AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T) is about to step into a 'vocal minority' land mine when it comes to interacting with customers using that expensive Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone on its network. Let's put it this way: if you're a techno-tinkerer and have modified the software on that iPhone but need to bring it to AT&T (which probably sends it to Apple) or an Apple store for service, prepare to be disappointed: you may be turned away forever, even if your unit is under warranty.This situation sounds like a legal pickle of pretty big proportions. Apple iPhone purchasers "buy" an iPhone and are free to do whatever they want with it -- by law, right? The problem seems to arise when iPhone owners change the software on their phone, specifically using a "hack" to make the iPhone usable on wireless carriers other than AT&T, among other things.
Does "modifying software" equate to an instant voided warranty? If so, the allure of the iPhone to techno-geeks and others who want to use it how they want it (not how AT&T and Apple want them too) may be causing some issues soon if iPhones start needing factory service. That is, unless that modification caused the problem in the first place. This is probably going to be the standard tactic AT&T and Apple will both hide behind.
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