The Sys-Security Group

Apple had released firmware version 1.1.1 for the iPhone. If you have software hacked iPhone that allows you to place any SIM card and use any GSM-based network, your phone will be bricked. i.e. you will not be able to use it.

The question asked is why Apple is trying to angry its customers? I have already written in the past about the new Apple cash cow, which is the percentage it takes from the net profit for the iPhone customers of the carriers, which have exclusive deals with Apple.

Apple is actually doing more then this. If you will show up in an Apple store with a bricked iPhone the chances are that your iPhone will not be replaced and that your warranty is voided.

In my opinion Apple had gone too far with this. Instead of being happy that the iPhone is a big success, and it sells in big numbers, Apple is fighting its own users. According to various sources Apple had already sold more then 1 million of iPhone units. So even if 5% of them are hacked and can use any SIM, why does Apple bothers so much about this?

One aspect would be to show the carriers it is doing something. The other is to maintain the exclusivity.

This also ties with another mistake (my opinion) Apple did by lowering the price of the iPhone by 200$ two months after it had been introduced.

Sure, if you are gadget guy you need to pay more. But on the other hand you do not expect that only 2 months will pass and that the price will be cut by 33%?

Why wouldn’t Apple sell an iPhone SIM free? Many people around the world would not wait a second before placing an order to get the iPhone. But according to the rumors that I have read lately, part of Apple’s agreement with the Telecom companies (i.e. Orange France, O2 England, and Vodaphone in Germany) is to receive a 10% of the revenue from those who would buy an iPhone. So for Apple, the revenue potential is not only coming from the expensive hardware (I paid, I know) but also from its usage.

If you think about this, this is a brilliant move. So why allowing iPhone SIM free were Apple cannot collect? This is why, in my opinion, there would not be an iPhone SIM free, and this is also the reason why Apple is chasing those who claim they have unlocked the iPhone.

I had written here a lot of things in my blog against the iPhone. And still I stand behind most of them. But after playing several hours with an iPhone yesterday, I can definitely say that Apple had manufactured a very cool phone and a gadget.

Not that it is without issues, but the main advantage of the iPhone is its GUI and the ease of use.

Functionality wise the iPhone has the same functionality as with any other mobile phone on the market, and it does not lack any major features. The integrated iPod even makes it better.

Comparing the iPhone to the latest Windows Mobile 6 phones does an injustice with the iPhone. Simply, in my opinion, the iPhone is far superior to the WM6.

This also holds true when compared to the Blackberry. Some would argue that the Blackberry’s keyboard is better, and therefore business wise they would choose the Blackberry. I think this is all a matter of taste. A lot had been written about the virtual keyboard – too small, hard to use, etc. But after about 15 minutes of using it, the keyboard and the automatic correction it offers worked like a charm.

The iPhone is easy to operate, and intuitive. But here is the problem – this phone is not for my mom and not for my dad. It is for the cool folks who understand to slide their fingers across the beautiful touch screen to get their work done. Not that there are not tone of those out there.

If apple would add a GPS, UMTS/3G support, take security seriously and fix the battery issue (replacement and lifetime) then undoubtedly, in my opinion, they will have the #1 phone on the market (some may argue they already have).

The iPhone makes an excellent example of how a marketing hype and a cool product can turn into a security nightmare. As a product gets more visibility and its number of its users is on the rise the chances of having a security issue found with the product are higher. This holds true not only for the iPhone but also for other products (Oracle DB and David Litchfield for example) and technologies (VoIP).

It is not like Apple was not warn when they shipped the beta versions of Safari for Windows that the product is less then satisfying with regards to its security. It did not take long for people to post security issues they have found. But the warning was not enough to change things at Apple.

You do expect a company at that size to act. But this is not different with any major security issue they had with Mac OS X, which always takes them some time to fix.

The iPhone is extremely popular and it is doubtful that the security issues found with Safari on the iPhone will drive people away from it. But the bad feeling is creeping in. For Apple to resolve all they need is a software update to fix, and not to wait too much.

What would it take now to find issue with the mail.app? and how that would affect Apple’s Mac OS X (i.e. no viruses no Trojans advertisement)? Just curious.

Welcome to the real world.

So today is the big day where Apple is lunching the iPhone. Good luck for those in line to get the device.

I have compiled a list of things that the iPhone is missing or that it support but may create a problem. I do believe the iPhone will be a huge success, but this would be an Apple marketing success rather then a “revolutionary phone” success. This is not to dismiss the good job Apple did on a v1.0 of a mobile phone, but just as a reminder that there are more things other then a nifty GUI (Leopard anyone?).

So what are we missing?

No cut-and-paste
No memory card slot
No voice dialing
No search when looking up contacts
No software from 3rd parties
The phone’s version of Safari can’t handle Java or Flash
No picture messaging (MMS)
No external battery (300 recharges and it will start loosing its charging capabilities)
Entering text is not as easy and intuitive as advertised
No 3G support (slowwwww Internet surfing)
Other carries other then AT&T
Can’t use the phone as a modem
Synching with external email on a PC (open question)