Cupertino, Calif. - Apple on Monday warned that commercially available software programs that can "unlock" its iPhone for use on any network "cause irreparable damage" to the device, with the likely result being that such modified iPhones will become "permanently inoperable" if the user later downloads an Apple-supplied iPhone software update.

The company added that users who make "unauthorized modifications" to the software on their iPhone "violate their iPhone software license agreement and void their warranty."

Several small companies recently began selling software that allows the iPhone to operate -- although in a limited capacity, without features like visual voicemail -- on networks other that AT&T.

Apple also said it plans to release its next iPhone software update later this week, which will bring "many new features," including support for the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store.

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http://tinyurl.com/39uurr (Reuters)