Comments on: Why unlocking the iPhone is a waste of time

Gadget blogs are atwitter over a new application that helps unlock the iPhone 3G. But unlocking the device no longer makes much sense, says Don Reisinger.

[cyberpyr8]

T-Mobile and At&t use the same GPRS/Edge towers, and have similar coverage. T-Mobile has been rolling out 3G coverage also. I have been customers of both (on T-Mobile now) and I would like to have an iPhone but I don't want to have to go back to At&t to get one. An unlocked iPhone would be ideal. There is a reason to unlock iPhones if you refuse to sucomb to At&t's subpar customer service.

[derilium]

If they have the same coverage, why is it that the only well-working service in Stanford, CA is AT&T? Sure, T-Mobile might sometimes work in Stanford, but most of the time, it WILL fail..

[xboomer55]

T-Mobile and At&t use the same GPRS/Edge towers, and have similar coverage? You obviously have little knowledge and insight into the wireless carrier businesses and their network infrastructure.

[aka_tripleB]

They might use the use the same 2G network, but they don't use the same 3G networks. There's not many reasons to buy an unlocked iPhone 3G if you want to use T-Mobile. You won't get 3G speed on T-Mobile.

[D3vildog699]

My t-mobile 3g phone worked just as fast as the iphone.... not really sure what your saying...

[sharmajunior]

AT&T and T-Mobile don't use the same towers for 3G. If they did, then all of the unlocked T-Mobile phones would be able to use AT&T's 3G and Vice-Versa.

I am using the unlocked G1 from Google on AT&T (not the T-Mobile version) and I rarely get 3G and you know why???....because they don't use the same frequency on the spectrum for transmitting their 3G signal.

T-Mobile uses the 2100 and 1700 Mhz for 3G and AT&T uses 2100 partially and some other frequency (which I don't quite remember) for 3G.

[jonny5cents]

I care a lot because I travel internationally and want to use local SIMs with my iPhone rather than getting ripped off by AT&Ts roaming charges.

[nedarb-braden]

i agree - when i saw the posting that someone unlocked the iPhone 3G i was excited purely because i could get local SIM cards when i travel international.

[js.matrix]

I second this motion! I have at least two internetional trips planned this year. Lock downs and roaming charges simply suck. I also want to be able to use local SIMs rather then be stuck with intentionally crippled technology. Living overseas, AT&T is not an issue nor concern for me. It's just one vendor from one country on planet earth.

[marvinjberman]

AMEN

[fcpnokia]

I used to feel that way as well but the truth is that if you just buy a cheap or used unlocked phone in europe to use while you are there, the roaming cost factor goes away.

I am a Venezuelan citizen and got my first US visa in 1944; since then I went to prep school, College and Magister in the USA, travel there every year to visit children and grandchildren, BUT EVERY YEAR I NOTICE THAT MORE PEOPLE FORGET THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF BUYERS OF US MERCHANDISE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIYS THAT COULD USE YOUR PRODUCTS INSTEAD OF EUROPEANS, ASIATIC OR ELSE; personally now I use my Nokia n-95 sold unlocked by Amazon and buy a sim card from ATT when I go there.

[hariky]

I agree that its a waste of time for few people but I do not agree that its for everyone.

Don't know about AT&T but roaming charges are just too much with UK operators. It helps to use a local SIM while travelling which many people do. Atleast I do.

Also, O2 UK is the only operator licensed to sell iPhone in the UK but the general feedback is that their 3G network isn't great compared to others like T-Mobile UK. It costs same/cheaper to buy a pay as you go iPhone, unlock it and use on a better network.

These are the two reasons holding me back in buying an iPhone although I really like its user interface despite its drawbacks.

[SeizeCTRL]

There is a PAY AS YOU GO iPhone? Where can I get one of these puppies at?

[gb121b]

It doesn't seem that you even know the difference between "jailbreak" and "unlock"... App store vs. not has nothing to do with unlocking (that's called "jailbreaking", which one could do months ago and wasn't what lots of people from all over the world have been waiting for). I care to unlock because I travel and live abroad from time to time and want to be able to use a local SIM instead of ATT's ridiculous international plan.

