Apple: 250k iPhones sold to unlockers

It may well be worth noting that the commercial unlock method, from iPhoneSIMMfree, worked well, and did not affect iPhones ulocked with it -- as the free unlock by a bunch of rushed and self-important hackers was the cause behind tons of iPhones getting bricked (and *not* Apple's firmware update, per se).

As it turns out, iPhoneSIMfree was also the first solution to again work on the 1.1.1 iPhone update, and also the first solution to actually reverse the bricking of iPhones rendered inoperable by the 'free' hacked unlock. Once a jailbreak existed for 1.1.1, iPhoneSimFree quikly released instructions and an updated version to allow 1.1.1 iPhones to be unlcoked.

As far as I am concerned, $60 well-spent, and well worth it, especially considering that most kids clamoring for a 'free' unlock seem to have no problem spending $400 on the phone, and a ton more money on accessories. Keeping things in perspective, particularly if you depend on a functioning phone, the measy $60 they charge is well worth the lack of aggravation, if not the added benefit of working with a professional outfit.

So you spent $60 for your unlock. yay....

You seem to be proud of that, There are hundreds of thousands who spent nothing and they are enjoying their iPhones just as much if not more.

...iPhones would Apple sell to those who couldn't or wouldn't pay for AT+T services if they allowed unlocked phones...?

At $400 a pop, another million, if not more. At twice that (what Apple would claim they would need to charge to make up for the lack of long-term income), probably not many more.

But how many would they sell if they sold versions through all the carriers (Verizon, Cingular, T-Mobile, etc) rather then locking themselves into just one?

"But how many would they sell if they sold versions through all the carriers (Verizon, Cingular, T-Mobile, etc) rather then locking themselves into just one?"

Question is if they would have been able to get the iPhone out in the form they wanted had they opened up to all the carriers. I think they had to concentrate on just one carrier so that there would be an incentive for that carrier to alter their network in order for the iPhone to work in Apple's terms (i.e. visual voicemail).

Okay it's a secret so don't tell anyone:

The iPhone is an exclusive device so that Apple can push unlimited data plans, visual voice mail etc on the carriers and locking in is only an obligation while they are under the deals.

I agree that AT&T gets first crack at iphones with their contract agreement to Apple's terms. But did Apple have to make it 5 years exclusive? Two years exclusive would have been golden to show the other carriers the error of their ways and sweet for AT&T. I agree with testudo, Apple could have sold tons more if they had opened the floodgates after a shorter exclusive/test period.

What is the big deal with visual voicemail? Are there that many people avoiding bill collectors?

I don't have an iPhone and so don't have visual voicemail, but I wish I did. And I am not avoiding bill collectors.

If I have 7 new messages and I am waiting for one important one, I don't want to have to dick around with the unimportant ones. It is that simple.

Chad

I may be an example of someone for whom a data plan would never be used, and I never exceed $20/mo in mobile charges, but could/would use the other features of an iPhone, and so Apple would only be gaining by unlocking as I would never be a customer otherwise...

Visual voicemail may be very useful for some, but I would probably never even bother with regular voicemail in the first place...