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Noob needs help unlocking 3GS

M

Mortis

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 19, 2009
4
0
Hi, I need some help unlocking my iphone 3GS. The 3GS is my first Apple product so I'm a bit unfamiliar with the software, yellowsn0w, blackra1n, etc. Im also a bit paranoid about screwing stuff up so I would prefer a step by step explaination rather than reading a guide.

Ok so I got my 3GS on release day in the UK on O2 pay monthly. I am currently in India for the next 6 months and I need to unlock my iPhone to use an Indian SIM since my other phone is almost dead and I do not want to buy a new one when I have my 3GS which is just being used as an ipod.

I guess I need to 'unlock' and not 'jailbreak' my phone to use it with another carrier, but I wouldnt mind jailbreaking also if it provides significant benefits (can someone give examples ?).

The only firmware update I have on my 3GS is the first one which was pretty small and was released sometime in July. My version of iTunes is also from the same month.

I would like to know how proceed with unlocking/jailbreaking. Do I need to update the official fimware ? Do I need the latest iTunes ? etc. I need help on how to proceed from here. Like I said, Im a bit paranoid about screwing up my phone so I would prefer a direct response rather than going through a guide. Oh and I will be using a PC with Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit in case thats important.

Thanks in advance !
 
really?

Im also a bit paranoid about screwing stuff up so I would prefer a step by step explaination rather than reading a guide
Click to expand...

Aren't "guides" the best thing to be following? Aren't 99.9% of them a step by step tutorial?

...and they MAY even give you some insight on how and why it works.

:rolleyes: This forum has the info you need if you search

I guess I need to 'unlock' and not 'jailbreak' my phone to use it with another carrier
Click to expand...

Yup, you need a guide. Not a step by step
 
No, you really need to read the guides. Start by reading the entire Pwnage Guide thread above. Jailbreaking isn't something you should do without understanding what you're doing and why you're doing it.
 
Ok Ill go through the guides, but at least give me some info on my firmware version and what to do about that. I read something about updates afecting the baseband or something like that.
 
You can now unlock any baseband, but some people have problems with blacksn0w and WiFi.

Working only with a PC, you basically have two options:

1) If you are currently on 3.0.x, you can jailbreak with Redsn0w and then unlock by installing ultrasn0w from Cydia. Be aware that if you ever have to restore your phone you will not be able to restore it to 3.0, but will have to upgrade to 3.1.2 (Apple no longer allows 3.0.x to be installed on the 3GS).

2) If you are currently on 3.1.x, you can jailbreak with blackra1n and unlock by installing blacksn0w. If you are on 3.1, you should probably first upgrade to 3.1.2 since that is what blackra1n was tested on.
 
Mortis said:
Hi, I need some help unlocking my iphone 3GS. The 3GS is my first Apple product so I'm a bit unfamiliar with the software, yellowsn0w, blackra1n, etc. Im also a bit paranoid about screwing stuff up so I would prefer a step by step explaination rather than reading a guide.

Ok so I got my 3GS on release day in the UK on O2 pay monthly. I am currently in India for the next 6 months and I need to unlock my iPhone to use an Indian SIM since my other phone is almost dead and I do not want to buy a new one when I have my 3GS which is just being used as an ipod.

I guess I need to 'unlock' and not 'jailbreak' my phone to use it with another carrier, but I wouldnt mind jailbreaking also if it provides significant benefits (can someone give examples ?).

The only firmware update I have on my 3GS is the first one which was pretty small and was released sometime in July. My version of iTunes is also from the same month.

I would like to know how proceed with unlocking/jailbreaking. Do I need to update the official fimware ? Do I need the latest iTunes ? etc. I need help on how to proceed from here. Like I said, Im a bit paranoid about screwing up my phone so I would prefer a direct response rather than going through a guide. Oh and I will be using a PC with Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit in case thats important.

Thanks in advance !
Click to expand...

if you are an o2-uk paying customer then you do NOT require any unlocking software like blacksn0w etc...

all you need to do is visit the O2 website and request to have your iphone unlocked....seemples eek!

http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html

enter the above link and rattle in your details and wait for a text message from O2 (takes about a week or so) then connect your iphone to itunes (you may need to do a restore!) and itunes should confirm that your iphone has been unlocked....
 
thelatinist said:
Sounds like he's already in India and will be for the next six months. I doubt he's still paying for his O2 plan.
Click to expand...

