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Enterprising hackers have found ways to unlock the Apple iPhone, so it can be used on networks other than AT&T. Apple will undo that work shortly.

Apple Cracks Back At iPhone Hacks

Apple announced plans to update the iPhone firmware later this week. For those who have embraced an unlocking solution, beware:

Apple has discovered that many of the unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs available on the Internet cause irreparable damage to the iPhone's software, which will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed.

For early adopters who grabbed one of the first iPhones on the market and later unlocked it, the iPhone could become a $599 paperweight. Unlocking the iPhone voids the warranty and violates the software agreement, Apple said.

If your iPhone quits working after the update, well, it sucks to be you. But the news from Apple was inevitable, as its wireless carrier partner AT&T likely complained about their exclusive agreement turning into pixie dust every time someone fired up an unlocked iPhone on another network.

Unlockers may not be doomed, as the race is on to find ways to relock the iPhone. Erica Sadun at TUAW.com has instructions for doing so; these instructions may change and are definitely not guaranteed to enable the iPhone to survive the firmware update.