New Iphone buyer questions

[macminor]

I'm looking to buy a new iphone 3gs payg from apple UK. Done a load of searches so I think I've got my head around this jailbreaking then unlocking business.

So I'm just waiting and hoping they are able to break the 3.1 firmware now. In the mean time can someone just check that my logic is correct and this is all possible before I go and blow a large chunk of my hard earned...

So the plan is...

Buy iphone 3gs payg and activate with sim card supplied.
Jailbreak then unlock.
Use UK T-mobile sim on my current monthly contract.

This is the part i'm not so sure about...

As I understand it at the moment if you have any problems with the phone and need to return it you just have to do a factory restore and it wipes out/ reverses any jailbreaking and unlocking so Apple are none the wiser and the warranty is still in tact?
If they return it with an updated firmware would I still be able to load my backup back on? I'm guessing I could as long as the new firmware could still be jailbroken.

Also the jailbreaking / unlocking has no ill effect on the phone whatsoever you just lose the visual voicemail feature?

So you can still connect to itunes as usual, synching still works the same, and the apple app store is still accessible?

This all seems to easy?

 

[thelatinist]

This would all have been true a week ago, but there has been a firmware upgrade. If your 3GS comes with the new 3.1 firmware and 5.11.07 baseband firmware, you will have to wait for a jailbreak (hopefully within a couple of weeks) and you may never be able to unlock. The new baseband firmware has not been unlocked and may never be unlocked. If it is unlocked, it may take months.

So to summarize: if you are relying on unlocking your iPhone, you better hope it comes with the old firmware! Else you are SOL.

 

[macminor]

Ouch! I knew about the new 3.1 firmware but I didn't realise the problems with unlocking it.

I'll have to look into the return policies of o2 stores and CPW as they are more likely to hold older stock in the UK I'd have thought.

Thanks for the heads up

 

[macminor]

in case anyone else needs the info, it looks like both o2 and CPW have a 14 day return policy.

Any idea what sort of identification marks to look out for when purchasing like date stamps which should guarantee a pre 3.1 version?

 

[ViViDboarder]

in case anyone else needs the info, it looks like both o2 and CPW have a 14 day return policy.

Any idea what sort of identification marks to look out for when purchasing like date stamps which should guarantee a pre 3.1 version?

Well, the firmware was released on 9/9/9 so if it was boxed before that then you would still have 3.0. This is irrelevant though because in order to jailbreak the 3GS you need to pull off certain codes which is no longer possible as Apple doesn't support them for 3.0 anymore. Your only hope would be to buy a 3.0 3Gs and then wait for the 3.1 JB as at least it won't have the upgraded Baseband and would, theoretically, still be susceptible to Ultrasn0w.

 

[macminor]

Thanks, are the boxes dated then?

Seems the best bet would be to get one now if I can find one then hope that the 3.1 JB is released within 14 days. If not I can still get a refund.

 

[ViViDboarder]

Thanks, are the boxes dated then?

Seems the best bet would be to get one now if I can find one then hope that the 3.1 JB is released within 14 days. If not I can still get a refund.

No clue if they're dated. The serial numbers should give an indication of the date though if you can find that.

 

[Moi un Mouton]

My understanding is this, having just bought a 3Gs payg from O2 in the UK:

1. You may never be able to jailbreak it, though this is unsure

2. You may never be able to unlock it, this is more probable, so you'll always have to use an O2 service of some kind - payg, simplicity or contract

If t-mobile is essential for you, you should get the 3G model, which you can unlock and jailbreak provided you get a pre-3.1 phone and don't update.

 

[ichiban06]

just to let you know my friend received her PAYG 16GB 3GS from Apple today and the firmware is 3.01 not sure how long till they will be have 3.1 installed.

 

[macminor]

Thanks guys.

Moi un Mouton - did your iphone from o2 come with 3.1 pre-installed?

ichiban06 - I don't suppose you happen to know if there were any date stamps or identification on it that I could use to try and find a 3.01 version.

Thanks again.

 

[Moi un Mouton]

Mine still had 3.0.1.

The impression I got was that the 3GS payg phones are sitting on the shelves longer than the contract models, which were all out of stock last week, even online. They are barcoded differently i believe, so a shop that has a stock of payg phones can't sell them as contract, and vice versa.

So if you're trying to find an O2 store which has stock, make sure you tell them it's the payg phone that you're trying to get.

 

[macminor]

If you don't mind me asking how are you planning to navigate the current issues surrounding the firmware? If I understand it correctly as soon as you plug in 3.01 itunes will try and force you into updating the firmware 3.1 and if ever you have to restore it will restore to 3.1 meaning you wouldn't be able to re-unlock it?
Are you just planning to keep it on o2 and jailbreak it but not unlock it when the 3.1 JB becomes available?

 

[ichiban06]

Thanks guys.

ichiban06 - I don't suppose you happen to know if there were any date stamps or identification on it that I could use to try and find a 3.01 version.

Thanks again.

Nope the brown box only has the Model and Serial number and the actual Iphone box has no markings on it.

My friend has no need to unlock the phone and she's using the PAYG sim so it gives her 12 free Internet and Wifi.

EDIT: if your planning to use your T-mobile sim then your taking a risk having to do a restore if something happens to it.

 

[Gav2k]

O2 are just about to lose exclusivity on the 3g so other carriers will be stocking it orange and tmobile reps are openly discussing this on the call lines an in store so just wait a few weeks and get on on tmobile payg

 

[macminor]

The problem is I'm only planning on staying with t-mobile for 3 months then probably moving to o2, then I plan to go on Simplicity.
I wonder how the unlocking process will change when they open the phone up to other networks, or is the 3g version immune to the unlocking problems with the 3gs?

Also real world is there a massive difference in performance between the 3g and 3gs? It'll mostly be used for music, movies, games and surfing the web on my commute. Won't be using any office based apps.

I guess I better got on the search tool again.

 

[twisted-pixel]

I'm curious though...

here in the UK, I believe that O2 is going to lose it's exclusivity...meaning the phones will be open to other networks...surely this means they are unlocked?

if 3.1 cannot be unlocked, how is this going to work?

 

[WhatAmI]

O2 eventually loosing exclusivity in UK doesn't mean you'll be able to buy unlocked phones over the counter. It means you will have a wider selection of providers to choose from, phones will still be locked... and you will still be shelling out massive amounts of cash for services you dont need

Given enough time 3.1 will be unlocked as well, greenp0ison, blu3berry or amberdic7 =)