Apple Unlocked iPhone (Legally)

Alex53

Alex53

Alex53

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Could someone explain the iPhone activation and unlocking?

Shops that sell legally open iPhones use the terms interchangeably and as far as I know they arent the same thing. Does unlocked mean SIM free? As in, you can put in any pay as you go SIM from any provider and that would work without any further action?

If thats it, whats the activation? Something people who get the O2 iPhone have to do after they purchase?

I just want to know what I'm getting as I dont have the option of using O2 in my area and I dont want to resort to an illegal or dodgy solution, plus I want to be able to use iTunes for stuff like Podcasts and the App Store, without bricking the phone.
 
Firstly..

All sellers of the iPhone 3G in the UK have to sell it SIM-locked to the O2 network, as Apple have an exclusivity deal on it. These phones are substidised by O2, so they cost a lot less than a "unlocked phone".

It's worth noting that the iPhone 3G cannot be bought without signing a monthly contract in-store, unless you go for a PAYG phone (which is also locked to O2)

However, in countries such as Italy there are laws that prevent the phone companies to sell these SIM-locked phones so they also offer them truly unlocked to ANY GSM network, providing you're willing to pay.

Now on to the complex stuff..

If you can buy a UK iPhone 3G on PAYG you can run a program on your PC / Mac to partially unlock it. This process is called Jailbreaking. It essentially allows you to use any 02 SIM *such as a cheapy pay monthly SIM* however, as you can see.. you'd still be locked to O2 in some way.

The current software that runs on the iPhone is up to 2.2. This is not yet truly unlockable to any network, so if you have to use another carrier your only choice is to buy a pre-unlocked iPhone from a country that sells them unlocked e.g. Italy etc

Activation...

When you first turn on the iPhone a symbol appears that tells you to plug the iPhone in to iTunes. The iPhone cannot be used until it has been activated (unless you run a jailbreak) so you are forced to configure a contract / turn the phone off.

With a truly unlocked iPhone this activation is required, however, if your SIM you insert is already up and running then you don't have to do anything. It's just a mechanism they use to stop people acquiring the phone without signing a contract (as they used to sell them without a contract, and got stung by people who just hacked it).

Pheeeew.........
 
You could only buy truly unlocked iPhones in certain countries, such as Hong Kong.

Everywhere else, even if you buy it on PAYG it's still locked to one network and you have to use the hacks to unlock them.
 
EVH said:
If you can buy a UK iPhone 3G on PAYG you can run a program on your PC / Mac to partially unlock it. This process is called Jailbreaking. It essentially allows you to use any 02 SIM *such as a cheapy pay monthly SIM* however, as you can see.. you'd still be locked to O2 in some way.
Click to expand...

My work O2 SIM worked fine in my iPhone 3G without jailbreaking it.
 
Jailbreaking has got nothing to do with unlocking, not sure how EVH arrived at that conclusion. You can use any O2 SIM in a freshly-opened UK 3G iPhone, I know of at least 2 friends who have done exactly this (with PAYG SIMs).

You can't currently unlock the SIM-locked 3G iPhone to other networks.
 
Thanks for your replies.

So the online .co.uk shops I have seen offering a truly unlocked iPhone are simply selling foreign stock right?
 
Durzel said:
Jailbreaking has got nothing to do with unlocking, not sure how EVH arrived at that conclusion. You can use any O2 SIM in a freshly-opened UK 3G iPhone, I know of at least 2 friends who have done exactly this (with PAYG SIMs).

You can't currently unlock the SIM-locked 3G iPhone to other networks.
Click to expand...

I didn't realise any O2 SIM would work, as the last iPhone required a jailbreak before you could use it (as there was no way to get past the activation screen; no PAYG).

Congratulations on having cool friends :p
 
EVH said:
I didn't realise any O2 SIM would work, as the last iPhone required a jailbreak before you could use it (as there was no way to get past the activation screen; no PAYG).

Congratulations on having cool friends :p
Click to expand...

You're confusing activation with jailbreaking, both completely different things. You still have to activate the iPhone 3G but it doesn't require you to sign up to a tariff anymore as that is done in the shop.
 
Wicksta said:
You're confusing activation with jailbreaking, both completely different things. You still have to activate the iPhone 3G but it doesn't require you to sign up to a tariff anymore as that is done in the shop.
Click to expand...

I know the difference, I've had many many iPhones (legit, and not) :p

I say "jailbreak" when I mean activation because most jailbreak apps automatically activate the phone when you run the app.
 
I just ordered an iPhone from o2. What all can you do once jailbroken, install third party apps? Are these free unlike the the ones in the app store?

This is my first apple product!
 
lolism said:
I just ordered an iPhone from o2. What all can you do once jailbroken, install third party apps? Are these free unlike the the ones in the app store?

This is my first apple product!
Click to expand...

The App Store is full of free apps too actually. But you dont get stuff like Quake for iPhone of course.

I got my unlocked SIM free iPhone today actually, my parents' xmas present for me so I wont see it again until the 25th, but I can confirm its italian stock, box opened up and manual replaced for an english one. Apparently I do have to 'activate it' which the guy said happens without hassle when you first connect it to the PC and open iTunes. After that just stick in any SIM card and off you go.

I am not planning on jailbreaking. Never jailbroke my iPod Touch and I'm happy with it.
 
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