Apple Halts iPhone Shipments to Install 1.1.1


In s week marked by halted shipments Apple has now reportedly stopped shipping the iPhone to AT&T stores until it can install the 1.1.1 firmware update on all stock.

This is a clear attempt to pull 1.02 firmware-equipped units from shelves and inventory, as this was hacked soon after release, allowing users in both the US and overseas to use non-AT&T SIMs in their iPhones. Now BRG reports that the main reason Apple has taken this step is to stop third-party resellers from buying crates of iPhones and then selling them unlocked to purchasers.

Reports vary, but the number of people who've purchased iPhones that are not registered with AT&T could be 10% of sales, or even hundreds of thousands of units. AT&T have reportedly recently reduced the number of iPhone units that may be sold to individual customers from five to three.

A 'jailbreak' unlock could come as soon as today. Then 1.1.1 may not be much use at all.