The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Monday announced a controversial decision, legalizing the so-called “jailbreaking” of the popular Apple iPhone and unlocking of other mobilephones and smartphones.
Jailbreaking an iPhone allows users to use the device on other carriers aside from AT&T, the official wireless partner and sole distributor of the Apple Inc gadget.
When the iPhone has been unlocked, users can now also run other applications, on the device even those without approval by Apple.
Based on estimates by the FCC, there are at least one million users that have their iPhone unlocked. Though considered as illegal, no report or charges have been filed against an iPhone user to date.
But Apple stressed that jailbreaking an iPhone would cost the user the warranty and free services that comes with the device.
The world largest technology firm also fought hard to stop the legalization of “jailbreaking,” saying that the act of unlocking a contracted device is a form of copyright violation.
But the FCC dismissed Apple’s argument, saying that unlocking or jailbreaking an iPhone is merely an act of enhancing the inter-operability of the gadget, and was thus legitimate under fair-use rules.
The new FCC ruling is effective immediately. Users can now jailbreak or use unapproved applications to their iPhones without worrying of landing in jail.
Meanwhile, Apple and AT&T wireless remained silent over the new ruling.
According to reports, most of the wireless subscribers prefer to use the iPhone on T-Mobile networks rather being locked on AT&T. A large number of jailbreak iPhone, according to the reports, can be found overseas.
Meanwhile, the top programs or applications that users run on their iPhone include Safari ad-blocking apps, changing SMS interface, icon editing, and alternate keyboards. All of these applications were barred by Apple to be used in the device.
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