<P> Each iPhone normally prevents access to its media player and web features unless it has been activated as a phone through AT&T or O2 . On July 3, 2007, Jon Lech Johansen reported on his blog that he had successfully bypassed this requirement and unlocked iPhone's other features with jailbreaking . He published the software and offsets for others to use . </P> <P> On August 14, 2007, Gizmodo reported verification of a method to bypass iPhone's SIM lock, allowing the phone to work freely with carriers other than AT&T . This method requires usage of a Turbo SIM card, costing approximately US $80; the method essentially tricks iPhone into believing that it is operating on the AT&T network, even when it is connected natively (not in roaming mode) to another carrier . Australian Personal Computer later published a ten - step guide to unlocking iPhone, using the Turbo SIM method . </P> <P> In mid-August, UniquePhones announced an unlocking service for iPhone, only to retract the service the following week after receiving a phone call from a lawyer representing AT&T . </P> <P> On August 24, 2007, George Hotz, a 17 - year - old hacker from Glen Rock, New Jersey, broke the lock that ties Apple's iPhone to AT&T's wireless network . He confirmed that he unlocked the phone and was using it on T - Mobile's network . The hack opened up a realm of possibilities for overseas customers because iPhone was only sold in the US at the time . By unlocking it, Hotz opened up the phone to all kinds of phone networks across the world . Hotz posted the hack on his blog . The process is complicated and requires both disassembling iPhone and executing software commands on a personal computer . Hotz, along with four others across the world, reportedly spent about 500 hours unlocking the phone . </P>

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