It has only been two months since Apple launched its iPhone and already several lawsuits have been filed. The class action claims Apple failed to disclose to customers that the iPhone was locked to only accept AT&T Subscriber Identity Modules or SIM cards and that the unlocking code would not be provided to iPhone owners. The lawsuit also claims iPhone owners would incur substantial roaming fees for using iPhone's data features while traveling internationally. The lawsuit was filed in the Supreme Court of the state of New York County of New York on behalf of all those who purchased an iPhone between June 29, 2007 and August 27, 2007 and were not informed of the inability to unlock their phone codes.
One plaintiff traveled to Mexico and was charged $2,000 in international data roaming fees for using his iPhone. He tried to purchase a SIM card from a foreign wireless carrier which would allow him to utilize voice and data networks at fees substantially less than the $2,000 roaming fees charged by AT&T. However, Apple locked all iPhones so that they cannot be used with a non-AT&T SIM card. At the request of the consumer, AT&T does provide unlock codes for all other non-iPhone phones.
