Macworld: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone ...

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20 Replies Last post: Nov 21, 2007 2:56 PM by MacCheetah3 1 2 Previous Next

MW Forums

12,220 posts since
Aug 2, 2004

Nov 20, 2007 4:10 AM

Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in Germany

T-Mobile continued to sell Apple’s iPhone in Germany on Tuesday, despite a legal challenge filed on Monday by rival Vodafone. more

KPO'M

1,275 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

1. Nov 20, 2007 8:23 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

The end result of this lawsuit could be another official source of unlocked iPhones. Vodafone isn't asking that T-Mobile be blocked from selling the phone, only that they also sell an unlocked version. At issue could be price.

zensunni

237 posts since
Sep 11, 2004

2. Nov 20, 2007 9:07 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in Germany

Quote:<hr />
In France, Apples partner Orange plans to release an unlocked version this month to comply with a law there that forbids tying a cell phone to a specific operator. The iPhone is due to go on sale in France Nov. 29.

<hr />

So I keep reading at these news sites, though I've yet to see an official announcement to this effect anywhere. I also seem to have read that everyone saying this is making a pretty big assumption based on their understanding of the law, rather than any official word from Orange or Apple.

Adwiz

225 posts since
Aug 27, 2004

3. Nov 20, 2007 11:08 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

So, when an unlocked phone becomes officially available in France, won't that spell the end of Apple's ability to mess with unlocking hacks in its software updates?

Pennywigeon

102 posts since
Oct 12, 2007

4. Nov 20, 2007 1:30 PM

in response to: Adwiz

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

Quote:<hr />
So, when an unlocked phone becomes officially available in France, won't that spell the end of Apple's ability to mess with unlocking hacks in its software updates?

<hr />

No. The "unlock hacks" the hackers came up with were shoddy code that took advantage of exploits. The updates plug the security holes that these hackers used to get into the phone to unlock them.

Apple can ship phones to France that are unlocked at the factory. The updates would not break these because the unlocking was done by the proper methods instead of taking advantage of the security exploits the jailbreakers did.

What will probably happen is you will see an influx of legit unlocked phones hit ebay that people have bought in France. I wonder how Apple/AT&T will do to prevent the influx of legitamate unlocked French phones from being flooded into the US market.

Maybe it will only be in French Language. Hmmmm

KPO'M

1,275 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

5. Nov 20, 2007 1:49 PM

in response to: Pennywigeon

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

Quote:<hr />

Apple can ship phones to France that are unlocked at the factory. The updates would not break these because the unlocking was done by the proper methods instead of taking advantage of the security exploits the jailbreakers did.

Maybe it will only be in French Language. Hmmmm

<hr />

Stated more correctly, Apple just won't lock the unlocked French iPhones in the first place. A natural state of any phone is "unlocked." Note that Apple continually "updates" the baseband firmware (which is separate from the system firmware) for the sole purpose of re-locking the phones. The "hackers" have discovered that any version of iPhone software works with the 1.0.2 version of the baseband, which makes sense, since the baseband is just there to connect to the cellular network.

As for what they will do to minimize the spread of unlocked iPhones from France (and possibly Germany), my guess is that they will limit sales to those with French credit cards, and perhaps limit quantities sold at one time. They could make it prohibitively expensive, but that risks a lawsuit in France. It will be interesting to see how sales of the unlocked phone compare in France to the locked version.

ReeceTarbert

57 posts since
Aug 9, 2007

6. Nov 20, 2007 2:45 PM

in response to: Pennywigeon

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

Quote:<hr />
Maybe it will only be in French Language. Hmmmm

<hr />

Out of curiosity: can we change the default language of the iPhone as we do with OS X?

maint1

128 posts since
Jan 7, 2005

7. Nov 20, 2007 8:59 PM

in response to: KPO'M

No unlocked iPhone for US - IPhone nano instead

I seriously don't think that we'll see an unlocked iPhone in the US any time soon.

AT&Apple signed a contract where AT&T is the sole distributor of the iPhone in the US for a number of years. (5?)

What I think will happen is Apple will release an iPhone Nano that can go on every network.

KPO'M

1,275 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

8. Nov 20, 2007 11:05 PM

in response to: maint1

Re: No unlocked iPhone for US - IPhone nano instea

Quote:<hr />
I seriously don't think that we'll see an unlocked iPhone in the US any time soon.

AT&Apple signed a contract where AT&T is the sole distributor of the iPhone in the US for a number of years. (5?)

What I think will happen is Apple will release an iPhone Nano that can go on every network.

<hr />

I'm sure AT&T has an exclusive on any Apple phones in exchange for the rich deal they gave Apple.

That said, the "loopholes" in France and the suit in Germany might mean that some unlocked phones make it across the pond. Don't expect warranty support, though.

MacCheetah3

6,630 posts since
Apr 2, 2001

9. Nov 21, 2007 10:19 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

Hi
LMAO!!!

There's your greedy unlocked option. Have fun paying $1,500 for it, probably more on eBay. ...Priceless.

