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Hackers lift iPhone SIM controls
Well, it finally happened. A group has managed to write a hack for the iPhone that lets users swap out their own sim cards. The details behind both the hack and the group are sketchy, but Engadget swears up and down that the hack is legit and that it will lets users run the iPhone with any GSM card on any local network.
The hack is also completely software-based, meaning there will be no cracking open of the case or soldering of exotic modchips necessary. Good news, seeing as how perilous opening up the iPhone can be.
It would seem to be a foregone conclusion that Apple would slap a sease-and-desist on these guys. However, there may be some precedent to protect the iphonesimfree crew...
A provision added into the Digital Millenium Copyright Act last November states that copyright holders cannot file a claim against: Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network.
Of course, what Apple can do is simply provide another update which prevents the sim hack from working. At least, until a new version of the hack is written...
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