'Jailbreaking' is a process that allows iPhone and iPod Touch users to run unofficial code on their devices bypassing Apple's official distribution mechanism, the App Store. Once 'jailbroken', iPhone users are able to download many applications previously unavailable through the App Store via unofficial installers such as Cydia and Icy. These applications can make changes outside of the application, which official applications cannot. 'Jailbreaking' is distinct from 'unlocking', which is the process by which a mobile device is made compatible with telephone networks it was not specifically licensed to be used with.

On August 6, 2007, The first 'jailbreaking' method was released on July 10, 2007, which initially was meant to provide a way to use custom ring tones. Also the first third-party game was released for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

On October 10, 2007, about 3 months after the original iPhone was released, another method to jailbreak the iPhone was discovered. Apple and hackers then engaged in a battle to patch up security holes and to exploit them. Hackers eventually released a tool to permanently jailbreak iPhone OS 1.0

In January, 2009, hackers commenced work on 'Jailbreaking' the iPod Touch 2nd Generation

On March 10, 2009, the un tethered jailbreak for the iPod Touch 2nd Generation was released

On March 17, 2009, Apple announced the release of iPhone OS 3.0, Three months later, Hackers improved there jailbreaking methods to accommodate iPhone OS 3.0 which allowed users of the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod Touch running the OS 3.0 to be jailbroken on both Macs and PCs.

On July 7, 2009, 'Jailbreaking' methods was updated to include the iPhone 3GS running OS 3.0

The legality of 'jailbreaking' an iPod or iPhone remains unclear, particularly in the context of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. As part of the 2009 DMCA rulemaking, the Electronic Frontier Foundation asked the US Copyright Office to recognize an exemption to the DMCA to permit 'jailbreaking' in order to allow iPhone owners to use their phones with applications that are not available from Apple's store.[17] In response to this, Apple filed comments opposing this exemption, and indicating that they do consider 'jailbreaking' to be a violation of copyright (and by implication prosecutable under the DMCA). A ruling on this proposed exemption has not yet been made.

'jailbreaking' allows the user to use their iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 2nd generation the way they want to. It allows the user to customise there device as much as they want and run cheaper, better third party applications.

'jailbreaking' is LEGAL by law however is frond upon by Apple however most people 'Jailbreak'/'Unlock' there devices