Wireless Imports unlocks iPhones for $100

Can you explain to me and other person with even half a brain how a GSM phone (locked or unlocked) can be used on CDMA network? Since the article claims their unlocked phones can be used on the Verizon network I'm wondering if they haven't discovered the secret to eternal youth also.

verizon has workpohones with gsm sockets, they can activate a gsm chip for overseas use.

which explains how a Verizon phone can work overseas on a GSM network.

On the other hand, there is absolutely no way any GSM phone can ever connect and work on a CDMA network, unless there is some inactive circuitry in iPhone that's sitting there, waiting to be activated (not a chance).

Since upcoming iPhone firmware (1.1?) will add some major features (iTunes WiFi and 3 unannounced apps as Steve's presentation had 3 spaces left to iTunes WiFi app left unoccupied) and hopefully more bug fixes (Safari and iPod still crash), I think it's best to wait for the patch before forking $100 to get the phone unlocked.

I don't understand why most people would want to unlock the iPhone. The only reasons I could understand

1) you want to use it overseas 2) you find the two-year contract intolerable 3) you want to save a little money (at most $20/month, I would think...) by going to a cheaper calling plan with another carrier, but if you paid $400 or $600 for a freaking cell phone, do you really care about saving $20 or so per month? 4) AT+T has really atrocious coverage in your area and T-Mobile is better

if I owned an iPhone, I guess #2 would apply to me, I am contract-free and I intend to stay that way. But I won't be buying an iPhone until 1) they come out with even better models in 2008 or 2009 and 2) even then I really don't want a goddamned 2 year contract so I guess I have to wait until Apple's 5 year exclusivity deal with AT+T ends. Oh well.

And as pointed out above... the unlocking could easily be defeated by a software update, so basically you'd have to forego updating your phone indefinitely. Ridiculous. Basically there's a very, very small subset of users for whom the unlocking would make sense.

You can bet the bank (or at least your $100) that this and all software workarounds will be disabled by Apple firmware "upgrades" as soon as they appear. I imagine R&D from Apple has already placed several orders from Wireless Imports.

Note: Wireless Importers say you will on your own if Apple disables their workaround. And it will cost $100 more to unlock the phone again.

But, I imagine some suckers will be buying this. Or folks who NEVER, EVER want to apply an Apple upgrade or bug-fix.

"I don't understand why most people would want to unlock the iPhone."

If you travel overseas at all to counties with GSM with an locked iPhone you will pay obscenely high rates. If it was unlocked you could insert a local SIM card and save literally hundreds of dollars or more in a very short time by paying local rates.

Personally, that is what is standing between me and an iPhone (in addition to AT&T's crappy network that is.)

Exactly.

"AT&T's crappy network that is" + and their ass-slow EDGE.

I do believe that I did qualify my comment with the phrase, "most people", and then I also listed one of my reasons why a few people might want to unlock their iPhone, that they want to use it overseas.

Yep, I did say that. Thanks for the superfluous comment though!

i'm very, very familiar with roaming charges when using a US carrier overseas; that's why I purchased a rather cheap but good-looking unlocked Moto phone in Europe (my US phone was locked).