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Hacked IPhones signal Unrest in Telecomm ConsumerLand

Lately the news has been full of stories of Hacked Apple IPhones, the chutzpah prize going to the 17 year old NJ kid who has a hacked phone for sale on ebay, which can be used on other networks, such as the T-Mobile Network, as well as internationally, without paying the AT&T Vig. Many of these IPhones have also been hacked so that they can run other applications other than the “approved” ones.

In many countries other than the US, cellphone users can use any application, any phone, and any network simply by transferring a sim card and uploading the software, ringtones, etc of their choice. And the networks are much more open and less expensive, without the US Telecomm nickel dime approach to service use, resulting in ridiculous cellphone bills compared to the rest of the world. US Cellphone Networks are a perfect example of a Non-Neutral Network (yes, this is what we have to look forward to on the internet if the US Telecomms have their way about Net Neutrality, unless a third pipe comes along, thanks to the FCC’s idiotic move of doing away with Net Neutrality.)

But this hacking of IPhones to get around the AT&T service and app lock is especially telling of an awareness among US cellphone users that other people have better cellphone networks for cheaper, and with lots more competition. Whether Iphone hacking is illegal or not, which seems to be a big question, I don’t think this is a Genie that’s going quietly back into its bottle.

Technorati Tags: IPhone Hack, Apple, AT&T, Net Neutrality, FCC, Closed Cell Networks