Reuters reports: “Apple Inc said on Monday that programs available on the Internet that allow the iPhone to be used with other service providers besides AT&T’s Cingular network can irreparably damage the device.”

Apple, which also makes the Mac computer, the iPod digital music player and runs the iTunes online store, said once an Apple-supplied software update is installed on the iPhone, it “will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable.”

“The Cupertino, California-based company also said an iPhone that fails to work because of the installation of the unlocking software is not covered under the warranty. Apple plans to release the next iPhone software update later this week, the company said in a statement. In the United States, AT&T Inc is the only authorized service provider for the iPhone.”

“There are a number of unlocking software programs on the Internet, and, at least two of them, iUnlock and Anysim, can cause the iPhone to stop working once its software is updated, Schiller said.”