NJ Teen Unlocks IPhone From AT&T Network

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:44 PM EDT

Article Source: Yahoo! News

technology, iphone-unlocked, iphone-hacked, teen-hacks-iphone

NEW YORK - A 17-year-old hacker has broken the lock that ties Apple's iPhone to AT&T's wireless network, freeing the most hyped cell phone ever for use on the networks of other carriers, including overseas ones.

George Hotz of Glen Rock, N.J., confirmed Friday that he had unlocked an iPhone and was using it on T-Mobile's network, the only major U.S. carrier apart from AT&T that is compatible with the iPhone's cellular technology. In a video posted to his blog, he holds an iPhone that displays "T-Mobile" as the carrier.

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9.1

3.1

{"commentId":972695,"authorDomain":"luckydog"}

luckydog

Teenagers - It's scary what they can do when they put their mind to it.

{"commentId":972695,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"luckydog"}

5 votes

#1 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:46 PM EDT

{"commentId":972821,"authorDomain":"japark"}

jpark

It should, of course, be illegal to lock a phone into a particular carrier.

I applaud the young man for deciphering the lock and making the modifications available to others.

{"commentId":972821,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"japark"}

5 votes

#2 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":972855,"authorDomain":"newsguru"}

newsguruDeleted

{"commentId":972862,"authorDomain":"newsguru"}

newsguru

Please delete prior (hit enter key to quick)

I guess WeBuyUsediPhones.com will finally become a hit.

I don't think I was ever as resourceful at that age as these kids are today.

{"commentId":972862,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"newsguru"}

2 votes

#3 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:45 PM EDT

{"commentId":972912,"authorDomain":"luckydog"}

luckydog

Yeah but we got more exercise ;<)

{"commentId":972912,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"luckydog"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":972992,"authorDomain":"patricksays"}

Patrick D.

And we say that teenagers are lazy...puh-shaw!

{"commentId":972992,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"patricksays"}

2 votes

#4 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":973072,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

MinnieApolis

Assuming that $2000 is the winning bid on his phone one eBay, and at 500 hrs to solve the puzzle, that works out to, hmm, carry the --- a whopping $4/hr. He would have made out better as a lifeguard or even flipping burgers.
Well, now he's starting college to prep for a new career in neuroscience -- "hacking the brain" as he calls it. Best wishes in his new endeavor, and luckily for him he does not have an arrest/trial hanging over his head. There is apparently no current law against what he did.

{"commentId":973072,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

3 votes

#5 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":973208,"authorDomain":"kylen"}

KyleN

Well as he obviously knows the technique and people would trust him best I bet he could resell 10+ or those at decent profit and rework them pretty fast to make up the R&D should he so desire.

{"commentId":973208,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"kylen"}

2 votes

#5.1 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":997950,"authorDomain":"timstown"}

Tim.

Ha, didn't sell for $2000, he got a Nissan 350Z for it. That's probably $20+ an hour

{"commentId":997950,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"timstown"}

2 votes

#5.2 - Tue Sep 4, 2007 12:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":973230,"authorDomain":"partisanhack"}

Partisan Hack

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

{"commentId":973230,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"partisanhack"}

1 vote

#6 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":976691,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

gladbutterfly

Good for that young man. That move by Apple is just as anti-competition as Microsoft's moves in Monopoly.

{"commentId":976691,"threadId":"142081","contentId":"917430","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

2 votes

#7 - Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:31 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"142081","isPrivate":false}

NJ teen unlocks iPhone from AT&T network - Yahoo! News	Yahoo! News	Fri Aug 24	0
Teen untethers iPhone from AT&T	CNN	Fri Aug 24	1
NJ Teen Unlocks iPhone From AT&T Network	The New York Times	Fri Aug 24	1
iPhone unlocked: AT&T loses iPhone exclusivity, August 24, 2007, 12:00PM EDT	Engadget	Fri Aug 24	5
Review: Rival Phones No Match for IPhone	Associated Press	Thu Aug 23	8

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NJ Teen Unlocks IPhone From AT&T Network

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