iPhone and supply chain (Assignment 1)

In class this week, students discussed the 17-year-old young man who unlocked the iPhone, and they also discussed supply chain management. Unlocking the iPhone and supply chain management are subjects that interest me greatly. iPhone is the latest cell phone produced by Apple, which AT&T provides service for. Based on my brief research, I believe that the relationship between Apple and AT&T is a supply chain partnership, and iPhone only compacting with AT&T is an example of supply chain management. Once iPhone is unlocked by hackers, it can be used in any company’s wireless service such as T-mobile or Orange. An unlocked iPhone could be sold for more than $1,000. The market price of iPhone through signing a contract with AT&T is only $399. Who pays the price difference? AT&T. Therefore, unlocking iPhone hurts these both Apple and AT&T.

“Why Apple Can’t Stop iPhone Hackers?” is an article which discusses iPhone’s hacker and iPhone’s carrier. This article not only discloses that the sole authorized supplier of the iPhone is AT&T in the U.S., but also reveals the reason why the law is unclear regarding Apple and AT&T stopping iPhone hackers. I strongly agree with the author because a very similar example was when the U.S government stopped automakers from only allowing authorized radio channels in cars. I believe this article is very helpful for iPhone hackers, because it encourages them to break through.

Reference
Database: EBSCOhost
Title: Why Apple Can't Stop iPhone Hackers?
By: Kharif, Olga. Business Week Online, 8/29/2007, p17-17, 1p; (AN 26403857)
Link: http://web.ebscohost.com.remote.baruch.cuny.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=6&sid=78731cd7-7867-475f-95d1-9ae800c47958%40sessionmgr2