AT&T threatens iPhone owners

In another example of AT&T's love and respect for their customers and their inept PR, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said it was necessary to activate the iPhone on AT&T's network to ensure optimum performance. Using the phone without AT&T's two-year service contract was unauthorized under the phone carrier's exclusive network service contract with Apple, Siegel added. "Any other use of the device is not authorized and we can't guarantee the device will perform as intended to. We'll monitor situations like this and if necessary we will take appropriate action," he said. "Our terms and conditions are very clear."

He was responding to reports that a well-known hacker was able to overcome restrictions on Apple Inc.'s iPhone, allowing users to bypass AT&T Inc.'s network to use the phone's Internet and music features. While it doesn't connect to the AT&T network without activation, it will work with any WiFi network.  This workaround must be AT&T's worst nightmare.

As I noted in an earlier post, the iPhone without AT&T service makes a great video iPod and Internet browser. Now I'm just waiting for the first VOIP phone app.