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

Hope you weren't waiting in tense anticipation to get your hands on UniquePhones's iPhone unlock software, because things certainly aren't going as planned. Reportedly, the gurus behind the software unlock were contacted by "a Silicon Valley law firm" who is "slowing down the release of the software." Of course, they still claim to have the app "ready to go," but until this legal hubbub gets cleared up, it seems like their method of freeing your iPhone will remain a well kept secret. We'll keep you posted.

[BrooklynMatt @ Aug 25th 2007 12:52PM]

Did you think they would just lie down and
take it?

The unlocking will be crushed...
Trust me.

[theboss @ Aug 25th 2007 1:42PM]

Oh believe me, they will lie down and take it raw. Aint no stopping that. It's only a matter of time, once this gets to the public, torrents, etc its over. AT&T can blow it out their @ss.

But there are still great Nokias that you can buy unlocked and use on any network so what does it matter. New phones rivaling the iphone are already on the verizon. Nokia, Motorola, etc got some treats cooked up.

[Billy Fiul @ Aug 25th 2007 3:58PM]

Hey theboss,

That's funny how you substituted "verizon" for "horizon," you clever dog.

[cbeck747 @ Aug 25th 2007 6:30PM]

Dude... you are so far out of touch. There are many people just like me. I buy my hardware purely for the ease of controlling it my way, hacking it, tweaking it, using how I want. I'm not afraid to void warranties to do it but I shouldn't have too.

If the 'hack', which is another debate, remains feasible, I might get an iPhone, and not until...

[Dave @ Aug 26th 2007 3:32PM]

Until it gets released in Russia, or Hong Kong, or etc, etc...

[John Ball @ Aug 27th 2007 11:20PM]

I still believed that Apple knew that this day will come, the day the iPhone will be hacked, dont be so excited and relax, they are not dumb and stupid. As for Apple Inc...they knew before hand all this will happen, and thats a fact ! its really a simple business tactics..all win, no loss no matter what. As for ATT&T all ican say is 3 milions iPhone was sold on the FIRST day means less than 3 million signed up for the 2 YEARS monthly service....do the math. Ever wonder how many more millions signed up till today? Its all business folks and you all are part of the drama...

[John Ball @ Aug 27th 2007 11:23PM]

its all drama folks, you all really believed that Apple Inc. and ATT & T dont know that one day this day will come? c mon now, think about it. What am really waiting for is the counter attack by Apple & ATT&T. its all drama & publicity.and its all working.

[Chip @ Aug 25th 2007 12:55PM]

CherryOS anyone?

[ScOObyDoo @ Aug 25th 2007 1:00PM]

Sounds like BS to me. They are based in the UK, and unless the attorney called to offer them $10 million NOT to post it, I can't see any legal grounds for them to delay it.

Surely they KNEW they'd get a call sooner or later?

[BFish @ Aug 25th 2007 1:01PM]

All they need to do is upload it to Pirate Bay or similar and after 5mins, no one can stop it spreading the love around the world ;)

.....just say that it was virus that stole the program and uploaded it ;)

[Will @ Aug 25th 2007 1:13PM]

While that would work, I think their intent was to sell the software.

[Dirk Digbee @ Aug 25th 2007 1:05PM]

Hi all,
I was reading the Irish Daily Star this morning and they have a small article claiming that two guys in Ireland have unlocked the iphone to work on O2 - Ireland. I can't say anything about the creditability of the article, i was just wondering if anyone had heard the same thing

[BrooklynMatt @ Aug 25th 2007 1:07PM]

Few more thoughts...
The way Apple will most likely handle this
is by adding new features via Itunes Updates...
Loads of them...features that will make the
original out of the box iPhone seem boring...

And with every update, a firmware sweep that
eradicates any software changes or unlocking...

"Hey, you have an iPhone? Take a video of us!!"

"Um, I can't...I can't upgrade to that...I'm too cheap and I can only use it for calls with T-Mobile..."

"Hey, you have an iPhone? Let's instant message!!"

"Umm, I can't...I can't upgrade, but I can make calls
with T-Mobile..."


Along with these wonderful scenarios...

"Hey Apple, I unlocked this, and now my iPod is having problems..." TOO BAD

"Hey T-Mobile, why was I charged so much regarding
data and internet on my iPhone?" TOO BAD

"Hey, AT&T, why did this feature stop working on my iPhone?" TOO BAD


hack away dreamers...

Apple and AT&T had a plan to deal with this
long before the iPhone even came out...

Good weekend to all!

[Haxxy @ Aug 25th 2007 1:13PM]

People who look into unlocking their iPhone are probably not the people who will be crying to Apple when something goes wrong.

[BrooklynMatt @ Aug 25th 2007 1:17PM]

Haxxy, I agree 100%
But there will be a great number
people who will run out, drop $600
on the phone and unlock it expecting
it to work as it should.
And when it doesn't... they will complain...

