Not long ago, it was discovered that you can actually bypass the security on the Orange/Microsoft SPiV so that installing third party applications becomes a reality. If you bought one of these units with the intention of installing extra software, your dreams have come true - only keep looking over your shoulder because Microsoft and Orange are looking for you.......

So what is it with Microsoft? As reported here by The Register who sourced the information from here on C|Net, there is grave concern over the break in security, and understand this, that as part of The War Against Terrorism, hackers (that's you if you're evil enough to want to play Pacman on your dang phone), this is very serious.

Aren't you glad your phone uses an open OS (Symbian)? Heck, imagine if installing software rendered you a terrorist!

[quote="C|Net"]
The possibility of rogue software flooding through cell phone networks is among the worst fears that carriers have, said Alan Reiter, an analyst with consulting company Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing. Cell phone networks became vulnerable to such attacks when carriers began selling phones that can download software and games, ring tones and business tools became available for download, he said.
[/quote]

I don't understand this. Someone please explain. For how long have people been connecting to the internet over their mobile phones? Quite a few years by now - so what are they worried about?

Maybe this is typical of a company that isn't mature enough to know what it is doing. Like an old man who buys a TV and doesn't want to use the remote control (because the batteries may run out), Microsoft doesn't understand what it is doing and the market in which it is doing it.

Blame Orange? Maybe, but why? Orange haven't blocked people from installing software on Java enabled phones or smarter phones such as the 9210, 7650 or any other smart phone (and there are Telnet clients, FTP clients and web browsers available for them).

When you go for Microsoft, you are tying yourself down to a closed technology where you are a given a licence to use the phone. You think I'm going over the top? Where would this stop. First, they're telling you what you can put on your phone. Next, they'll be telling you that you use your phone in another country, not only will you have to pay roaming charges to the network, but you will have to pay Microsoft for an international license. Maybe you'll have to pay for a connection license if you want to dial up to certain types of ISP. Maybe you won't even be able to use a Microsoft Smartphone if you don't have a Passport account.

Is there any assurance that the people who have liberated their phones by applying the hack won't have their settings undone by the over-the-air firmware upgrade that the SPiV is advertised as being able to do? Of course, it will be up to them if they apply the upgrade or not, but since they don't own the phone, will they really have a choice?

Anyway, just a few thoughts. What do you think? Will Symbian go that way? Is there any indication of it? Is the proliferation of Symbian through different companies and manufacturers an assurance that it will always be the most open and friendly OS?

Remember the uproar there was iin the AAS forums when there was mention of Vodafone disabling the IrDA port so that users could only install software from the Vodafone web site? It turned out to be false (amen!), but let's spare a though for those SPiV users for whom our worst nightmare has become a reality!