iPhone News: Orange Caps 3G Speed; Security Flaw Seen (NewsFactor)
Steve Bosak, newsfactor.com 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
The iPhone took hits on two fronts Wednesday as Orange -- an iPhone 3G carrier in France -- admitted to limiting 3G bandwidth for its customers, and a security flaw was discovered in the iPhone that enables unauthorized users to access private data on the phone when it is supposedly locked.
The French Connection
When 3G-bug rumors and substandard network performance on the iPhone prompted a groundswell of irate customers last week, forums overflowed with anecdotal tales of the 3G network's slow performance. One Internet forum began to collate users' data speeds to get some answers. After thousands of results were in, France's 3G carrier Orange came in consistently at the bottom of the performance heap.
Calls to the company by angry customers resulted in many of those consumers receiving special treatment by tech-savvy support folks, who upped their bandwidth. After online petitions and more calls to the company, Orange officials reluctantly admitted they had been throttling iPhone users to a paltry 384KB bandwidth. By comparison, neighboring German iPhone users are logging 1MB speeds, as posted in the forum.
In a statement released by Orange, the company admitted its bandwidth restrictions, and promised that it would up the speeds to 1MB by mid-September. No word on why customers have to wait that long to get full 3G service or whether they will see compensation on their bills.
The French Connection problems have fueled Internet rumors that AT&T may be rigging its 3G data speeds here in the United States, as more and more customers complain about substandard data rates.
iPhone Flaw
Reports began surfacing today that the iPhone suffers from a serious security flaw that could put users' private data in jeopardy. Nearly all cell phones have the option of providing a lock code that prevents anyone from using the phone without first entering the code, except for 911 emergency calls. But according to "greenmymac," a user on the MacRumors forum, the 2.0.2 version of the iPhone OS has some serious problems. His post reads in part:
"2.0.2 gives almost full access to the iPhone even while under password protection... Set iPhone to use passcode lock, have contacts marked as Favorites with links, phone numbers, addresses, etc. in address book entry. Tap 'Emergency Call' keypad from passcode entry screen. Double-tap home button. Tap blue arrow next to contact's name. You now have full access to applications..."
In essence, this flaw allows unauthorized people to access virtually all your private information, including e-mail and contact info, and also gives them unfettered access to that pricey 3G data surfing on Safari. A lost iPhone could do a lot of damage in this mode.
Independent tests have confirmed the flaw. Apple did not return calls regarding the bug. A workaround suggested online is to make "Home" or "iPod" the default screens for the phone when it is powered up. Meanwhile, Apple will undoubtedly have to rush a new version of the OS to patch the security hole.