The car kit consists of a dock with a built-in GPS transceiver designed in tandem with the companion TomTom for iPhone GPS application, although the application is sold separately for $99.99 and is not bundled with the $119.99 dock as first expected during its introduction at the last iPhone keynote in June.

This represents a further change of sales policy regarding iPhone, as it was formerly restricted to AT&T retail stores, online sales and Apple, then opened up to select authorized retailers such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart last year.

No word on which AT&T authorized dealer networks will carry the iPhone is available at this time.

In a press release, Nokia stated:

“The ten patents in suit relate to technologies fundamental to making devices which are compatible with one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards. The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption and are infringed by all Apple iPhone models shipped since the iPhone was introduced in 2007.”

Ilkka Rahnasto, Vice President, Legal & Intellectual Property at Nokia, further stated:

“The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for.”

“Apple is also expected to follow this principle. By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia’s intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia’s innovation.”

Nokia also stated that 40 other companies currently license these same patents, which it deems fundamental to making GSM-based cell phones function with licensees including competing manufacturers. Nokia has not stated a specific amount for damages.

Because of the new bootrom, the team has confirmed that a standard jailbreak would be impossible until a new vulnerability was found, as all current jailbreak tools are based off of the 24kpwn exploit being present on the device.

The team goes as far to suggest to locate older models and/or refurbs of the 3GS in the meantime if one wants to jailbreak the iPhone until a new exploit is found.

SUMMARY:

• The iPhone 3GS is now supported out of the box in PwnageTool 3.1.4 (or if you have upgraded to 3.1.x in iTunes)
• The iPod 2G is still supported in PwnageTool 3.1.4 but you must already be jailbroken
• The iPod touch 3G is NOT supported

DETAILS:

1. GOLDEN RULE: If you are using a iPhone 3G or iPhone 3G(S) with ultrasn0w and rely on ultrasn0w to obtain cellular service then you should only update your device with an .ipsw that is made with the new PwnageTool. There are no second chances with this. You need to remember that PwnageTool will provide an upgrade path to newer versions of the iPhone software in the future.
2. PwnageTool will work for the iPhone 3GS
3. PwnageTool will work for the iPod touch 2G
4. PwnageTool WILL work for Original iPhone (1st Generation), the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G(S) and the iPod touch (1st Generation and 2nd Generation) but NOT the iPod touch 3rd generation.
5. For 3G and 3G(S) users who are Pwned, PwnageTool is your key to updating in the future, just remember to never install an update directly from Apple, always use an .ipsw that has been created with PwnageTool.
6. There is no Windows version of PwnageTool it is a Mac OS X tool only, we are not developing a Windows version of PwnageTool.

The update also includes new carrier settings for AT&T, which is presumed to break tethering functionality as well as any jailbreaks applied to the device. To update, connect the iPhone, open iTunes and click on Check for Updates.

This follows FCC inquiries into AT&T’s practices regarding its policies on allowing or restricting certain applications on its data network in the wake of Google Voice being rejected for the iPhone while other VOIP applications were restricted to Wi-Fi.

RIM has announced the official release of the long-awaited Mac OS X version of its BlackBerry Desktop Manager device management software for its recent lineup of BlackBerry devices.

Prior to the release of the native Mac client, BlackBerry owners with Macs were forced to use less than seamless alternatives to sync the device with Mac OS X or third-party tools without full sync capabilities.

The application will be available for download from this location beginning at noon CDT/1PM EST/10AM PST.

However, due to Apple’s updates to the iBoot firmware, the team has been unable to add support for the iPod touch 2G and iPhone 3GS.

The iPhone 3GS is further complicated by the addition of Apple’s Windows-style activation procedure, using the encryption chip’s EDID SHSH information. This process requires every iPhone 3GS to phone home to Apple’s servers. Cydia, the unofficial App Store for iPhone OS, now backs this information up. Using the data from a jailbroken iPhone OS 3.0 3GS, it will be possible to keep jailbreaking alive.

However, both Cydia and the Dev Team stress that any iPhone 3GS or iPod touch 3G that has been updated to 3.1 will have a much more arduous path to being jailbroken, and a jailbreak may not be possible at all.

PwnageTool 3.1 does, however, maintain compatibility with the original iPhone’s firmware-based SIM unlock as well as iPhone 3G’s software-based ultrasn0w. However, the Dev Team also stresses that an iPhone 3G or 3GS that is updated to iPhone OS 3.1 cannot ever be re-unlocked. Apple has patched all known exploits in the iPhone 3G/3GS baseband, making unlock impossible, even with a firmware downgrade… unless a new exploit is found.

In short, PwnageTool 3.1 should only be used on first-generation iPhone, first-generation iPod touch, and iPhone 3G. redsn0w, the in-place jailbreaking utility will be released in the future to add support for iPod touch 2G. Do not update any iPhone 3GS or iPod touch 2G to 3.1 yet, and only update other Apple mobile devices to iPhone OS 3.1 via PwnageTool.

You can download PwnageTool 3.1 from the Dev Team’s BitTorrent file, or from the mirror we have placed on the Phone Encyclopedia page below.

iPhone Dev Team – PwnageTool 3.1 Announcement
PhoneNews.com Phone Encyclopedia – Apple

AT&T explained the service delay was due to wishing to provide the best experience possible, which includes recent network upgrades such as increased backhaul capacity, 850 MHz 3G access in more markets and the slow activation of HSPA 7.2 data access for the expected surge in MMS traffic.