News G1 Android handset jailbroken

[CardJoe]

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/11...t-jailbroken/1

The first commercial Android implementation, the T-Mobile G1, has been officially 'jailbroken' with a backdoor discovered that allows users full system access.

[liratheal]

My first question is: What took them so long?

My second question is: Did anyone else read that as 'willy hackers' the first time around?

[klutch4891]

That didn't take long at all. On a side note, does an unlocked phone require a SIM card? Or does it work on any network?

[Bluephoenix]

very tempting, still no go for me though, I'll wait till it comes out for other networks properly, then I don't have to muck about losing the nice contract I already have.

[Mongoose132]

I saw 'Willy Hackers' as well... :X

[FatMikel]

Originally Posted by klutch4891

That didn't take long at all. On a side note, does an unlocked phone require a SIM card? Or does it work on any network?

You didn't think you could just unlock a phone and run around making calls and sending texts and browsing the web on any network you want, did you? You still need a SIM Card, just lets you use your choice of network provider, rather than the phone manufacturers choice. So, an unlocked iPhone on ... Orange, instead of O2, or whatever.

[Jojii]

certain providers (verizon, maybe others) do not use sim cards. activation is built into the phone

[FatMikel]

Really? That's just the US then.

So far as I know here in the UK, you can't do much without a SIM card.

[klutch4891]

The reason I asked is because Alltel, the carrier I have, doesn't use SIM cards in any phone. So in other words I can never get any good phones.

[naokaji]

Originally Posted by CardJoe

The first commercial Android implementation, the T-Mobile G1, has been officially 'jailbroken' with a backdoor discovered that allows users full system access.

Now they will have to stand the real test, if they will be bricked like the Iphones by a Firmware update or not.

Originally Posted by FatMikel

Really? That's just the US then.

Some american providers thought it would be the best way to stop you from unlocking the phone, but of course that was silly and just delayed it by a few days.

[dyzophoria]

By installing PTerminal – a terminal application available freely on the Android marketplace – and using it to run the Telnet daemon telnetd, you are able to create a back door which allows command-line access over a network as the root user – with no authentication required.

that has to be easiest exploit i've ever read about to date , funny how the security experts at google missed this, or was this deliberate? conspiracy? lol

[B3CK]

You know, I was really hoping the whole "open" os would allow users to make changes to
their own content, thus allowing an android user to unlock their own phone if they feel like it.


In the U.S., all phones are "supposed" to be unlocked at owner request, but the contracts people sign up with, usually release said authority. But I don't see anyone making apple or ATT unlock those phones, so it really frustrates me to no avail when nice phones come out for specific providers, but somehow get around the new law...

[Cthippo]

Originally Posted by Jojii

certain providers (verizon, maybe others) do not use sim cards. activation is built into the phone

Verizon, and probably Alltel too, use a totally different technology called Code Division Multiplexing somethingorother (CDMA) which is not compatible with GSM. May even be on a different frequency band.

[1st time modder]

Sprint, Verizon, and Alltel, all share the same CDMA networks utilizing a fully digital 1.9ghz transmission capability. Something which other providers (mainly due to cost and customer reasons used GSM, which also allows for full global capability with a sim card change). GSM is now starting to go digital along there frequency band, although at a slower rate because of the costs associated with doing so. I was hoping for a CDMA/GSM capable G1, but the sizes of the two receivers would increase the bulkiness of the phone.

[karx11erx]

I am standing amazed at the sight of companies believing users are willing to accept being restricted from full access to a piece of hardware they are paying. I never will. They should simply change their bloody business model so that it is unattractive to unlock a phone and use it with another mobile phone provider.

[evanbraakensiek]

Originally Posted by karx11erx

I am standing amazed at the sight of companies believing users are willing to accept being restricted from full access to a piece of hardware they are paying. I never will. They should simply change their bloody business model so that it is unattractive to unlock a phone and use it with another mobile phone provider.

I think it's just a preference of UK shoppers. We'd rather be tied to a contract, and receive new hardware every x number of years. Its not that their business model is unattractive, but the market is so competitive and hardware/software which catches the public eye can sell very well.

If it can be unlocked and used on any network, surely it's still illegal? Motorola bought the rights to be first, and I'm pretty sure your network provider can tell which hardware you're using through your sim-card. Wouldn't it be breaking some gentleman's agreement within the provider circle?

It's exactly the same as when o2 bought the rights to be the exclusive provider for the Apple iPHONE. I don't want to sound like a conformist, but there's no all powerful consumer right to have both the hardware and provider you want. They may be shooting themselves in the foot, but Google [and the rest of the market] prefer money up front through exclusivity deals.

I personally like the look of the phone, though I've not seen Android in any great detail. I'll be getting a new mobile for Christmas, and the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic has already caught my eye. Perhaps, I'll splash out and get the one of the N-series.