The following is verbatim from the ActForChange website:
Tell Steve Jobs: Unlock the iPhone!
On Friday June 29, Apple will release the iPhone, with 3 million units available — seemingly more than enough to match the endless hype. However, if you want to purchase one, you’ll be stuck using it on AT&T. It doesn’t matter that the iPhone could work on other networks — Apple refuses to let that happen.
The iPhone uses technology (known as GSM) that should allow it to work on other wireless networks, including overseas. But Apple has configured the iPhone so you’re forced to use it on AT&T. An iPhone purchased in the U.S. will only work on the AT&T network, regardless of what SIM card is placed in it — it cannot be taken to another GSM network such as T-Mobile.
So, if you’re interested in an iPhone but are turned off by AT&T’s corporate policies — such as turning consumers’ information over to the National Security Agency without warrants, their efforts to wipe out net neutrality, or the close-to-100% Republican giving of their new chairman — you’re out of luck.
It is in fact perfectly legal, according to a recent decision from the U.S. Register of Copyrights, for American consumers to unlock their phones for use on whatever network they would like. Apple is trying to take away that right by locking the iPhone to AT&T’s network.
Sign this petition and add your name to the list of Americans calling on Steve Jobs, the President of Apple, to make the iPhone unlockable so that consumers can use it on networks other than AT&T. Then, forward the petition link on to some friends — let’s all remind Steve Jobs that the reason he’s in business is because of us.
Send this petition to:
Steve Jobs
We, like many other Americans, are anticipating the release of the iPhones. However, we, like many other Americans, will NOT be purchasing an iPhone when they arrive. We choose NOT to use the iPhone because it is ‘locked’ for use only on the AT&T wireless networks.
Having to sign a contract is one thing; stopping the iPhone from being unlocked is quite another. In December of 2006, the U.S. Register of Copyrights gave the legal OK to unlocking phones for use on other networks. This means we as consumers should be able to purchase a wireless phone, and if the network provider does not provide satisfactory service, we have the right to unlock that wireless phone to use on other wireless networks.
As one of the leading consumer electronics companies, I hope that Apple will use its influence to set an example and open up the wireless market. If Apple leads, we can all benefit.
We call upon you to respect our rights and publicly announce that you will allow the iPhone to be unlocked for use on other networks. I hope you agree that this will only allow you to sell more iPhones, and let EVERYONE enjoy the technology your company has developed.
Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]
http://actforchange.workingassets.com/campaign/iphone/
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Mike K” for the heads up.]
According to Wikipedia, “ActForChange is a progressive online activism site run by Working Assets that allows individuals to speak out on urgent issues to elected officials and other targeted decision-makers… Working Assets is also an “American [wireless] and long distance phone service and credit card company founded in 1985 and based in San Francisco, California.” More info here.
The free pub is coming not just from the left, but from every direction! Apple’s publicity people are harvesting the mother of all bumper crops!
Damn Hippies !!!
In other iPhone “news”, ZDNet is reporting “Apple will announce this week — possibly as soon as June 27 — that it has licensed the (Microsoft) Exchange ActiveSync licensing protocol.”
There’s no such thing as bad publicity.
Apple will never unlock the phone, until perhaps all other carriers can change their networks to support the features of the iPhone: specifically the Visual Voice-Mail.
One wonders what is involved in supporting Visual Voice-Mail and if it involves an open standard that other carriers/networks can adopt.
Wouldn’t it be great to have Visual Voice Mail available on your land line too via a future Apple device?
They have good points. I understand Apple had to give AT&T something in exchange for all the concessions they made but people aren’t off-base to be concerned about AT&T’s business practices.
Oh my gawd: “. . . or the close-to-100% Republican giving of their new chairman”!
That’s damned near un-American, except for American media elite, of course, who give only 87.5+% to the Democrat party. OR our beloved Apple, Inc. who are almost 99.9% AlGore-based.
Exclusivity is undeniably evil, unless it supports what WE believe in, eh, ActForChange? (Oh, the humanity–AND the hypocrisy.)
At the moment, this is about as urgent to me as what I’m going to have for dinner.
You know, all this “unlock the phone” tripe really irks me. Do they realize that there is significant change behind this item? Do they think that all of the nifty software goodness and light that they’re so dazzled with is just the Apple coding geniuses?
There are sure to be major changes required by the carrier to make things (like Visual Voicemail, the only obvious example) possible and useful.
