AT&T now allows customers "in good standing" to unlock their out-of-contract Apple iPhones. You might argue that is good news for mobile virtual network operators that cannot get rights to sell the iPhone. In some limited cases, that might be correct.
But AT&T says the unlocked devices will not work on the Verizon Wireless network. Nor does it appear MVNOs using CDMA (Sprint, Verizon, others) will be able to support the device, either.
The unlocked devices will work on U.S. GSM networks, but only in voice mode and slower EDGE network connections on the T-Mobile USA network.
So it doesn't appear the change in policy will mean much danger for AT&T. Of course, users can buy unlocked devices directly from Apple, if they don't mind paying between $649 and $849, and then putting up with any hassles service providers might impose when trying to use those unlocked devices.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
AT&T iPhones "Out of Contract" Can Be Unlocked
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
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