New iPhone Hack Lets You Switch Carriers

New software that allows iPhone users to unlock the devices for use on any network without having to disassemble them is available online. Hackers have been on the case for 2 months, MacNewsWorld reports, and this week's breakthrough means customers can buy phones directly from Apple and don't have to be tied to a 2-year contract with AT&T.

The unlocking programs, which range from free to around $60 online, disable some of the iPhone's snazziest features, but analysts say they might herald a significant change for the mobile phone industry. If they're legal, that is—some say that a loophole allows such hacking for personal use, but the commercial software's distributors could face legal backlash. (More iPhone stories.)