AT&T is now patching a software bug on Alcatel Lucent 3G network equipment that was slowing upload speeds on the iPhone 4. The device is the only smart phone on AT&T's cellular data network that uses HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access). Only HSUPA is affected by the problem, meaning download speeds do not suffer.

Laptop Connect cards also use HSUPA, so they are having the same upload speed problems as the iPhone 4. Previous models of the iPhone were not equipped to take advantage of superior HSUPA upload speeds. The AT&T upload speed problem was first reported by iPhone 4 users three weeks ago.

Even though iPhone 4 owners are still waiting for a jailbreak, at least they know when it's released the process will be legal. Thanks to a decision by the US federal government, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has won exemptions for jailbreaking and unlocking under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Rulemaking sessions happen every three years, and exemptions to copyright law based on fair use can be requested by organizations and users of digital devices. The much-awaited ruling brings independent software development and iPhone hacking into the mainstream, and removes its grey-area status. Many developers and hobbyists feared that Apple would succeed in criminalizing unauthorized software that runs on gadgets made by the company.

Those looking to jailbreak and unlock the iPhone 4 won't have to wait much longer. iPhone Dev-Team member Comex has stated he's not waiting for Apple to release iOS 4.1 to launch the latest version of the Spirit jailbreak. The previous version was a one-click solution to jailbreak the iPad running iPhone OS 3.2.

The new jailbreak software will work on all devices running iOS 4, including the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. Comex is working to make sure the free jailbreak utility is up to Dev-Team standards before release, and suggests that users back up their SHSH blobs before jailbreaking.

Finally the Skype update that iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 users have been waiting for. Not only does Skype 2.0.1 make it possible to receive calls at all times, the application allows calls to continue uninterrupted in the background while the iPhone is used for other things. These improvements take advantage of iOS 4 multitasking and make the Skype app much more user friendly.

Skype had announced that calls placed over 3G data networks instead of W-Fi would incur a fee after an introductory period. The company now explains that it has dropped plans to institute a 3G calling charge, keeping Wi-Fi and 3G cellular calling expenses unchanged.

Talks between Apple and T-Mobile on bringing the iPhone 4 to a second carrier in the US are said to be in advanced stages, with an 80 percent chance that the device will be offered by T-Mobile by the end of September. Should this happen, AT&T would no longer be the exclusive carrier for the iPhone 4 in the United States.

The anonymous source told Cult of Mac that T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom, was influencing the talks. Deutsche Telekom carries the iPhone on its network in Germany.