iPhone 3G unhackable??

[hanzo]

While I wouldn't disagree that physical means are difficult / complicated, they are not impossible.

In fact, several good friends had no issue repeating geoh0ts "hack" early on. Even if a method of unlocking requires specific hardware and expertise, there will be unlockers turning a tidy profit.

[noixe]

ofcourse, no doubt, there will be people just waiting for it to come out to dismantle it and get it unlocked.
impossible is nothing just, takes time :P

[ultrablue662]

AT&T released their information yesterday about selling unlocked iPhones in the States.

Unlock Your Own Iphone: Don't Buy an Unlocked iPhone From AT&T, Just Cancel a New Contract

It seems it would be cheaper to sign the contract and buy out of it 30 days later than it would be to just purchase the thing outright from them.

If you don't want to click the link, the breakdown is:
8GB iPhone Canceled: $480
16GB iPhone Canceled: $580
8GB iPhone Unlocked from AT&T: $599
16GB iPhone Unlocked from AT&T: $699

A note about what they are suggesting.

1. You need a US SSN to actually buy an AT&T plan. So if you arent a US citizen, a US resident, or (in my case for example) student who was there before this world went to hell (officially) you cant get a plan.

2. Canceling a cell phone plan will be on your credit report. so any person who cares about that (most Americans NEED a decent credit score) wont be stupid enough to do that. I'd pay the extra cash than ruin my credit in the US.

Crystal, back me up in those 2 points?

3. 599 USD is LESS money that you will pay here for an HTC touch diamond, an HTC tilt, a Sony Ericsson C905, or X1. so I dont see what the huge deal is. Hell, it's less than my cousin paid for his Nokia N 95.

[hanzo]

I don't want to quibble, but if I may (as a US citizen)

Originally Posted by ultrablue662

A note about what they are suggesting.

1. You need a US SSN to actually buy an AT&T plan. So if you arent a US citizen, a US resident, or (in my case for example) student who was there before this world went to hell (officially) you cant get a plan.

Legally speaking, they cannot require a SSN for services. It's a common misconception that a US Citizen can be compelled to provide SSN for services, pre-employment, etc. However, it can be very, very difficult to get around this requirement, but not impossible.

That said, it is completely within their rights to refuse service.

In short, don't provide an SSN, fight the system, you will still be refused, just not for that.
**EDIT** Just to clarify, there is no law preventing a business from refusing service based on refusal to provide a SSN. But it would make for really bad press, and pushed hard enough probably gain the interest of a number of privacy groups.

2. Canceling a cell phone plan will be on your credit report. so any person who cares about that (most Americans NEED a decent credit score) wont be stupid enough to do that. I'd pay the extra cash than ruin my credit in the US.

Completely incorrect. Canceling service and paying ETF does not impact your credit score. Failure to *pay* your account, will. It will end up with derogatory marks on your credit history either directly from AT&T or eventually from the credit collections agency.

When you enter into the agreement, you agree to pay the ETF if your terminate before the course of your agreed upon service. If you pay the penalty, you have upheld your end of the agreement, thus there will be no negative response (beyond AT&T potentially refusing future service).

[ultrablue662]

Not true, and Im living proof. my T mobile service WAS paid in full (bought myself out of the agreement) and it DID affect my credit score. even showed up when I wanted to rent an apartment. so did my bought of my Sprint agreement. You may be talking from a technical point of view, I'm taking from the what they do and get away with point of view.

No, you do not HAVE TO provide you SSN, However they WILL NOT provide you with any service other that a pay as you go phone without it. NONE. this again, was tried with AT&T (Who remembers their unlimited everything plan for 100 bucks?) , Sprint, and T-Mobile.

Edit: Oddly enough when I switch back to Sprint, they didnt refuse me service based on my canceling the agreement previously. this, most come to find out, is directly influenced by how moronic the sales clerk is, and your luck.

[fangpyre]

Though legally you don't have to give out your Social Security, but they don't legally have to serve you.
So in the end Blue is right, you need it.
I'm sure there are a few privacy groups that are already fighting that.
But I'm guessing they haven't gotten anywhere.
Maybe they can't get in touch (no phones and all)

I'm surprised that it affects your credit though.
I have never tried it, so I don't know.
But Hanzo's remarks make sense.

As to them making the deal despite that note, they want your money.

[ahugefrigginguy]

I just moved to Dubai from the US 6 months ago. I was 6 months into my iPhone contract with At&t. I called them and explained the situation to them. After suggesting a few alternatives (All of which would have been too expensive to bear), they did allow me out of my contract with no penalty and there are no remarks on my credit report. (I do check it once every month).

This is a little different situation in which you will be purchasing it with the intention of canceling the contract and paying a penalty. My concern is whether you will pay the penalty and be asked to return the phone or pay back the subsidized price.

[hanzo]

Originally Posted by ultrablue662

Not true, and Im living proof. my T mobile service WAS paid in full (bought myself out of the agreement) and it DID affect my credit score. even showed up when I wanted to rent an apartment. so did my bought of my Sprint agreement. You may be talking from a technical point of view, I'm taking from the what they do and get away with point of view.

Then you've gotten the raw end of the deal twice. I would recommend using the provisions of the FCRA to dispute the credit dings.

*However*
What you may have experienced is a drop in credit score based on the lack of continued positive account. Having a current, active account in good standing serves to boost your credit score (provided it's not a line of credit).

In this case, you haven't had a derogatory entry placed against your credit, you've simply removed a positive entry.

It will be easy to tell, simply use AnnualCreditReport.com (the site created in response to the provisions of the FACT Act). You will be able to obtain your credit report from the "big three" (Experian, Transunion, Equifax) free. If you are unfamiliar with the FACT Act, the US government has mandated that the major credit agencies provide a simple mechanism for everyone to check their credit report once annually, free.

I've extensively used the Experian interface, and they actually provide a listing of "Potentially Negative Items" in your credit report. This should serve as a good starting point.

From there, simply choose to dispute the negative keying on your account, provide the account number and date of payoff, within a few weeks it should disappear (or return with an explanation).