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When everything about the iPhone has been said and done, I wonder what it will be remembered for more.
Will it be seen as groundbreaking in terms of its innovation and style or will it be remembered for creating a league of hackers whose sole purpose in life seems to be breaking Apple's grip on its own invention?
I'm betting on the second. While the iPhone is incredibly popular, its PR campaign is a running tale of screw-ups. The last time I wrote about the iPhone was shortly after Apple infamously released firmware version 1.1.1, which effectively "bricked" some iPhones that had been unlocked to run on networks that lacked Apple's blessings.
One spokesperson said the only way to fix a bricked iPhone was to buy a new one.
One analyst for Bank of America has estimated that 20 per cent of all iPhones sold have been unlocked. Others have estimated that 400,000 of the unlocked iPhones are being used on networks in China.
Good news, bad news
Then last week, in the middle of what was supposed to be good news from Apple, more ire was directed at the company when it finally launched its Software Developers Kit (SDK), which includes an upgrade to firmware version 1.1.4.
For everyone using an iPhone on one of the approved networks, this is good news. You will now be able to get third-party applications and business-users will be able to sync their iPhones to their Outlook accounts. Kudos to Apple for doing that.
But even that news had people complaining. Apparently, all the applications will be available via the iTunes website, which means that Apple will get final approval of what's on tap. There has even been some speculation that the telecom will get their say too.
Some Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software has already been ruled forbidden. But for everyone with an unlocked phone, these updates are worthless. Updating to 1.1.4, a requirement to use the new features, may get your phone bricked.
Despite Apple's claims that it plans to use the new features to fight BlackBerry for a bigger market share, business people outside the US and Europe are still cut off from iPhone-mania.
Why Apple is putting its customers through this is mystifying. The buyers who want their iPhone unlocked have the backing of an entire community that is willing and capable of hacking Apple's software. Reviving bricked phones is even possible.
Jailing breaking, or placing unauthorised third-party software on the iPhone, has been an art dating back almost to the phone's release.
Apple is just creating an image of itself as a tyrannical company that is trying to control the products that people have paid for.
Your comments
If iPhones were unlocked from the factory for use in any network, it would not create this hype. The fact is that whenever a new firmware gets unlocked, a frenzy of people trying to upgrade and unlock begins. Even those who don't have it still talk about it. I agree with Padma that it is a cult brand. Who even considers this for HP, Acer, Dell etc? As far as their PR going bad, I can't comment much. I believe Apple did predict that their phones would get unlocked, and are they doing anything about this? New roll-ups are just a camouflage to cover-up for this.
Paras
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 18, 2008, 13:39
I was really interested in buying the iPhone, but I understood that it is locked and I would have to pay extra money to unlock it. After calculation the price of the iPhone is the same price as a Nokia N95 8GB, and Nokia is well known in the telecommunication business. As a user I need ease and flexibility to download and free access to the teleworld.
Salah
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 18, 2008, 08:58
I say ditch the iPhone mania. Sony Ericsson and Nokia have great phones for most of the things you would want to do - and they are smaller and lighter! It is sad though that Apple is now rearing its ugly head when in comes to controlling markets and it makes it very much like its competitor, that it used to whine about, Microsoft.
Pradeep
Sydney,Australia
Posted: March 18, 2008, 03:16
iPhone version 1.1.4 can be easily unlocked within five minutes. But I hate the policies of Apple. I have been trying to download one ring tone to the iPhone since for the past three days, which was very easy for me with Nokia. Now you have to buy all ringtones from Apple at $1 each.
Gulzar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 17, 2008, 11:33
I would like to say that once you have paid for the phone then you can do whatever you want. That's your property. Why do we follow manufacturer's rules after buying? That's why Nokia is popular worldwide and Apple is only favoured by a few people.
Arvin
New York,USA
Posted: March 16, 2008, 17:17
I would like to inform the readers that iPhone version 1.1.4 can be easily unlocked within five minutes.
Asanka
Colombo,Sri Lanka
Posted: March 16, 2008, 17:08
Apple is showing how a US company should behave - tyrannical and monopolistic. Hackers would love to bring down any wall or should I say 'unbrick' (pun intended) setup by Apple. It is about time Apple should give its blessings to phones already hacked and take them in the mainstream. I remember the days when Sony DVD players only used to play original CDs, later they realised they were loosing out. Now a Sony DVD player can play any format on any kind of CD.
Prashant
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 16, 2008, 14:27
Apple is making a big mistake in the way it's handling the iPhone. It's turning itself into another Microsoft. As the world moves closer and faster towards Open-Source projects and free-ware products it is absolutely inevitable that most to all companies will embrace these trends. Apple, on the other hand, seems to be heading in the wrong direction. Terms like "mandatory operators" and "locking" and "iTunes exclusivity" are very hurtful to the very market Apple is targeting. I was very enthusiastic about iPhone's release, after releasing it only in the US and locking it and all, I immediately moved away from it and bought myself a beautiful Nokia E90. (Apple just lost a potential customer because of its strategy).
Khaled
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 16, 2008, 13:54
Why don't they insist on the existing pricing point? They could have kept a higher price for the 'unlocked' units vs. the units sold through their partnered telcos like everyone else? Pity, all this has a very distinct, Microsoft taste.
NJ
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 16, 2008, 13:22
Apple has always had narrow minded approach towards it consumers. The way the software upgrades been rolled out for iPhone illustrates Apple's draconian philosophy of squeezing their customer's brain.
Andrea
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 16, 2008, 12:40
Apple has a cult following in a world where brands are spending millions to even be considered by consumers. The iPhone and app community give Apple the perfect platform to strengthen this relationship with its fans. While it is understandable that for security reasons, Apple might not want to give free access to third party software, its current stand is not helping its image. I believe Apple should embrace this hyper-inolved community and not miss out on an enviable opportunity for relationship building.
Padma
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 16, 2008, 10:48
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