Oh! I hope this blows up in "AT&T Apple's" face!!

[NetDawg]

We have unlocked IPhones on T-Mobile and as long as you don't install the IPhone update it won't brick your phone. I don't understand why people updated their phone when it was sure to brick.

[Galvatron]

well im anti apple period aln also the conep of apples business model violates not only the warenty law but also att's unlocking policy.
also because of apples sance on unlocking devices they are barrred from selling the ibrick in france. beacuse french laew requires that if you are to sell them ther us MUST sell them unlocked.

[j__1]

Isn't this great news for Apple?

What's the worst case here????

I wonder if we'll see a Steve Jobs rant about business practices in telecom soon... similar to his statements concerning the music industry.

[dkb218]

The part of the suit about An Apply Monopoly... Not going anywhere....

The part about Apple releasing a patch that bricks peoples unlocked phone? Apple's gonna get hit hard for that.

[j__1]

Originally Posted by dkb218

The part of the suit about An Apply Monopoly... Not going anywhere....

The part about Apple releasing a patch that bricks peoples unlocked phone? Apple's gonna get hit hard for that.

Really??? Don't you think the patch is related to the monopoly piece? Why is Apple going after unlocked phones? Hmmmmmm.... I wonder.

[dkb218]

Originally Posted by j__1

Really??? Don't you think the patch is related to the monopoly piece? Why is Apple going after unlocked phones? Hmmmmmm.... I wonder.

(economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller; "a monopoly on silver"; "when you have a monopoly you can ask any price ...
exclusive control or possession of something; "They have no monopoly on intelligence"

First, what monopoly? Has Apple stopped anyone from creating a touch screen, MP3 player telephone combo?

The patch will be argued by Apple as an update to it's itunes software. Once it's found that Apple intentionally added software to this update that is desinged to go after and brick unlocked iphones, thats when the law suites start to happen.

[j__1]

Originally Posted by dkb218

First, what monopoly? Has Apple stopped anyone from creating a touch screen, MP3 player telephone combo?

How do you define the audio/radio market? Personally, I include iPod, XM, DirecTV, HD-Radio, FM/AM, 8-track, etc. However, interestingly, many want to define the market and what's good for the consumer in terms of technology (i.e., XM and Sirius = satellite radio).

In case of this lawsuit, they appear to be defining the iPhone as its own market. In those terms, one might claim that Apple and at&t own 100% of the legitimate market.

Originally Posted by dkb218

The patch will be argued by Apple as an update to it's itunes software. Once it's found that Apple intentionally added software to this update that is designed to go after and brick unlocked iphones, thats when the law suites start to happen.

From what I understand, the patch affected those that used the needle method (hardware/software hack) to unlock their device. In my case, I had no problem going forward and back in terms of firmware... but then I just waited for a software solution and just smiled at IRC as I watched George and the iPhone Dev team do their work time and time again.

As for iBricks, I highly doubt Apple spent any cycles to develop a way to brick unlocked phones. I've asked, and no one has ever been able to give me a good and sane reason for Apple to go out of their way to break devices. And anyone that has ever worked in or with IT knows that the testing of software is a monumental task... and there are always more than enough problems to solve without purposefully creating new ones.

On the other hand, what is obviously evident is Apple actually spent resources to determine compatibility between a variety of hacks and their new iPhone firmare, and then warned the public of danger. Please name another company that does this... M$ and xbox? Nintendo? Who?

Now, did they make some modifications to further verify the identity of the SIM and service at time of activation and sync... and will they continue to further define and protect their exclusive relationship with at&t? Heck yeah. They have a contract they have to live up to, and a strategy they're executing to that we are not fully aware of. I believe this is the focus of the lawsuit.

Do I think the lawsuit has merit? Of course not.
Do I enjoy the increasing publicity the telecom industry is receiving? Hells yes.