Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has  inserted code into its iOS operating system that limits the maximum data speeds  iPhone and iPad customers can achieve on the networks of Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ),  AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T)  and Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S), according to an  iOS developer. It does not appear that the code is affecting iPhones that work  on T-Mobile US (NYSE:TMUS), which  just started offering the iPhone in April.

The report, from iOS developer Joseph Brown, operator of the website iTweakiOS, said that the code limits the  iPhone 5 on AT&T to much slower speeds than the device is capable of  producing. However, Brown’s  post about the data throttling is no longer available online.

Brown told FierceWireless he removed the post after receiving a  large number of negative comments and warnings from those in the iOS  jailbreaking community that he might face potentail legal action from Apple and  the carriers. However, he said he stands behind his claims.

According to AppleInsider, Brown wrote that he discovered code  that indicates that AT&T’s iPhone 5 was limited to HSDPA “Category 10,”  which tops out at a theoretical peak speeds of 14.4 Mbps. AT&T’s HSPA+  network is capable or reaching theoretical speeds of 21 Mbps and its LTE network  is capable of reaching speeds even beyond that. According  to CNET, Brown wrote that he found code that limited speeds  on Verizon’s LTE network and Sprint’s EV-DO network. He also suggested that the  carriers may have asked Apple to insert the code.

“From previous statements released by AT&T and many tech orginizations  [sic], iPhones are very complex devices with a very complex OS,” Brown wrote in  his report. “The OS eats much more data, even when in idle mode, than most  phones on the market. So by carrier request, Apple limits devices to ‘even out’  the network, even if it means Galaxy users out perform Apple devices by such  large scales.”

Read more: Rumor Mill: Apple code limits iPhone data speeds on Verizon, AT&T and Sprint – FierceWireless http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/rumor-mill-apple-code-limits-iphone-data-speeds-verizon-att-and-sprint/2013-06-06#ixzz2VSOZfNBp