Hardware or software making the iPhone 3G hard to unlock?

[Cyclone Chris]

So which one is it? Is it a hardware issue making this iPhone 3G hard to unlock to be used with any sim chip?

I really don't mind using ATT in the U.S since they have the better GSM network, however if I travel overseas (Afghanistan and Iraq) I would like to use a prepaid Global Sim of some sort.

So what makes the Unlocked Iphones different from the Locked ones. I'm assuming it has to be the software.

So if software is the case, why can't we get a hold of the subsidy unlocked firmware and load it onto our locked iPhones?

Or better yet, can't the Dev team disect the unlocked firmware and apply the right changes to ours?

In theory it seems easy... I just don't get it I'm only asking to have the liberty to use other sim cards overseas since ATT stated they did not have the capability to unlock my iPhone... even with Military Overseas orders.

 

[Cyclone Chris]

Anyone have a clue??? maybe I'm asking a retarded question.

 

[PYR0M310N]

According to the iPhone Dev Team it is an issue with the Baseband. So it's a combination of the 2 really.

 

[Cyclone Chris]

According to the iPhone Dev Team it is an issue with the Baseband. So it's a combination of the 2 really.

So are some of the european version iPhones shipping with different hardware since they're unlocked?

I kinda doubt that.

 

[StoneColdSober]

So are some of the european version iPhones shipping with different hardware since they're unlocked?

I kinda doubt that.

No. I am sure the iPhone can be unlocked using the special version of iTunes used by Apple and carriers to activate the iPhone.

The point that the previous poster was making is that Apple has modified the baseband which essentially disabled the dev teams ability to use the same method they used to unlock the 1st gen and are going to have to reinvent the wheel to unlock the 3G. That is how it is a hardware and software issue. It is not that different hardware is being used on unlocked iPhone 3G's in the countries that sell them, it is that they have been given the ability by Apple to unlock them.

I could be wrong on some of the above but I think I got the gist of it right. If someone more familiar with this finds an error, feel free to correct me.

The reason that your question about using the firmware from an unlocked iPhone 3G won't work on another iPhone is that the software becomes essentially registered to the hardware and can't be used on a different iPhone.

Theoretically, someone could try and analyze the firmware of an unlocked and locked iPhone and try and find where the unlock sequence is but that is no small task.