iPhone Is Getting Locked Again

Apple announced plans to release a required software update that would render any unlocked phone inoperable. Here's what probably happened. AT&T started crying about people unlocking the phone to use on other networks and could see their exclusive contract in crisis. They ran to Apple and said they had better do something about this fast. The firmware update was the solution and this is what Apple had to say.

"Apple strongly discourages users from installing unauthorized unlocking programs on their iPhones. Users who make unauthorized modifications to the software on their iPhone violate their iPhone software license agreement and void their warranty. The permanent inability to use an iPhone due to installing unlocking software is not covered under the iPhone's warranty."

For those of you with an unlocked iPhone, there may be no hope. But wait, maybe there is. Erica Sadun on The Unofficial Apple Weblog has a the solution in a post called re-lock your phone.

I guess I don't blame AT&T . I would expect the same thing if I had planned on every iPhone user subscribing to my wireless service. After all, they do have Wall Street accountability to deal with.