The iPhone is a very powerful piece of equipment that has
had its functionality crippled by Apple and AT&T. Following a simple set of
steps, you can "jailbreak" your iPhone - opening it up to all sorts of new
functionality that was not available otherwise.
By jailbreaking your iPhone, you are making a small software
change to the iPhone operating system that allows support for 3rd
party applications not developed or approved by Apple. For those that want to
jailbreak but are hesitant, remember you can always reset your iPhone's
firmware with iTunes and go back to the factory settings at any time.
Jailbreaking Your
iPhone
As you can imagine, Apple is very strict about which applications it allows
to be sold through the iTunes store. By unlocking your iPhone, you will have
access to hundreds of new apps and features.
Jailbreaking your iPhone is very simple and only takes a
minute. Follow these links for the procedure:
iPhone Jailbreak Instructions - PC Users
iPhone Jailbreak Instructions - MAC Users
 Cydia App Store
The iTunes store is no longer the only game in town. Cydia, the company who
makes the popular software for loading unofficial apps on the iPhone, has
launched their own store for buying iPhone Applications.
Although Cydia is the first to market, they are not alone.
Two other unofficial app stores are on the way, which will offer jailbreaking
services and adult entertainment.
Here are a few of the best apps for jailbroken iPhones.
Free Text Messaging
Jailbroken iPhones can use SkySMS which
integrates text messaging into your iPhone without having them count towards
your AT&T account, saving you money on the text messaging portion of your
bill.
Turn-By-Turn GPS
Navigation
Although TomTom has been promising this for months and Apple includes free GPS
with all iPhones, there is no turn-by-turn voice navigation system for drivers.
Now xGPS changes that for jailbroken
iPhones by using data from Google maps.
5-Row Keyboard App
There has been lots of complaints about the iPhones virtual keyboard, such as
the cramped buttons and the lack of physical keys. With 5-Row the keyboard now has an extra row of buttons for numbers and
symbols, making it a little more on par with other smartphones.
Wireless Router
PDANet is another awesome application
that allows you to use your iPhone as a wireless router. This enables you have
internet access on any computer simply by plugging your iPhone into it. Since AT&T
makes you pay for the "unlimited data plan", why bother paying for another
internet connection at home?
Games and Emulators
Love games? Well with a jailbroken iPhone you can run NES or PS emulators,
enabling you to play all the original Nintendo and PlayStation games free of
charge. Along with those emulators are stand-alone games such as Tetris, Tap Tap Revolution, ParkingLot,
and tons more.
Bye-Bye Emoticons
In yet another display of power, big brother Apple has put the smackdown on all
Emoticon Apps. You know, those cute little smiley faces that everyone (some
people) loves so much. They have removed all apps adding smiley faces after
they had already given the developers the green light. Jailbroken iPhones still
have plenty of Emoticon goodness.
I could go on, but there are literally hundreds of apps made
specifically for jailbroken iPhones and everyone has different needs. Check the
links at the bottom for some more options.
AT&T Not Required
There is a very common misconception that to have an iPhone, you are
required to be on AT&T's network. The truth is that the iPhone is only
connected to AT&T's network through a SIM card inside.
The one catch is that the iPhone uses AT&T's Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) radio
frequency for transmitting data, which means your cellular carrier will have to
use the same frequency. For those of us in the U.S., that leaves only AT&T or
T-Mobile as possible carriers. Verizon and Sprint use a competing standard for
wireless technology called Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA).
In European markets, there are many different options for iPhone cellular
providers that help keep costs down.
Mozilla & Skype vs.
Apple
Mozilla, the creators of Firefox, believe in an open source environment
where software code is free to be modified, improve performance, or add features.
Mozilla is so strong in these beliefs that they have filed paperwork to the FCC
on why modifying the software on iPhones or any other phones should be 100%
legal.
Skype, the popular internet phone service, has submitted
paperwork to the FCC as well advocating for open wireless networks where users
can use any device or application on any network without phones being locked to
certain providers.
Has anyone out there tried jailbreaking their iPhone? Let us
know.
Resources:
30+ Apps For Jailbroken iPhones and iPod Touches
Turn Your iPod Touch into an iPhone
Mozilla, Skype join iPhone jailbreak fight
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