Apples decision to use 1 supplier seems to be about quality control and consistent with apples previous approach. If you have control of a product from end to end it is easier to make changes and control its quality and cost.

E.g MS dont have that with the PCs that use their operating system so they have many integration issues and Items out of their control - but they did make their money by allowing others to use they product and making it the industry standard.

Apple have end to end control of their PCs etc so they have a smaller market share as a result but a product that , whatever its quality, is completely of their making.

Th iphone approach is the same they will have required AT+T to work to there standards see the itunes hookup for example so that the control is there. Working with one company to do this initially makes more sense than many but once the template has been set they can use it for more suppliers. Shame it had to be AT+T

bob h, NY, USA

Apple should have never unlocked that phone. Now all the hackers are grouping together to break the lock code. It has become their ultimate goal. Not only this means they are going to find out how the iphone works , but this means also that they will know how the operating OSx is build. With this comes..virus..you know..and then we say welcome to mac antivirus softwares...bad Strategy man..I though they were green people. Same.

pacdone, noord, ARUBA

havent mobile phone manufacturers been doing this for years? i have gone to buy mobile phones on several occasions over the years just as they were released and been told... 'sorry mate, that ones only on o2'.

in addition it may not be locked entirely to pee on your human rights there are some logical reasons why you would want to have your phone tied down to one carrier at first, it means that faults can be handled alot easier if their is only one carrier involved, as opposed thousands of people on hundreds of networks from around the world with different issues. it also means that apple only have to go to one party when they want to do something innovative like the voicemail feature (well i havent seen it anywhere else), work out the kinks and then roll it out on other carriers.

in time every carrier will have an iphone on it, at a more affordable price. until then we will all have to go on using existing products. (im an apple fan but i'd rather have a nokia e61i)

Peter, London, England

<rant>
Everyone looks at Microsoft as the big evil company but what about apple with its DRM, Locked Iphones, you can't even use it as an ipod/pda unless you sign up with an account for at&t. Show me another pda that does that.

Apple is also evil because it doesn't allow you to put the apple OS on any pc except for theirs. Imagine if microsoft did that, there would be riots. You can use our software but you have to purchase our overly expensive hardware in order to use it. That is the reason it doesn't have the market share.

The Iphone is just another example of apple needing to control every single aspect of its hardware and software. They are limiting who can use it. That said I will buy an unlocked Iphone when they are available because it is the best option out there.

Also why are all the other phone companies asleep at the wheel. They have thousands of phone engeneers and the best they can come up with is the same old boring flip phone.

Scott, Bulrington, Vermont

using a bundle to tie iphone up with at&t and taking an attitude of take-it-or-leave-it, Apple is exercising some kind of hegemony against its customers, in void of free-choice.
should we not congratulate our technology-freedom-fighters for breaking this durance?

Absurdfool, bj, china

I find it interesting that people will pay more for the new Iphone, than the cost of a new laptop. Image the marketshare to be derived by providing the Iphone-esque PDA, that allows for any modifiable use.

If Apple and Steve Jobs were truly interested in the lesson learned by the 80's PC fiasco, they might look at the Iphone as an opportunity to reclaim the market share that was once lost.

I personally think Apple is doing a great job (no pun) within the PC market, but this Iphone mess has the ring of the Apple IIe.

Just a thought

Adam, Nanaimo, Canada

i was waiting for iphone since its announced, but when its released few days back, apple disappointed me as i leave in India. not happy with apples marketing strategy. at least they should sell these unlocked phones for higher cost. apple has a great technology but, this kind of marketing makes them very small.

Raj, bangalore, india

I thought that congress passed a law that ALL cell phones may be unlocked and used by your preferred carrier.

No You, ARight, USA

if your paying $1000+ for the thing, you should be able to do as you like with it., including choose your own carrier.

JT, Sydney, Australia

I view this as a natural evolution that has occurred in the last few Apple releases. I have seen Linux installed on IPODs and perhaps more importantly when Apple went to the Intel Platform immediately individuals took the intiative to get windows working on the system. Now apple is reportedly going to include bootcamp in the next release of its OS. Individuals whether labled hackers or end users are always going to want to push the technology. This often leads to innovation and continued development of the product.