[jlherna2]

"Sure, it's nice to say you unlocked a device that's not meant to be unlocked, but it just made so much more sense to me last year when the iPhone didn't have native apps."
"I'm sure others would say that the reason they want to unlock the iPhone is so they can put so-called "banned" apps on their device that Apple has decided to boot from its App Store."

im sorry, but you dont seem to know what the difference between unlocking and jailbreaking is. unlocking means to free the device from it carrier lock, and jailbreaking is what you're referring to when you mention "running banned apps". and yes, jailbreaking the device is definitely worth it. if you're familiar with the appstore apps then you know that the apps can only run in what is reffered to as a "sandbox" environment. meaning that when the app is running, it only has control inside it own little box and has no power in the device outside that box. meaning that you cant have apps running in the background or change anything in the OS. jailbroken apps on tjhe other hand are way more powerful than regular apps, and let you do anything you want, even record video for example. it really great. you should at least look into it.

[sartawetsdfgsd]

There is a world outside US you know...one where AT&T doesn't exist and where cell networks really works and there is competition. US looks like old Russia when it comes to choice of service providers. Not very free and open...ironic.

[e92]

You're argument makes no sense. At least do some research on a topic before writing about it. You would have easily found out about people that travel often wanting to use the iphone in other countries at a low cost, and that T-mobile is a lot less expensive than the att iphone plan. You may be happy with Att, but that doesn't mean the rest of the world is.

[stigmattaman]

Don strikes again with another link-bating, non-researched article. You can do better CNET.

[SeizeCTRL]

My thoughts exactly!

[Cronos1212]

I completely agree. This Writer obviously needs to leave his house and realize that everyone in the world isn't him.

Guess what Don, There are people outside the U.S. who would love unlocked iPhones. There are people in the U.S. who dislike AT&T but want an iPhone. And there are people in these comments wondering why the URL for this article starts with news since this writer appears to think he's writing in his Blog...

[ice5nake]

What a wasted two minutes of reading.

[shootdraxxus]

Two minutes is a lot longer than it took to jailbreak my iphone...

[jhlundin]

...another important item T-Mobile's 3G net... it operates on 1700MHz... not compatible with phones (including iPhone) that operate on ATT's 850 1900 hardware...

[techonly]

Yeap, that shows the author never fly out of USA and never incur roaming charge. so unlocking will allow the "local" sim to be inserted and you do not need to incur any expensive charges. typically > US$3 / minute. Buying local sim card, will cost you 15 USD but you will be able to use 90 minutes.

Roaming: (assume continous call)
90 minutes * 3 = 270 dollars

Local Sim
(0 minutes = 15 USD

So who cares for unlocking ? I care :P

[captbill98]

Local SIM cards are $5 US and less in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Use time is dirt cheap, but varies between countries. In Vietnam I pay $3 US a month for unlimited calls. There are no roaming charges in any of the three countries as long as you call from and to the country of your sim card. One SIM will NOT work in another country, so you need a SIM for each country you use the phone in. Then just load your minutes, which you buy separately and which never seem to expire.

[sandiegan]

I love my iPhone. I hate AT&T. Their coverage is horrible in places with TONS OF PEOPLE. One would think their first priority would be targeting heavily populated areas in the Union's most populous state. But apparently not.

[willnj2007]

Its a shame when people write articles and don't do research. Here are the reasons to jailbreak and unlock the phone:

1. Jailbreak - Use apps like Backgrounder to run apps in background, PDANet to tether iPhone to laptop, and install cool apps to customize your phone all things Apple doesn't allow.
2. Unlock - Handy when traveling to use local carriers and not pay roaming fees and for those who have contract with Tmobile and want the iPhone at premium price without switching to AT&T

Its all about choices that Apple doesn't let you have and if they did jailbreaking and unlocking would not be necessary but until that time comes yes this is great.

[CaliforniaMan]

Jailbreaking my iPhone has added to my enjoyment of using it immensely. I don?t travel so unlocking it is not of interest to me but as others have pointed out it is of benefit outside of the US, if one is bound to T-mobile then unlocking would be of interest or if you plan to sell the device on eBay the value is enhanced.
I agree the author does confuse jailbreaking and unlocking. This article should be removed. I wouldn?t trust this author as having any technical knowledge.

[trentcolbert]

You must not travel internationally, or you would see a huge reason to unlock any phone.

