Apple Won't Support Unlocked Phones

People who unlock their iPhones in order to connect to wireless carriers other than the exclusive service provider AT&T won't get any support from Apple if the phone breaks, even if it's still under warrant, Apple said Friday.

A group of anonymous developers at iPhoneSIMfree started selling this month software that once installed would enable the smart phone to work on any service provider with a standard GSM SIM card. T-Mobile is an example of a carrier that would work on the modified iPhone.

Asked whether someone installing the software would break their iPhone warrant, an Apple spokesman said in an e-mail, "Apple does not support unlocked iPhones."

Aside from changing the SIM card, no other hardware modifications are needed to unlock the iPhone, according to iPhoneSIMfree. SIM -- or subscriber identity module -- is a smart card that's inserted into GSM phones. The card contains subscribers' telephone account information.

Purchasing the unlocking software is done through the PayPal payment service. On Friday, however, the iPhoneSIMfree said it was experiencing "PayPal issues," and asked potential buyers to send the site an e-mail in order to get alternative payment methods. The software cost $50, and there are no refunds.

According to the frequently asked questions on iPhoneSIMfree, the software works on iPhone versions up to 1.0.2. The creators claim the software won't affect any of the iPhone features except for visual voice mail, which is exclusive to AT&T.

People installing the software, however, could find that it doesn't work, if Apple decides to break it in a future software upgrade for the iPhone.

Apple launched the gadget in the U.S. June 29, making it available only through Apple's retail or online stores, or through AT&T. The company started selling the device in Europe this week. Since its debut, Apple has sold more than 1 million iPhones in the U.S., and expects to ship at least 10 million over the next year.