Mac Rumors: T-Mobile Selling Unlocked iPhones in Germany

While I'm for openness ( unlocked phones, ... ), I hate these BS methods of trying to get it and I have no problem with certain phones being SIM-locked http://or DRM songs, .... -- even exclusives There is plenty of choice out there if you don't prefer a locked phone http://or DRM song, ... and no reason to get selfish.

Apple MacBook (Black) 2.16GHz C2D, 4GB, 200GB (7.2K), DL-SD + 16GB iPod touch - Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com

KPO'M

1,275 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

10. Nov 21, 2007 10:29 AM

in response to: MacCheetah3

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

Quote:<hr />
Hi
LMAO!!! There's your greedy unlocked option. Have fun paying $1,500 for it, probably more on eBay. ...Priceless.

Mac Rumors: T-Mobile Selling Unlocked iPhones in Germany

While I'm for openness ( unlocked phones, ... ), I hate these BS methods of trying to get it and I have no problem with certain phones being SIM-locked http://or DRM songs, .... -- even exclusives There is plenty of choice out there if you don't prefer a locked phone http://or DRM song, ... and no reason to get selfish.

<hr />

I wonder if that will be the tactic in France, too. So much for Apple being the company for the rest of us. Now there just another big, greedy corporation, except they have an Orwellian following of apologists willing to put up with their tactics. That said, I wonder if the existence of the unlocked version will make it easier for the unlockers to figure out how to prevent the firmware upgrades from needlessly re-writing the baseband code.

At least existing T-Mobile users will be able to have their phones unlocked for free. There is absolutely no reason why a customer at the end of a contract shouldn't be able to unlock a phone and use it with any other network. Of course, in Belgium and Finland, since 2G phones CANNOT be sold unlocked, Apple will need to release a 3G iPhone if they want to pull the same anti-consumer tactics over there.

MacCheetah3

6,630 posts since
Apr 2, 2001

11. Nov 21, 2007 10:40 AM

in response to: KPO'M

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

Hi
How is Apple being greedy? Unlocked phones are great but Apple chose to make specific deals with carriers and that's that. If you don't like it, get another brand / model. You now have an option and if you really want to use the iPhone on a carrier other than that of which chose to agree with Apple's terms, you have to pay the high price. Sounds simple to me. It's not like there isn't choice. Sheesh! These "I'm the center of the universe" / "I'll sue for anything" attitudes are getting more than tiresome.

P.S. This post isn't directed specifically at anyone but the... You know who you are ...Group.

Apple MacBook (Black) 2.16GHz C2D, 4GB, 200GB (7.2K), DL-SD + 16GB iPod touch - Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com

KPO'M

1,275 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

12. Nov 21, 2007 10:40 AM

in response to: MacCheetah3

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

Quote:<hr />

While I'm for openness ( unlocked phones, ... ), I hate these BS methods of trying to get it and I have no problem with certain phones being SIM-locked http://or DRM songs, .... -- even exclusives There is plenty of choice out there if you don't prefer a locked phone http://or DRM song, ... and no reason to get selfish.

<hr />

That was Microsoft's argument to the EU regarding Windows. It didn't work. The problem is that Europe can't figure out how to regulate consistently. If they are going to have these meaningless "consumer protection" laws, then they might as well not have any. Apple is the new Microsoft. They could have sold a boatload of iPhones unlocked all across Europe, where everyone uses the same mobile network. Instead, they are more concerned about getting kickbacks from mobile operators.

MacCheetah3

6,630 posts since
Apr 2, 2001

13. Nov 21, 2007 10:44 AM

in response to: KPO'M

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

Hi
Originally posted by KPO'M

Quote:<hr />
They could have sold a boatload of iPhones unlocked all across Europe, where everyone uses the same mobile network. Instead, they are more concerned about getting kickbacks from mobile operators.

<hr />

OK..Isn't that their choice? They're losing $$$ than from possible customers they missed out on? You make it sound so devastating. They knew all of the choices and decided.

Apple MacBook (Black) 2.16GHz C2D, 4GB, 200GB (7.2K), DL-SD + 16GB iPod touch - Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com

KPO'M

1,275 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

14. Nov 21, 2007 10:53 AM

in response to: MacCheetah3

Re: Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in G

Quote:<hr />

OK..Isn't that their choice? They're losing $$$ than from possible customers they missed out on? You make it sound so devastating. They knew all of the choices and decided.

<hr />

Yes, it is their choice. However, most companies that do that don't have a huge following of apologists. News flash: Steve Jobs is not your friend. He is as ruthless a businessman as Bill Gates. Therefore, I don't have any more issue with people who unlock iPhones than I did with people trying to get Microsoft to open up Windows to other browsers in the 1990s. It's clear Apple, just like any other big corporation, will abide by the letter, but not the spirit, of laws. Therefore, to ask us to abide by the "spirit" of their EULA by not unlocking their phones using exploits is unreasonable.

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Nov 20, 2007 4:10 AM

Vodafone protests T-Mobile's iPhone sales in Germany

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