AT&T says it will “gladly” unlock your iPhone. In two years.
Reader Leo points us to an article in today’s USA Today about the tying of handsets to wireless providers. As we’re all intimately aware, the iPhone requires a two-year contract from AT&T unless you want to undergo some sneaky trickery. This enforced “locking” of the phone annoys may consumers, especially those who want to use their phones in Europe or with other compatible US providers.
But what caught fair Leo’s attention (and ours), is the following quote from Jim Cicconi, an AT&T senior executive vice president (there he is at left):
Once a contract has been fulfilled, Cicconi says AT&T will “gladly unlock” a customer’s phone, if requested.Oh reeeeeeally? Well, we’ll have to test that theory in, oh, two years. Blast.
Category: AT&T
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Comments (6)
Do you think AT&T actually knows how to unlock the iPhone at this point? Maybe Apple plans on waiting until June 29, 2009 before letting them know how to do it....
Posted by Lea | August 23, 2007 2:23 PM
As I stated on MacRumors (they have updated their site since then) you would realize that this is not true.
(from OVERSEAS, CELLPHONES MOSTLY 'UNLOCKED' on same USA Today page)
"AT&T will unlock phones for customers once they have fulfilled their contracts, which typically run one to two years. One big exception: Apple's iPhone, distributed exclusively in the USA by AT&T. "That's different," says AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel."
Oh well, it was nice while it lasted . . . . .
Posted by TitoC | August 23, 2007 4:33 PM
Cell service providers are the devil. They didn't offer ANY subsidy on the iphone yet they act like THEY (AT&T) own the phone and not US (Joe Schmuckstone) This is why the world will always need hacks and hackers...sadly enough to fight the giant oppressive corporations like AT&T/Cingular/360Communications/Sprint or whatever they call themselves today.
Andrew Hamilton
Video Production Las Vegas
http://www.hiproductions.com
Posted by Hamilton International Productions | August 23, 2007 9:11 PM
To be fair Apple should offer the phone at a higher price but with no lock. That way people who want the cheaper price can have a contract and people who just want the phone can buy it with no commitment to any service provider. It is very apparent that the money is in the contract, not the phone.
I would consider buying one at twice the price if it was really that good but my company is already tied up with T-Mobile.
Steve Bell
Archiform 3D
Posted by Archiform 3D | August 26, 2007 11:13 AM
I signed up for the Go-Phone plan.
It is not officially posted, but it IS an official contract with ATT for my iphone. It is signed and sealed by both parties and ATT has conscented and activated my phone.
This contract can be " fullfilled" at any time....
Will he unlock my phone?
Posted by Andre Breitman | August 27, 2007 11:33 AM
just hack it as everyone else :)
Posted by Architectural Renderings | January 4, 2008 1:50 PM