Hacking the price of the iPhone
Rumors of a next-gen iPhone coming this summer continue to grow. 3G connectivity and GPS are the common expectations, but a new report from CNN (http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/04/29/att-to-cut-the-price-of-apples-new-iphone/) indicates AT&T might subsidize the cost by $200. This is welcome news for anyone planning on making the switch after their current phone contract runs out - like me!
Just as interesting to me is the likelihood that the various methods of unlocking iPhones are contributing to this move. Currently, there are only two incentives for using an iPhone with AT&T service: convenience and visual voice mail. It's just easier to sign up with AT&T on an iPhone than to unlock it, and other services don't support the iPhone's visual voice mail.
However, VVM is just one feature of many, and hackers have devised extremely easy ways to unlock the iPhone. Thus, very little prevents people from using their iPhones on other networks. Some estimates put the percentage of unlocked iPhones in double digits, up to 30%. The incentives and safeguards to keep users locked in are insufficient. Added incentive is needed and it's in the form of money.
I'm sure other factors, like new competitive devices from rivals, are contributing to the move, but the impact of the unlocking hacks is undeniable. AT&T offered a lot to get the exclusive rights to the iPhone. They're not just going to roll over as hackers take it away. Kudos to the hackers for helping to force their hand.
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Labels: mobile tech
Hacking the price of the iPhone
posted by Sumocat at 4/30/2008 08:50:00 PM
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