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For those with Iphones, tech junkies, or those just curious I have been playing around with different things you can do with a Jailbroken Iphone.
For those that need a quick explanation of "jailbreaking" it's unlocking the development features of a phone so that you can access the phones full functionality. (Most of which is restricted by the cell carrier prior to purchase of the phone.) While that's a bunch of tech jargon all you really need to know is it makes your phone a lot more user friendly and gives you many other options.
As a disclaimer I would say that the legal aspect of "jailbreaking" is a gray area. It is however, a very common practice. In fact their are tons of web sites dedicated to Jailbreaking. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if it's something you want to pursue for yourself. Speaking from experience I have had no ill effects at all from Jailbreaking my phone. It is a simple process that takes about 30 seconds and is easily reversible if you decide it's not for you.
Out of respect for this forum I will not post links to Jailbreaking sites, but you can easily do an internet search on your own to find more information. What I will say is that if you are "paying" to have a phone Jailbroken then you are being ripped off. The process can be done for free, yourself, in about 30 seconds if you spend a little time looking.
Here are a few of the highlights I have been able to figure out from research and trial.
1. Free Apps. Yes that's correct. With a bit of looking once your phone is Jailbroken you can find the means to download Apps to your phone for free.
Now I will strongly suggest that this practice, (much like stealing music off the internet) is not a good idea. The advantage I have found to this is that I can now test an app out before deciding to purchase it. (A feature that Itunes currently does not allow you to do.) I have repeatedly been burned by buying an app that turns out to suck, because there is no way to test it first. This allows me to decide if an app is worth the purchase price before I go ahead and spend the money I cannot get a refund on later.
The few of you who will read this and decide to go ahead and just take the apps they want I have no control over, but I will say that it's stealing plain and simple. If you like an app, pay for it. The people that work hard to make those apps we use deserve to make a living from their work just like everyone else.
2. Swapping carriers. Like the Iphone, but don't have AT&T? Jailbreaking an Iphone allows you to unlock the carrier restriction so that your Iphone can be used on any carrier's service. You will still need a data plan for your cell service as usual, but now you will be able to use the Iphone on your Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, or whatever career you currently have.
Yes. It is sweet. I know.
3. Free Tethering. Most Cell carriers charge about $30.00 a month to have the ability to use your phone as a modem for your laptop. A Jailbroken phone can bypass the need for the expensive rate plan feature and just allow you to connect your phone (via USB) to your computer and use it's 3G network to connect to the internet. There are tons of tutorials on the web about how to do this. This is really handy if you don't have a WiFi connection available.
AT&T has not cracked down on this feature and as long as you don't abuse it you should have no problems.
There are a host of other cool things you can do as well, but these are the top 3 I have worked with. Once again the information is out there, and what you choose to do with it is up to you, but I have found the process to be very worthwhile.
For those that need a quick explanation of "jailbreaking" it's unlocking the development features of a phone so that you can access the phones full functionality. (Most of which is restricted by the cell carrier prior to purchase of the phone.) While that's a bunch of tech jargon all you really need to know is it makes your phone a lot more user friendly and gives you many other options.
As a disclaimer I would say that the legal aspect of "jailbreaking" is a gray area. It is however, a very common practice. In fact their are tons of web sites dedicated to Jailbreaking. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if it's something you want to pursue for yourself. Speaking from experience I have had no ill effects at all from Jailbreaking my phone. It is a simple process that takes about 30 seconds and is easily reversible if you decide it's not for you.
Out of respect for this forum I will not post links to Jailbreaking sites, but you can easily do an internet search on your own to find more information. What I will say is that if you are "paying" to have a phone Jailbroken then you are being ripped off. The process can be done for free, yourself, in about 30 seconds if you spend a little time looking.
Here are a few of the highlights I have been able to figure out from research and trial.
1. Free Apps. Yes that's correct. With a bit of looking once your phone is Jailbroken you can find the means to download Apps to your phone for free.
Now I will strongly suggest that this practice, (much like stealing music off the internet) is not a good idea. The advantage I have found to this is that I can now test an app out before deciding to purchase it. (A feature that Itunes currently does not allow you to do.) I have repeatedly been burned by buying an app that turns out to suck, because there is no way to test it first. This allows me to decide if an app is worth the purchase price before I go ahead and spend the money I cannot get a refund on later.
The few of you who will read this and decide to go ahead and just take the apps they want I have no control over, but I will say that it's stealing plain and simple. If you like an app, pay for it. The people that work hard to make those apps we use deserve to make a living from their work just like everyone else.
2. Swapping carriers. Like the Iphone, but don't have AT&T? Jailbreaking an Iphone allows you to unlock the carrier restriction so that your Iphone can be used on any carrier's service. You will still need a data plan for your cell service as usual, but now you will be able to use the Iphone on your Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, or whatever career you currently have.
Yes. It is sweet. I know.
3. Free Tethering. Most Cell carriers charge about $30.00 a month to have the ability to use your phone as a modem for your laptop. A Jailbroken phone can bypass the need for the expensive rate plan feature and just allow you to connect your phone (via USB) to your computer and use it's 3G network to connect to the internet. There are tons of tutorials on the web about how to do this. This is really handy if you don't have a WiFi connection available.
AT&T has not cracked down on this feature and as long as you don't abuse it you should have no problems.
There are a host of other cool things you can do as well, but these are the top 3 I have worked with. Once again the information is out there, and what you choose to do with it is up to you, but I have found the process to be very worthwhile.
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