. if you want a cheap phone, get a Pay-As-You-Go Motarola on whatever local network is available and shut the ass up.
    • kurrent, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3"this is ridiculous. why would you even want to unlock an iphone? "

      you're a ***** douche, grab a clue
    • kretik, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0The Kool-Aid is strong with this one...
    • phoomp, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Which features do you think you lose? Video Voicemail is the only one I've heard of, and it only works with other iPhone users anyways. And, after you purchase it, it's not *their* phone anymore; it's your's.
  • JoeLeo, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5AT&T doesn't manufacture the iPhone.

    As we all know, unlocking locked cell phones is 100% legal.

    Purchasing a iPhone is a hardware purchase - not a software license.

    This is why we are in need of both wireless network neutrality as well as Internet network neutrality.
  • sistaweotch, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1At least one kid in the US has already unlocked his. Took some physical hacking as well as software, however. (From Digg video section.)

    http://www.livevideo.com/video/APnews/3F1C017071D54F4BBC2DA5513646ED70/-think-different-meet-the-ip.aspx
  • nomasteryoda, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4Jeez guys, A phone that you buy is not their phone. This is not a software package its a phone. If you want something open and hackable, then get an OpenMoko and a Provider that allows you to hack the phone to suit your needs. You are the consumer and the one with the power to tell at&t to where to go.... DON'T buy into their crap!.. Pretty phone, sure. Locked down is not how we treat customers. We are not thieves and should never be treated as such.

    Customers who see the opening and leave... . Verizon locks the phones YOU PAY FOR ... i.e. Verizon's KRAZR does not allow bluetooth transfer files....Why? Because Verizon wants you to buy their music and Verizon is scared ***** of the RIAA... What do you do? Leave to a real service that cares(ed) about your rights.... Sprint and a Samsung phone...works(ed) for me!
  • peestandingup, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Make no mistake about it. These guys have been FULL OF ***** since day one. A couple weeks after iPhone's release, they claimed to be able to unlock "some" iPhone & not others. And now this crap. All the while, not providing one SINGLE shred of proof.
  • pepsiaddict, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0You'd think they'd be happy that the software is being offered at a cost. It's certainly legal for them to offer the software for free via the DMCA - If at&t threatens their ability to sell the software, they will certainly release it for free, which would be much more trouble for at&t.
  • tilezzzzz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I was really looking forward to release day.

    However I saw this one coming a mile off! And they should have too! , Anyone who makes this kinda software and then waits even a day to release it after annoyncing it is pretty daft if they dont expect a phone call from the lawers. Lets hope they get legal advice in their favour, and release the software.
  • Volotel, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0To all those people defending the exclusivity deal, how would you feel if after buying your computer you were told you could only use Comcast as an ISP? Would you not be in favor of choice?
  • backspin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I wonder if Steve saw this coming. Being a geek himself, he must have known the device would be a mere toy in the hands of other geeks. Will AT&T's legal costs grow to such a level that they dwarf the profits made by the very device they are trying to protect? Either way Apple loses nothing and gains everything. Very shrewd.
  • shuster420, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Apple Inc was founded on ill gotten gains from selling the Blue Box phone hack to students at Cal Berkley. Apple is hardly in a position to take the moral high ground on this one.

    http://www.9to5mac.com/steve-jobs-hacks-phones-234556455
  • mono, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I don't know about the reputability of this company or solution, but folks attempting to make money off an iPhone hack will likely be crushed by corporate lawyers. The point will be moot, however because freely available tools to unlock your iPhone will be out in short order. We have a nation of 14-20 year old hackers working 24/7!
  • buckles, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Just to clarify this. This company claims to have a highly marketable software product, complex and specialist. To sell this product they've taken the unusual approach of setting up a lame website and blog for a week saying how great their software is, what time it will be on sale and asking for everyone who might want said product to hand over their email and phone details. Then, just before the non existent software is due to be released a quick change of heart happens due to some late night phonecall from at&t, the details of which are sketchy at best.....

    What next? 500 diggs for a 'free ipod' website.....
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