I wouldn't waste money on unlocking an iPhone ... yet

So, the iPhone unlocking software from iPhoneSIMFree is available, for the lavish price of $99.  Personally, I wouldn't waste my money.

Early reports seem to suggest that this software works and doesn't have any noticeable side-effects, but that's not the point.  The issue is that this unlock is a temporary fix at best.  This from Wireless Import's FAQ:

2. Is it resistant to updates? While we have taken all possible measures to ensure that the phone will remain unlocked, we can only guarantee the current released versions of updates (up to and including 1.0.2). With any of these versions, even if the phone is fully restored, the phone will remain unlocked.

Here's the rub.  In fact, there are two.  First off, the iPhone firmware isn't without bugs, and to top that off, probably contains more than one nasty security issue, and this means that patches will be coming down the pipes soon and any one of these could restore the iPhone back to the AT&T locked state.  Also, Apple's not going to stand on the sidelines and watch companies make $99 bucks out of unlocking iPhones en masse.  My guess is that Apple's already got hold of a copy of the unlocking software and has figured out how it works and is probably working on a patch as I'm typing this.

The bottom line is that if you buy and iPhone with the idea of unlocking it you're pretty soon going to end up with a dilemma - pay another $99 for another unlock or run your phone on the current firmware update and live with the bugs and any security issues that come to light.  Neither of these options sounds all that desirable to me.  Seems like the sensible options would be to wait for the firmware to mature for a while.

Me, I'm buying an iPod touch.