Born free

Someone finally managed to break the lock that ties the iPhone to AT&T's network.

Of course, it was a 17 year-old.

The New Jersey teenager confirmed to the AP this morning that he was using his iPhone on T-Mobile's network, the only other major U.S. carrier that's compatible with iPhone technology.

From the story:

While the possibility of switching from AT&T to T-Mobile may not be a major development for U.S. consumers, it opens up the iPhone for use on the networks of overseas carriers.

"That's the big thing," said George Hotz, the Glen Rock, N.J., teen who accomplished the feat.

The phone, which combines an innovative touch-screen interface with the media-playing abilities of the iPod, is sold only in the U.S.

-JACKIE SAUTER, Daily Record Multimedia Editor