The Ipodfather
Steve Jobs and Apple Inc stock price are definitely riding almost at all time high. As Mike Mella’s iPodFather movie poster indicates, some feel he might have a bit too much power. Since the iphone made its debut on June 29 2007, more than 1 million units have been sold. Steve Jobs has projected first-year sales of 10 million. The business model of iphone attempts to replicate the success of ipods and itunes - locking in future ongoing revenue streams from calls made from (almost) every user of iphones.
Although early in the set, Apple's first foray into the telecommunication market are being threatened by "unlocking" programs designed to unlock iPhones and enable it to function on networks other than AT&T. This threatens current negotiations worldwide between Apple and potential distribution partners. During the recent unveiling of the U.K. version of the iPhone, Steve Jobs took aim at unlocking hacks. The reality-bending CEO said that Apple would actively break hacks that unlock the iPhone for use with any SIM card. According to Computerworld, Jobs said "It's a cat-and-mouse-game. We try to stay ahead." Although no details were given on how Cupertino plans to stay ahead of iPhone hackers, presumably a software update could knowck out any unlocking apps on the iPhone. Legal experts say that we have the right to unlock our own phones - just like we have the right to make copies of original DVDs purchased for our own viewing and keeping. Will Apple actually try to prosecute iPhone unlockers? Most believe this to be highly unlikely (Although AT&T has fired off a warning to a group that was planning to sell its iPhone unlocking software). Unless users are willing never to install an Apple update, expect your unlocked iPhone to get padlocked again on every update.
In a not so suprising strategy, Apple has issued a warning to its iPhone users, stating that the rampant use of unauthorized unlocking programs could permanently damage the device. The first "unlocking" program was announced by a 17 year old College Freshman George Hotz. After trying to sell the phone on eBay over the weekend, Hotz got frustrated with the number of bogus bidders and decided to accept the offer of high-tech mogul Terry Daidone: a new Nissan 350Z Roadster and three, new 8GB iPhones.