iPhone Users Still Rebelling over Apple's Apps Control

Some 23 months after the introduction of the iPhone, users (or at least hackers) are still rebelling about Apple’s (AAPL) control over what is and is not allowed as a third party app. The NYT notes the ongoing fight between Apple, hackers who have done a series of “jailbreak” efforts on the iPhone, and the legal supporters of the jailbreakers. As with other circumvention efforts, Apple is citing the Clinton-era DMCA to shut down the hackers.

The controversy for some apps is understandable. Given AT&T’s (T) 3G bandwidth problems caused by the iPhone, it’s not surprising that it doesn’t want the iPhone used for even more download bandwidth by “tethering” a connected laptop. Thus, Apple tossed such an application last summer. T-Mobile/Google (GOOG) had the same reaction to a tethering app developed for Android.

Other choices of what’s verboten are more surprising. The Times mentions a videocamera app, which seems a fine way to sell iPhones with more flash RAM.

If the hackers fear being locked out (after jail-breaking), their converse fear is that Apple itself will provide the missing functionality in a future release (possibly for free). For example, one November CNET report said that the iPhone 3.0 will support tethering this year.

Apple’s decisions of what to exclude have at times been seen as arbitrary and rarely explained. That is certainly the inherent problem of having only one (authorized) distribution channel with a near-monopoly on reaching customers.

Apple solved most (but not all) of the demand for the original jailbreaking by providing its own SDK and a distribution channel. Let’s hope that the current strictures are only a transitory issue en route to a fully extensible device.

Comments

[Roger Knights]

Apple should (?) buy $5 billion of ATT preferred shares so ATT can beef up its network.

2009 May 13 09:28 AM

[Constable Odo]

I keep thinking the same thing that Apple should buy into AT&T or buy it's own carrier, but I think that Apple is just waiting for 4G networks to come into play. It'll only be a year or two from now and it's probably a waste of money to beef up existing 3G networks. Too bad Apple can't build it's own 4G network, but they really should at least be able to buy a portion of some company's bandwidth to keep their own devices up to speed. I know that most mobile networks have some bandwidth problems, but the iPhone is just pushing AT&T past the limit just to keep up. 3G just can't handle the load.

2009 May 13 03:32 PM

[sjs]

The US should have a free and ubiquitous signal, whether cell or WiFi or other. The analogy to our free and ubiquitous interstate highway system is very strong and would cause an explosion of economic growth. (This coming from a very conservative Republican.)

2009 May 14 07:51 AM