Besides the completely unlocked developer SPV, Orange now provides a way to disable application signing over-the-air and their developer site is coming along nicely.
SmartPhone 2003 will provide carriers with a new option for application signing, a Prompt mode that allows users to run unsigned apps after a warning is displayed. Since it’s up to the carriers to decide which signing mode to use, there is no guarantee that this new option will be available to end-users.
I’m against required application signing, the protection is superficial and comes at a high price. Nothing prevents a signed application from doing malicious things. End-users lose the benefit of having a variety of free or inexpensive software available from hobbyists and other small-time developers because, while individual signing events aren’t terribly expensive, signing events must be purchased in blocks of 100 or more ($495-$695).
