Hundreds of hackers and security researchers have been working to discover vulnerabilities in the latest mobile phone from Apple. Within hours of going on sale the iPhone was being probed, top of their list has been cracking the code that ties the phone to operator AT&T, the iPhone’s exclusive network.

If successful, it would allow iPhone owners the ability to use their handset on other networks, including in Europe. Some have already worked out ways to activate the phone without having to register it with AT&T through iTunes. One prominent hacker, Jon Lech Johansen, has published an activation tool on his website.

Mr Johansen - better known as DVD Jon - rose to fame at the age of 15 when he wrote and distributed a program that cracked the encryption codes on DVDs.

Although the new tool allows people to switch on the device and use many of its functions, it does not allow users to make phone calls.

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