[bozeefus]

Don Reisinger is a technology idiot who has written nonsense from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is not sure how he became a member of the CNET Blog Network, or why people let him post at all. We know why he isn't an employee of CNET. Disclosure (he's incompetent).

[webmastir]

LOL. agreed.

This story is a waste of text.
Please remove this article, and do us all a favor. Thanks

[captbill98]

Ditto!

[Goodbye Helicopter]

if you travel abroad, get a local number.
do you really need to make the call on the iphone?!
get over yourselves.
this is like altering your car to use diesel instead of unleaded, or tank tracks instead of tires.
no real point.
if you are not satisfied with the product, use another.

[gb121b]

some of us prefer not to have to switch phones/PDAs from country to country, or carry an additional local phone. So yes, I would like to have my iPhone function in multiple places.

And NO, it's NOT at all like altering the car to use diesel instead of unleaded. The iPhone IS designed to take any SIMs and DO in many markets (Taiwan, NZ, Singapore, to name a few). In the US, our iPhone is altered to limit and take away our choice.

[blinkdt]

Bless you, Apple. I love my iPhone!

[biplane2]

False analogy.

It is more like being allowed to use another license plate when you travel to a foreign country, (though taking a car with you might be slightly! harder than taking your phone with you).

[big.mouth]

Yeah, I'm guessing you failed the analogy section of the SAT.

[ziggy_dust]

What a terrible, unresearched and pointless article. Let me tell you why...

Firstly, you need to learn the difference between Jailbreaking an iPhone and UNLOCKING an iPhone. Jailbreaking an iPhone allows you to install 3rd party apps and UNLOCKING an iPhone allows you to use different phone providers.

I agree, there are great apps on the App Store. But what does that have to do with the ability to use different phone carriers?

Perhaps you are happy with AT&T. Great. Clearly though, you don't leave the USA much. For people in Europe for instance, who are constantly traveling between London, France, Germany, etc..., the need for an unlocked phone is crucial. Instead of paying crazy high ROAMING charges (I'll let you look that up yourself), it makes a lot more sense to simply buy a "Pay as you Go" SIM card at your travel destination. Locked phones simply do not make sense to people who travel Internationally frequently.

Perhaps there is only a small % of AMERICAN users who need an unlocked phone, but for THE REST OF THE WORLD, its a different story.

And if you really want to argue the whole Apple approved apps angle, fine. ok.

I can currently stream live video from my iPhone to my website. I can have Skype running in the background, as I SMS or email. I have copy/paste Etc.. Etc.. Etc.... I have paid money form MY IPHONE. I should have the choice to buy from the APP STORE or FROM ANYWHERE ELSE. I should be able to chose if I want to use an App that will kill my battery in 2min. flat. It should be MY CHOICE. And if I destroy my iPhone with some malicious app, its MY PROBLEM.

Funny, but if you listen closely, its usually people with virgin, locked and unjailbroken iPhones that keep going on about how pointless it is to Jailbreak/Unlock.... Let's hear from early adopters, hackers, tweakers and the people that keep pushing technology further and further for a change, and not the sheep that read on or two articles on Gizmodo and suddenly "know all there is to know"....Let's hear from the people that, you know...THINK DIFFERENT.

[jbboyd]

with 3g and the App Store, most people don't need to unlock or jailbreak their phone anymore. but if you do, all you need to know is its straightforward, it works and it opens up a host of possibilities Apple needlessly limits you from enjoying. all you have to do is spend 10 minutes with the half finished iphone UI and it should be apparent there are a lot of people out there who know how to make better use of this hardware. is Cut & Paste or MMS really that difficult? (hint: NO). these are just the beginning.
yes you have to take some extra responsibility to manage a jailbroken platform (not so with unlocking) but its worth it for tech savvy users.

[cporpheus]

Given that all people responding to the article either disagree or repeat the difference between jailbreaking and unlocking, I will venture saying that it is probably not a waste of time. The real proof will be how many downloads the unlock tool will get.
Maybe rewrite the article as "Why unlocking the iPhone is a waste of time <i>for me</i>"

[medezark]

Or how about "Reading Don's Blogs is a waste of time". I don't think he reads his own blogs, based on the recent Sony Playstation 3 price blogs (The first explaining why Sony CAN'T reduce the retail price, the second insisting that they will reduce the price).