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iPhone unlocking - beware of scams/ripoffs, etc.

S

Sdao

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 12, 2007
336
0
As a Canadian, and future iPhone owner, I've been looking into unlocking an 8 gig iPhone so I can use it on my cell provider in Ontario (Rogers Wireless).

I've recently found that a bunch of different people have been posting on Craigslist offering iPhone unlocking for 100-200 dollars. 100 dollars if you leave your phone with them for 24 hours, 200 if you want it done within 1 hour.

It seems kind of sketchy. I wouldnt leave my brand new iPhone with someone overnight, I wouldnt even let it out of my sight for 2 seconds... but that's just me.

200 dollars for a hardware unlock, which requires opening and performing 'surgery' (although they claim there is no soldering) is very risky.

Just a warning to all of those iPhone users thinking about having their phone unlocked.

With that being said, does anybody think the software unlock will be coming out for home use soon? Im dying to get my iPhone working as my cell/iPod.
 
I'd be cautious bro.
Dont send your brand new iphone to someone and then good luck trying to find them....
 
There is no freaking way that some dude in canada on craigslist is offering random unlocks. Not happening.

Why?

1) If they are in Canada and reasonably sure they are dodging ATT lawyers, etc, they aren't posting on Craigslist about it.
2) Why leave your phone with them? Except for GEOHOT's hardware unlock, the other unlocks have all been software based. And Geohot sold his to a company. And there WAS soldering involved IIRC.

Hang tight, I am sure someone will get around the ATT lawyers and bust the iphone free eventually...until then, if it sounds that good, it's probably fake.
 
Canuck4 said:
I'd be cautious bro.
Dont send your brand new iphone to someone and then good luck trying to find them....
Click to expand...

I am not even thinking twice about this, its ridiculous. Its just a warning to those who might, the thought of having an unlocked iPhone here in Canada is very tempting, but if it means waiting another week or 2 until the unlocking software comes out, Im fine with that.

:)
 
A software unlock is supposed to be OUT in 48-72 hours (but who knows if that won't get 'delayed'). However, there's nothing illegal about unlocking your own phone for personal use so there's no lawyers getting involved. Everyone who mentions lawyers in regards to this is just doing so as a stall tactic.
 
DeathChill said:
A software unlock is supposed to be OUT in 48-72 hours (but who knows if that won't get 'delayed'). However, there's nothing illegal about unlocking your own phone for personal use so there's no lawyers getting involved. Everyone who mentions lawyers in regards to this is just doing so as a stall tactic.
Click to expand...

Where did you hear about that time frame (48-72 hours)?
*Edit * I just saw it on iphonesimfree.com. Im still a bit confused, they require you to 'jailbreak' your phone prior to installing their unlocking software. They say a full "simplified" version of the software will be available after launch. I hope its sooner than their web page makes it sound.


Im a bit annoyed. A good deal of these people claim to have software unlocks available "soon", however their definition of "soon" keeps on changing. Like you said, the whole legal threat thing gives them time to stall.

I was a little frustrated when I saw the video of the owner of uniquephones unlocking his iphone in Ireland in less than 5 minutes using some program him and his team created. Just let the rest of the world have their iPhones already.
 
Sdao said:
Where did you hear about that time frame (48-72 hours)?
*Edit * I just saw it on iphonesimfree.com. Im still a bit confused, they require you to 'jailbreak' your phone prior to installing their unlocking software. They say a full "simplified" version of the software will be available after launch. I hope its sooner than their web page makes it sound.
Click to expand...
Jailbreaking your iPhone is really simple and there are tons of applications that are made to do it with a few simple button clicks. Don't worry, there's tons of guides:
http://iphone.fiveforty.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
 
I'm curious to see who the first person will be that complains on here about how they sent their brand new iPhone to someone they don't know and never got it back. It's going to happen sooner or later depending on how desperate you are to use it on a different network.
 
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