The hare and the turtoise ... (updated)

Today is quite a day in mobile telecommunication:

Not only because rumors have it, that the iPhone will be locked to German T-Mobile. Or, as the birds sing, that the telco is even said to be paying a percentage of their revenues generated with the iPhone back to Apple Inc - to have it exclusively.

This will be sending T-Mobile strongest competitor in Europe, Vodafone, to stand in the corner and grind their teeth. Meanwhile the Nokias might be sticking their thumbs up their arses: The successful launch does bother them, no matter what they say.

But Nope. That acutally is quite boring.

George Hotz - is our hero today:
He wrestled down the SIM lock of the iPhone - chapeau!
And he will not wring financial profit from his genuine knowledge - and leave for college. A name to remember and watch in the future. May the road rise with you!

*sob*: ... and who knows, maybe one day, there will be an iPhone haunted by greenish ghost of its ancestor.
Update: 25th of August (13:15 CEST):

George keeps his first unlocked iPhone and sells the second one on ebay. If people are really willing to pay 50K$ ... he will have a nice pack of cash in the pocket ;-)

And as the world turns, the software unlock is announced. Engadget.com confirms "with 100% certainty that iPhoneSIMfree.com's software solution completely SIM unlocks the iPhone, is restore-resistant, and should make the iPhone fully functional for users outside of the US."

But unlike George, this other Team tries to hit it big - and set off some serious business: Currentl they are opening up their "mail for bulk purchase enquiries of 500 licenses and above. Interested parties please Contact Us." We shall soon find out what their pricing scheme looks like, when they hit the market with individual licences.

It seems, that the hype of the iPhone and the craving of people for it (the enormous demand) - did once, again prove the innovative and creative force in human individuals. Nice little showcase for how capitalism & people work.

SALES:
Individual per unit licenses will be available starting next week. We are currently opening up our mail for bulk purchase enquiries of 500 licenses and above. Interested parties please Contact Us.

UPDATE September 4t 2007:
George pulled back the ebay offer, caught the attention of a second hand phone dealer, who offered to swap the hacked iPhone for a new Nissan 350Z plus 3 brandnew iPhones. Which they did .