[theboss @ Aug 25th 2007 1:42PM]

Man, the only 2 phones worth buying that are sold locked are the Iphone and sidekick series.

Nokia never locked their phones and they offer great phones. People just complain too much. Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, etc all have great new phones.

Too many bandwagoners and dildo hoppers. Just cause the iphone is the new thing everyone wants to get one. Make your own mind up people.

[Manny @ Aug 25th 2007 2:27PM]

wrong againnnnnnnnnnn i was working the other day wit an anonymous programmer that worked with an iphone unlocking program using simple codes. and once we unloacked his iphone all features worked except for video voice mail (which suxs any how cause it only works with other iphone users) but anyhoe all of the instant message all the edge functions work wifi everything i was impressed even youtube. so wrong again get ur fact straight before saying BSSSSSSS and lets hope for a better free IPHONE like it should be ;)

[Sergey @ Aug 25th 2007 5:05PM]

I am pretty sure that would be illegal for Apple to do that to someone else's property. It's like you take out hard drive from your laptop and Sony goes after you for that. I would actually sue Apple for doing it my iPohone -- because once I paid AT&T for it it became mine.

[subliminal727 @ Aug 25th 2007 5:27PM]

screw the sidekick. the helio ocean owns SK3.

[icbob @ Sep 24th 2007 3:54PM]

i got an unlocked iphone here, followed a guide somewhere a while again and yea, everything is working except for the voicemail... as for video recording, no one has it at this point, apple made no statment of putting that feature in, and as for aim, there are at 2 or diffrent native apps you can add to the phone to use aim, .Mac, irc and msn. and a couple more online apps that does the same. Most of them are in early stages of development, but they are working nevertheless

[Ty @ Aug 25th 2007 1:08PM]

I almost believe that they wanted this to happen. All of this "we will release it this day at this time" seemed to be really asking for the lawyers to get involved. Just put the thing out there without all these dramatics.

[elfribo @ Aug 26th 2007 12:18PM]

I completely agree with TY , 2 facts come to light : 1- they were gathering subscriptions for a pre -release 2- They were shouting out loud to the world when they will release the software; it was a clever bluff to get AAPL and ATT to make the call and most certainly offer them a zesty pie, they were claiming 1/2 million subscribers let's say time 20$ = 10mil Ok AT&T we are not greedy let's settle for half of that and no trial lawyers and no courts.
Got the big picture ? A well played hand of poker with a stone face, and a lot of Grrrrrrreeeed!
Where are all the dedicated poor software engineers of the 90s? Gone.... living in Beverly Hills; Captain Crunch where are you? Woz! I admire you, you left in glory when you felt the dirt coming
your way and couldn't take it; I know you lost quite few of dough but you kept your dignity intact.

[az1324 @ Aug 25th 2007 1:12PM]

steorn, is that you?

[blackraven @ Aug 25th 2007 1:13PM]

If they really wanted to prove that they have a legit unlock method, they should release the unlock, for free, in spite of AT&T phone calls. There are plenty of unlock methods out there for other phones but people will still pay to have it done, as they lack the technical skill to do so.

[Magallanes @ Aug 25th 2007 1:16PM]

You can earn money unlocking phones or you can earn money waiting for AT&T to pact some NDA about this hack (and saying goodbye to any future unlock using this method).

[Joe @ Aug 25th 2007 1:16PM]

I wonder what grounds they have to stop this. The DMCA has a specific exemption to allow cell phone unlocking. These exemptions are setup by the Copyright Office/Library of Congress.

"5. Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network."

[AndrewNeo @ Aug 25th 2007 1:23PM]

The problem is they're selling it. They can claim their primary intent is to make money, not to unlock the phones.

[Joe @ Aug 25th 2007 1:53PM]

good point. Guess they shouldn't be greedy. Hacking for profit = FAIL

[John @ Aug 25th 2007 2:13PM]

'cept, these guys are UK based so there's not much AT&T can do about it that isn't some variant on crying. The only 'legal consideration' they could possibly have if AT&T phoned em up about it is how much they can get out of AT&T to keep quiet about it... but given how many people have purportedly cracked the iPhone, I doubt that AT&T is willing to pay just one group

[treetrunk @ Aug 25th 2007 4:28PM]

Is the fact that they plan to sell it really relevant? An iPhone unlocking program is a "computer program" which "enables wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network", which circumvents the DMCA for "the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network", whether it's sold or not. This is talking about the purpose of the program, not the intent of the person writing it, and this program does indeed circumvent the DMCA for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting a phone to a network. Whether the software is then sold, given away, or printed out in binary over a football field is irrelevant, its purpose as a piece of software remains the same.

[Dave @ Aug 26th 2007 3:32PM]

WHOOP! There it is!