Scott, ATX,

Time will tell, that Apple has done far more damage to its image with tying Iphone to a particular provider then it has done to improve it by a much needed and potentially fabulous device. They make Microsoft look like open source people.

Mark, Portland, Oregon

Don't you think that is a bit overblown Cindy. Cyberterrorism? WTF!?! These people are working on making the phones that they legitimately purchased work in ways they prefer. The other option is to let Apple and ATT dictate how you can use the device you now own. Would you call that corporoterrorism? I would call it more akin to facism. I own the darn phone, and I have a right to do anything I want with it. Dunk it in the toilet, tie it to the antenna of my car, or hack it to do the things I want it to do.

I think you have spent to much time listening to GWB and his neocon cronies to comment intelligently on this one.

George, Orange County, CA

I love apple products, but like the 1st ipod, i shan't be rushing out to buy the 1st iphone wot with only a 2 mp camera and a largish price tag + contract (and I bet I won't be able to change sim cards whilst abroad!) - its overated, I'll stick wit Sony/eric 4now! Apple is also becoming a bit too control freakish with itunes restrictions on copying between 2 macs etc. Becoming a bit disilusioned with Mr Jobs, I guess the greed factor kicks in as always, shame.........!

Billy Bop, london,

The i-phone should be freed from restrictions placed on it by greedy corporations. Unlocking the phone is a noble deed, why should people be tied to a certain provider? What about those who are happy with thier current provider? I plan to buy an i-phone, but have no idea what to do if it's tied with the mobile operator I do not use. Actually I need my old mobile number for business purposes, so I find this stupid "tie-up" very unfair. People should be free to choose both - a device & an operator.

Pam, St.Petersburg, Russia

@Cindy from Omaha,
These people that spend their time cracking and hacking at software and devices are not "cyberterrorists" in any sense of the word. To call someone a "cyberterrorist" implies that they are a "terrorist" in "cyber"-space. Now,the official definition of "terrorist" is somewhat debatable but every definition I have ever seen describes a _terrorist_ as one who uses violence, fear or intimidation in order to further a cause, usually political in nature.

Having now defined _terrorism_ using commonly accepted definition as opposed to the Fox News manifesto that states that anyone who disagrees with the president or vice-president is a _terrorist_, one can clearly see that these people not _terrorists_ . None of these actions cause harm to anyone physically, mentally or emotionally, therefore they cannot be acts of terror.

Let's reserve the terrorist label for the real terrorists.

Nick, Bay Area, California

Err.. pardon me... Much as I love Apple products - been a Mac computer user for years - and admire their innovations in design, does Apple really think that anyone with any sense is going to buy an over-priced, under specified phone, even with the Apple design values?... and even more so when it can't be re-chipped and will only work with one network provider?

Well... of course some people will buy, but then these are the techno-saddies who must have the latest gadget, even when what they have already is perfectly adequate. Anyone who needs a phone at a good price to do the things they need to do is spoilt for choice, and that choice won't be the iPhone... just yet.

I've nothing against DVD Jon trying to get into the phone's software for whatever reason - it's nothing more than an intellectual exercise or fascination. More fool Apple for designing a product that's crippled at birth and prompts such action!

Stuart, Halifax, UK

Lady removing a sim restriction is not in anyway "CyberTerrorism."

Christopher, Chicago, IL

I agree with Cindy! Yesterday a cyber terrorist spend 3 hours of MY time, 200$ of MY money and no less than 10 kW of MY energy hacking an Iphone... I just hate it when that happens, I really do!

Normand, Aarhus, DK

iphone just proves that with the right marketing u can make Eskimos pay 500 for ice.After what apple has done to the computing industry in the 80s I will never own a proprietary Apple product. They had a true 32bit computer back in 84 but because of their (insert bad words here) attitude towards being the only ones who can sell/repair their stuff, forced us to all go to windows, no where near as good, but atleast we can get it and use it. Apple is the biggest wannabe supplier. Those who cant think on their own, go apple they will tell you

Chris, Vancouver, BC Canada

Well, its their bussiness and they are free to make whatever contracts they want. iPhone is not some sort of god given right that everyone is entitled to. If you don't like the contract, don't use the phone.