Try to plug into Verizon, and the phone will choke – some major features will surely die. Tech != magic!
Why does OSX run only on Macs? Control the whole experience, and make it work great.
Hrm. These guys make a big stink about AT&T making contributions to republicans, when they did the same thing with their credit card, according to Wikipedia. Pot, meet Kettle.
He’s given close to 100% to Republicans…. oh the horror! Good thing I don’t have the same warped logic, otherwise I’d never buy a single Apple product with that @ss Gore on the board…
Looks like they are working on their own behalf if they’d stand to benefit from this as a wireless provider!
Dear ActForChange:
Apple has partnered with a single wireless provider to provide capabilities and to develop a working relationship that other wireless companies were unwilling to undertake. Verizon, Apple’s first choice declined. If you choose not to do business with AT&T there are other choices available to you, with a broad range of other phones. My suggestion to you is to address your complaints about Apple’s partner to AT&T itself. Get them to change their policies so you can buy and use an iPhone with a clear conscience. It is not Apple’s fault that other wireless companies were not willing to put out the effort to advance their technologies to work with the iPhone. Until they are, it is unfair to ask Apple to allow the iPhone to operate on their networks in a cripple fashion that dilutes the quality experience that Apple has designed into the iPhone.
What a bunch of dumb Asses (aka “loony Democrats”) these people are. They should go to the back of the line! The don’t deserve an iPhone!
Dear petition signer,
Your petition relies on the assumption that this Apple’s commitment to AT&T can, in fact, be simply dismissed whenever we feel like it. The reasons for our decision to go with a single provider was made not because we’re evil or stupid, but because it was the best business deal we could hammer out. If you have crunched the numbers and come out with different figures, by all means apply for a job with Apple’s Accounting department.
Since you yourself state that you “have the right to unlock that wireless phone to use on other wireless networks”, I suggest you go do that.
Signed,
Steve Jobs
This is a completely transparent, timed publicity stunt, IMHO.
How can these people “know” the iPhone can’t be unlocked? Surely they don’t have one, but, somehow, they just “know”?!
Would it be too much to ask these people to give the hacker community at least a few days to figure this out?
Obviously server based handshaking will not work on another carrier, and, for example, visual voicemail will not work since it requires the server.
I have great faith in the hacker community for the other stuff. And I wouldn’t be shocked if somebody comes up with a replacement for the visual voicemail server.
Sheesh. I can only wonder what cruft will be announced tomorrow.
And lets not forget the publicity stunt of last week – unlocked iPhones at puremedia, but with no price and no availability date and no quantity announced….
MDN magic word: “charge”. As in, are of the hucksters and crooks lined up to try and advantage of the iPhone launch? Yes?
CHARGE!
I’m not necessarily on board with this signature thing, but some people are quick to forget (or dismiss) the idea that there are millions of us who live in area’s between at&t’s service.
For me, the iPhone isn’t an option for any other reason than that the one company that can legally have the device on its networks has no intention right now of providing me service.
It’d be like not being allowed to buy a Mac because you happen to live in a certain town. It’s a very crappy on-the-outside-looking-in feeling.
I don’t understand why people get so militant about political parties. It’s like a gang and they’re defending their homies. Reality – They’re all crooks. Everyone should be an independent. The best that we can hope for is a balance and that the two sides police each other. Who cares if he donates to the Republican party with the proceeds of my iPhone. I donated to Planned Parenthood with the proceeds of my Apple stock. So there.
ActForChange demands Apple unlock iPhone.
You know what ActForChange can do? Invent your own cell phone, then go and pound a nail in an owl –oops– tree.
hey man, dinners IMPORTANT
This is just about the most assine petition I’ve ever seen. Almost makes me want the opposite just by it’s existence. But I’m not as petty as whomever wrote it.
MW = saying, as in, “I’m just saying…”
Neo Cons suxxzor!!!
“there are millions of us who live in area’s between at&t’s service.”
It so happens that I live in an area that is poorly covered by everyone EXCEPT AT&T. The luck of the draw.
I know that Apple and AT&T have a five year deal, but I am wondering if it covers all potential new iPhone models and designs. Is it possible that a followup model will be made to run on Verizon or Sprint should those companies choose to support iPhones features?
Alec. We need millions of illegal immgrants now, just because 40 million babies have been wiped/sucked out. An Apple a day.
SB immigrants. Illegal that is.
Oops, I meant “its”, not “it’s”.
MW = found, as in “I found a typo.”