I think the hacking and unlocking of the iPhone to make it work with other carriers than AT&T might be over in a few weeks when Apple signs the contract with Orange, as their iPhone operator. The laws in France are pretty strict and they don’t allow a mobile phone to be locked with one operator so Orange is going to offer both a locked and an unlocked version.
That means there should be no more upgrades and hacks to make the iPhone work in the US with other carriers than AT&T, or in other countries with only one operator, because the business will be really strong to import it from France. So far in my mind the iPhone was the locked cellular phone with a built-in battery that people would do anything to buy even if they like or dislike AT&T and others, so I guess that’s a big slap to those guys because an unlocked iPhone will be available with Orange in France.
I believe that the locked version will be somewhere near €450 (I could be wrong) and the unlocked price will be much higher to disarm those that want one. Though, I still think unlocked sales will flourish as soon as they have it live.