Shelsea T, Norman, OK, USA

Sorry your terrified Cindy from Omaha,Those cyberterrorists keep me awake at night too.

Peter King, Wollongong, Australia/NSW

Wow Cindy, in under 40 words you have proven that the average American has absolutely NO idea what they are talking about. "Hacking" has NOTHING to do with terrorism, cyber or otherwise. They spend their own time AND money to expand upon the functions of a unit they OWN.

A good analogy is the car tinkerer, like my dad, who spends his time and cash upgrading and tweaking his old 1950's kit car's performance. Upgraded fan belts, bored out engine, after market seatbelts, these "hacks" allow for upgraded functionality.

Cyberterrorism, ha ha, that's funny.

Ian, Seattle, WA, USA

good on dvd john!! i agree with lou from the bronx, and other posters.

al, London, UK

Cyberterrorism? Look up terrorism in the dictionary and you will find that does not fit the discription of our hacker. He is harmlessly looking for faults in the program. It may be a hobby. It's not hurting anyone really. If the iPhone was able to be used with other carriers then I think it's sales would increase as well. I think Apple being stuck in a deal with AT&T would want someone to discover it or secretly release the ability to do it to the masses to bypass the agreement with AT&T. I wonder if DVD Jon is an employee for Apple. Suck on that a while!

Jeff, Pleasant Hill, CA

Cyberterrorism?! Cindy, honey, people are paying $600 for an iPhone, and even then they are forced into using Apple's network of choice, tying them for two years. Having paid that much for a phone, we should be free to have it unlocked and able to work with any network we choose. The hackers here are simply assisting the consumer with a little monopoly breaking.

Jacques, Londres,

It Is Not cyberterrorism like Cindy said I do agree that people who spend time and energy on things that are worthless should spend it on bettering the world however consumers have the right to purchase an item that is not internally bound to a certain company, thats like saying Dell computers have a contract with AOL and are locked so that whoever buys the computer can only use AOL as an internet provider. Its absurd!

Miguel, Miami, Florida

I think Cindy above represents an unfortunately large section of ignorant America.

"Hacking", to most nerds, is the act of finding a clever solution to a difficult problem. The meaning has been distorted by the media.

This guy, "DVD Jon", isn't a "cyberterrorist". He fiddled with HIS new iPhone to get it to work outside of the US, Apple's currently only supported area.

Why should it be illegal to take apart something that you own?

Denver, Broomfield, Colorado

What the ____ are you talking about? They're trying to remove locks that only serve to grant total control to the manufacturer instead of to the consumer. What does that have to do with cyberterrorism? Or do you just see the word "hacker" and assume it must be a bad thing? "hacker" simply means someone who modifies an existing item, or code, to do something it isn't intended to by its manufacturer - you do the same thing any time you use an old shirt as a dust rag.

Brandon, New York,

It's not cyber-terrorism. These hackers are not searching for vulnerabilities to exploit so they can steal from iphone owners. They ARE using their knowlegde to better the world by creating a more useful device than either Apple or AT&T want you to have. Mega corporations like these and msoft etc, hold a tight grip on technology and want to control evry aspect of your communications for their own profit. The technology exists for free or very inexpensive, peer to peer cell phone service for the majority of customers but that would put control into the CONSUMERS hands rather than the CORPORATIONS.

So keep hacking their devices and services brothers!

Lou, Bronx, NY

His name is "DVD Jon" because he is best known for breaking CSS encryption on DVD, and NOT for hacking the itunes which came MUCH later. You ppl act like apple news is the only news worth knowing. . . sad indeed.

bob, columbus, oh

iPhone should be sold UNLOCKED, carrier FREE and Global !!!

JVCas, Aventura, FL

I don't ever intend to buy or use an iPhone, but I do wish that the scumbags who spend time, energy and other people's money would use their knowledge and time to better the world and not for cyberterrorism

Cindy, Omaha, USA