Unlocking the iPhone: is it really worth it?

So now, just like a kid in a candy store, there are three or four legitimate ways to open your iPhone to GSM networks…but what everyone is wondering is, “Is it worth it?”  The answer is both yes and no; it just depends on what you’re looking for.  Below I’ll explain what you can and can’t do with an unlocked iPhone, and you can decide whether it is worth it for your needs.

First, lets take a look at what an unadulterated, AT&T-based iPhone offers:

1. Visual Voicemail – a feature that sounds mildly appealing until you actually use it, visual voicemail allows users to see a list of callers who left voicemail, and the proud iPhone owner can then delete voicemails without having to drudge through every single one.  It is the ultimate in weeding out your garden of voicemail.

2. YouTube video service – the interesting thing about the YouTube feature of the iPhone is that again, you wouldn’t think it is something you’d get a lot of use out of…until you actually have it.  It really is a nifty feature, and one you will use while waiting for a movie to start, or waiting for a table at your favorite restaurant locale.

3. Weather – fairly self-explanatory, as you can get the real-time weather of as many locations as have zip codes.

4. Stocks – also pretty easy to deduce the intent of this application.

5. Mail -  connect to your favorite POP3 or IMAP accounts and download your email.

6. Google Maps – an invaluable tool, Google Maps gives you all the functionality of Google Maps..just on the go.  Quite handy when looking for venues or driving directions at the drop of a hat.

7. Safari – the complete internet, in the palm of your hand.  Simply amazing.

That would be the list of all the functionality you will get if you choose to sell your soul to AT&T.  If you unlock your iPhone for use on T-Mobile or other GSM networks, as of now you cannot get the above features as they are based on the data network AT&T uses.

However, that doesn’t mean the iPhone is worthless; you still have the iPod, calculator, calendar, messaging, camera,  calculator, and other fun applications that don’t involve the internet.

This isn’t to say that those ingenious iPhone hackers won’t find a way to circumvent this problem; however, that does mean that for now, if you truly want an iPhone on a different network, you can pretty much cut off the use of internet applications from your iPhone.

Or can you?  The iPhone has WiFi functionality, which is frequently overlooked as AT&T requires a data package be purchased with an iPhone.  There should be no reason why most of the functionality of the iPhone (excluding YouTube and visual voicemail) could be accessed directly via WiFi with a little tinkering.

Though this article raises more questions than it does answer them, know that, for now, you won’t get full use of your iPhone on another network with a simple hack…additionally, you will most likely never get YouTube or visual voicemail until hell freezes over.

So, if you can’t wait, go ahead and unlock an iPhone.  Be aware of the risks before delving into such a task, and if you can hold out, you might just be able to save yourself some heartache if you can wait until something more concrete and rounded is released.

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• iPod Touch: dishearting iPhone users everywhere