To put it succinctly, jailbreaking an iPhone refers to unlocking the phone with special jailbreak software, and thus freeing it from any restrictions that Apple has put on the device.

I like the iPhone. I really do. But it isn’t perfect the way that it comes from the factory. It’s got issues with privacy, lack of multitasking ability, and a lack of the ability to customize. This is why so many people are jailbreaking their phones now. Once you jailbreak, you can then fix these problems and more with tools that you can download from the “unofficial app store”, Cydia.

Cydia and Installer are what are referred to as “package managers”. This is really just a fancy way of saying that they are a repository for 3rd party, unofficial apps.

The differences between Cydia and the App Store are the lack of an app approval process, and the lack of access limits on the iPhone software – i.e. you can do things Apple did not design the iPhone software to do.

Why Jailbreak iPhone?

First – It removes any and all restrictions that Apple puts on your phone. Of course, you still might not be able to use the phone as a deathray, but if someone created an app for that, you would be able to install it even if Apple didn’t want you to. Want to customize your icons? Create a custom, homebrewed app? Jailbreaking is the only way to do it.

2)To join the subculture. Sick of Apple’s stranglehold on the iPhone? Those who Jailbreak iPhone belong to a movement of people who demand more from their iPhones. And they’re not gonna let Apple stop them. Beat the system: Jailbreak your iPhone.

Third – Using the phone on carriers other than AT&T. Let’s face it. Apple has given ATT a monopoly with trying to tie all users who buy the iPhone to ATT. When you jailbreak, you’ve then got the option to unlock the phone and use it with whatever carrier you like.

Are There Any Drawbacks to Unlocking the iPhone?

1st)Apple, as a company, generally knows what it is doing. There are certain features that the iPhone is capable of, but that they have not enable. And this is usually for a reason. For instance, when you multitask, it is a huge drain on the battery. By using the default configuration, you’ll know that your iPhone will just work. Period.

2)Jailbreak could (maybe?) brick your iPhone.

3rd)You can never update your phone again. Whenever you get an iOS upgrade or an iTunes update, your phone is locked again – i.e. not jailbroken. Whenever Steve Jobs and Co. release one of these updates, they find a way to prevent jailbreaking with it. And everyone has to wait until some enterprising hacker figures it out again.

4)Jailbreak voids your iPhone warranty. If your iPhone is bricked because of Jailbreak, or if your iPhone has another problem and it happens to be Jailbreaked, your warranty becomes void. I once saw a sign at the Genius bar of The Falls, Miami Apple Store that warned customers not to Jailbreak iPhones or they would void their warranties. Harsh.

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