Apple has been trying hard to convince the US authorities to deem unlocking and jailbreaking the iPhone as illegal. While such a move would give a tremendous boost to the iTunes App Store and AT&T’s business with the iPhone, it would mean that consumers who are until now free to install 3rd part apps by simply jailbreaking their devices would be left at Apple’s mercy. Contrary to Apple’s attempt many well known internet names like Mozilla and Skype have supported openness.
In its latest appeal to the U.S. Copyright Office, Apple has urged that iPhone unlocking/jailbreaking to be outlawed. According to Apple, unlocking the iPhone provides an easy access to the iPhone’s BBP software (baseband processor), which can be used to manipulate cellphone towers.
Apple goes a step further and states that hackers can also tamper with iPhone’s Exclusive Chip Identification number, that can allow anonymous calls. Something drug dealers would love to get their hands on.
While the Electronic Frontier Foundation is trying hard to legalize unlocking and jailbreaking to empower the consumers, Apple’s comments are scary enough for many to agree. The debate is certainly not over, more on this would follow in coming months for sure.