[Magallanes @ Aug 25th 2007 1:17PM]

yes, they will want for it, a lawyer with a bags full of money.

[Jackie @ Aug 25th 2007 1:18PM]

kinda reminds me of the psp v1.5 firmware. And they keep on adding more features to it and "forcing" you to upgrade to play the new games.

[ScOObyDoo @ Aug 25th 2007 1:26PM]

There is no way this will be released for free. There is BIG MONEY to be made in unlocking phones. If 10000 people pay $50 for this software, you can do the math how profitable it'll be for them.

Sadly for them someone else WILL come up with a free software unlocker, and all that work will have been for nothing.

[Rob @ Aug 25th 2007 1:30PM]

The problem here is that they wanted to make money off their "crack."
So, since their intentions were always to make money, and so are Apple's and AT&T's. Then, let them all bite pieces off each other. In the meanwhile, those who wanted to experiment with the crack are left just wishing for it.

Whatever ....

[ktula @ Aug 25th 2007 3:37PM]

i have no problem whatsoever with them charging a fee of unlocking your phone. They spent the time developing the tool to do it and they should be able to make some money off it.

[Rob @ Aug 25th 2007 4:25PM]

I don't particularly care if they decide to charge or not. But the fact remains that what they did is called "reverse engineering" which I think it's not allowed under "EULA" for most computer-related equipment/software, including cell phones and pda's. And considering how anal-retentive most corporations are, and the fact that they don't enjoy others making money off their products without taking a cut, they will come full force after these people. Just ask "Dark Alex" and his great work with the PSP. He went underground. Speculations abound on the internet.

If you take into consideration how hard the lawyers went after "DVD John" and the "FairUse4WM" trying to make an example out of them, you can rest assure that it won't be any different now.

The world is waiting to see what these corporations' next move is, as it would dictate the direction in how reverse engineering and the right of the owners to do whatever they want with their paid gear.

[Dave @ Aug 26th 2007 3:33PM]

Hey Rob,
WRONG!!!!

"The DMCA has a specific exemption to allow cell phone unlocking. These exemptions are setup by the Copyright Office/Library of Congress."

"5. Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network."

[brooklynmatt @ Aug 25th 2007 1:30PM]

Scooby, lets do that math...

Hmmm $50 for the software.. 10,000 peopl...

Ah, crap! The unlock hack made my iPhone calculator
stop working! Rats!

[Chris P. @ Aug 25th 2007 1:32PM]

UniquePhones.com is issuing a ** PRESS RELEASE ** in the next few hours according to their blog.

http://blog.iphoneunlocking.com/

Let's see what happens then...

[Jamar @ Aug 25th 2007 1:33PM]

Just wait- it'll get released by another group in a country that's free from possible lawsuits, like China (hey, China doesn't even officially have the iPhone- but you can buy unlocked ones from HK) if they're prevented from releasing it.

[Richard @ Aug 25th 2007 1:34PM]

vaporware.. pure and simple

[Michael @ Aug 25th 2007 1:46PM]

Somebody please correct me if I am wrong... but I thought there was a law in the States that stated that the consumer had the right to unlock the phones. Does anyone know this for 100%
'?

Either way.. they should just come to the country where I live... there will never be a problem... ohhh the joy of Russian life ;-)

[Joe @ Aug 25th 2007 1:56PM]

see my post above. scooby made a good point that since they are selling it, they are outside the realm of the DMCA exemption.

[Michael @ Aug 27th 2007 4:34PM]

Joe, thanks for your commit. In reading the followup posting from the "legal" expert it would seem that selling the solution is perfectly fine... but selling a phone that is unlocked for almost any reason is not. But this only pertains to people in the US.

I will be taking an iPhone home with me to Europe.. where I will be free to do as I wish ;-)

[Mobilehavoc @ Aug 25th 2007 1:56PM]

The signup form asked people for their IMEI numbers so now these folks have a bunch of iPhone IMEI numbers to mess with.

I knew there was something fishy when they asked for that just to be notified of availability.

If you submitted your IMEI be careful.

[lextalionis @ Aug 25th 2007 2:22PM]

I think that's just to make sure its one person per phone per software, so that you don't order multiple copies of the crack and sell them off.... or something....

[Iceburgh @ Aug 25th 2007 2:04PM]

Pehaps they went a little too high profile bragging about the unlocking. It was on every tech site on the Internet for 3 days.

[Jugomugo @ Aug 25th 2007 2:27PM]

Since it has WiFi, I'd like to have an iPhone and skip the cellular service. Seems like it would make a decent PDA for me.

[joe blo @ Aug 25th 2007 2:53PM]

No thanks...I`m getting 2.1 megabits down and 800 kilobits up on SPRINT with very low latency.
Apple and ATT are YEARS behind...and SPRINT/CLEARWIRE/GOOGLE WIMAX is rolling out right now , further crushing Apple/ATT ;)