iPhone hack enables wireless without AT&T

Norwegian researcher Jon Lech Johansen, aka DVD Jon, has found a way to activate the iPhone via Windows without subscribing to an AT&T wireless plan. After using the hack, some Internet features, such as YouTube, may still not work. What you do get is use of the wide-screen iPod and Internet access through the Safari browser.

Details can be found on Johansen's So sue me blog. There, Johansen lists several values and offsets that he says must be entered in the itunes.exe file. This requires the use of a hex editor. A new host entry must also be added to Windows. In addition, Johansen provides an application that spoofs the Apple activation center.

DVD Jon gained notoriety in 1999 for releasing the code DeCSS that decodes the content scrambling system used in DVD copy protection. As a result, Johansen was prosecuted but acquitted of charges of computer hacking even though at least two other authors of DeCSS are suspected. Johansen now lives in Norway.

[zeeboid]

I thought Apples were free of this sort of thing.

awesome.

[MTGrizzly]

Not an Apple problem...

...this seems like an AT&T problem.

It is obscene that you can't use any of the functions of your iPhone
until AT&T gets around to activating it...

[anomalator]

Excellent!

Way to go Jon! I love reading stories like this, warms my geeky little heart.

[Phil-IT]

Apple smiles, ATT frowns

My guess is that Apple didnt put all the efforts in the protection for that kind of hack :)

More iPhones sold! (less AT&T contracted)

[Hardrada]

$500 iPod and browser

not too bad... if someone posts how to unlock Sim/network, that'll be great !

[Bhopx]

no sim card

the iPhone does not use a sim card. which sucks if you are the type of person who likes to switch between phones for certain situations (blackberry for work, iPhone for the weekends, etc). they probably did this so people couldnt do exactly what you are suggesting: unlock the iPhone for other services.

[verbalvoodoo]

Apple Probably Planned This All Along!

Makes sense.

Who really knows what kind of hammerlock ALL the wireless carriers tried to put on the iPhone?? Steve picked one, agreed to all the chains the carriers demanded --- knowing all the while that the hackers would find a way to free the iPhone!

Want an "unlocked" phone? Steve was probably totally unable to ever create one (because the carriers wouldn't allows it most likely) -- but knew that the hackers would be able to "fix" the iPhone with a few hacks and workarounds.

iPhone cant use Skype? Not out of the box. But it will! Can't edit Microsoft docs? Of course Microsoft wouldn't allow Steve to do that -- but the hackers will "fix" that soon.

Steve Jobs didn't make the iPhone hacker-proof because he probably planned on using them as a workaround for all the chains Microsoft and the cellular carriers were putting on him.

Anyone really think Steve is mad that people can use the iPhone without paying ATT a ton of money?

I'd suspect he planned it that way all along.

[asphyxiated_reverie]

doubt it was planned

if apple wanted they would of made it for every carrier, so i doubt they are doing this to stick it to att. why would apple rely on the hackers to fix it? apple probably doesnt want hackers messing with the iphone because they could improve on what apple did and apple doesnt like anyone improving or finding flaws in their products.

[beubanks7507]

yea it does

the iPhone does use a sim card even though I think it is different
than the one for standard cell phones. Look the article in
macworld where they disassembled the iPhone. They show pictures
of it.

[jonathanr1]

hack it

i would buy one to hack and see if i cant get some kind of free internet phone service to work on it. kinda like vonage with a bluetooth head set huh. then i could have a video ipod with internet and phone service where internet is available (which in these days where is it not that most people wanna be? and in the days to come wireless internet will be everywhere) its the ultimate toy for a cheap price in the long run

[unifex_]

does anyone else hate the "locked" phones?

Just as a general comment, I find the practice of locking the phones very annoying and I am very happy to see people finding ways around this. I can understand that if a carrier sponsors a phone purchase, they want something in return. But, at the same time, one should have an option of buying the phone unlocked (albeit at a higher price). This is probably not much of an issue if you don't travel, but if you do, then you probably know what I'm talking about!

[michaels07]

iPhone unlock

Hey guys, check out: http://www.unlockingtheiphone.com

They are raising money to give to the first person that can unlock
the iPhone. Interesting idea.
They even mention DVD Jon on their FAQ page.

[pqdina]

iphone unlock

iphone hack is dealing with iphone unlock. you can download iphone unlock toolkit to use iphone as ipod or pda without signing up AT&T service.

[newartistbuzz]

I have an iphone that has been converted to an itouch I use the wifi internet with safari and ipod features, I realize now I can use skype for a real cheap phone service. Is there anyway to get 3G internet all the time and not have pay for the phone service?