ok fair do's but like i am meant to know the current monthly plans with with the provider (O2-UK) or how the iphone was bought as the information from the thread provider has been a tad limited, as it was quoted that the iphone was used as an ipod during his stay and the current phone is on the blink. perhaps i am a genius mind reader that gives a duck who has wasted five minutes of a life time by politely informing him that he is eligible to have the iphone (currently an ipod in india) unlocked by the iphone provider via the world wide web in which is accessible in (more places than america believe it or not) india to unlock the bleeding iphone without fannying about with jailbreak and unlock the iphone where the thread starter in question does not wish to jailbreak the iphone
 
Bl0ckHe1d said:
ok fair do's but like i am meant to know the current monthly plans with with the provider (O2-UK) or how the iphone was bought as the information from the thread provider has been a tad limited, as it was quoted that the iphone was used as an ipod during his stay and the current phone is on the blink. perhaps i am a genius mind reader that gives a duck who has wasted five minutes of a life time by politely informing him that he is eligible to have the iphone (currently an ipod in india) unlocked by the iphone provider via the world wide web in which is accessible in (more places than america believe it or not) india to unlock the bleeding iphone without fannying about with jailbreak and unlock the iphone where the thread starter in question does not wish to jailbreak the iphone
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you're so angry about. I simply pointed out that it is unlikely he's paying six months of monthly tariffs on O2-UK when he's spending all his time in India (would you?). If he doesn't currently have an active account with 02, he can't get his phone unlocked by them...no matter how much web access he has in India. Save the attitude for someone else; it's not my fault you can't come to logical conclusions from reading a forum post.
 
*sigh*

thelatinist said:
I'm not sure what you're so angry about nope wasn't angry just very drunk!. I simply pointed out that it is unlikely he's paying six months of monthly tariffs on O2-UK when he's spending all his time in India (would you?) if i were on a UK monthly plan then i wouldn't have any choice but to continue to pay the month tarrifs or buy out the outstanding months i would have to pay back to the provider if you were on a contract, in this case could still have 12 months remaining on the contract which may cost about £420 or about $800. If he doesn't currently have an active account with 02 if?? "if" does not come to any logical conclusions either IF the outstanding contract were paid off to O2 then why would O2 continue to keep the iphone locked??!!, he can't get his phone unlocked by them...no matter how much web access he has in India Errrrr yes he can! Did it myself so why can't he??!!. Save the attitude for someone else; it's not my fault you can't come to logical conclusions from reading a forum post. Yes it is especially if you cannot see past "america" to visulise what else is happening outside "america" by viewing the O2-UK terms and conditions before raising your comments!
Click to expand...

only our thread starter can answer any of these questions only working on a hunch!
 
Wow, I didnt know my post would lead to an argument. Take it easy guys !

My firmware version is 3.0.1 (7A400)
Baseband version is : 04.26.08

So should I just use Redsn0w and Ultrasn0w ?
I guess I can unlock it following the procedure detailed for 3.0.1 and use the 3.0 firmware file for the jailbreak/unlock ?

I was also wondering what changes with a normal 'locked' phone with the newer firmware and also how the unlocking procedure changes ?

Do I need to use Itunes ver 8.2 or will the latest one be fine ?

Should I just update my firmware to the latest and then jailbreak and unlock ?


Oh and by the way for those of you who are wondering. I have been wondering I am still paying my O2 bills because I would still need my connection in 6 months time. If I cancelled payments, unlocked my phone and then returned to the UK in 6 months wouldnt they track me down or something ? I called them and asked if I could suspend my account for 6 months and then also extend my contract by 6 months to make up for it but they refused saying my only option was to end my contract which means I would have to pay the total for the remaining 18 months. So I would just end up paying for 1.5 years worth of a connection and at the same time I wouldnt have an active connection. How stupid is that ?

thelatinist : Your post is insulting, unhelpful and pointless. Keep your opinions/accusations to yourself if you have no proof.

Bl0ckHe1d : Are you sure about this ?
 
Mortis said:
Wow, I didnt know my post would lead to an argument. Take it easy guys !

My firmware version is 3.0.1 (7A400)
Baseband version is : 04.26.08

So should I just use Redsn0w and Ultrasn0w ?
I guess I can unlock it following the procedure detailed for 3.0.1 and use the 3.0 firmware file for the jailbreak/unlock ?

there is a good website that has a video instructing you how to jailbreak you iphone 3GS if your firmware is 3.0.1 BB 04.26.08 (that if you wish too!):

http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=4447

and unlocking your iphone:

http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=4253


I was also wondering what changes with a normal 'locked' phone with the newer firmware and also how the unlocking procedure changes ?

there are known issues upgrading to 3.1.2 if you wish to jailbreak you iphone, ensure that you read related posts, if you are not sure then visit other websites for verification

Do I need to use Itunes ver 8.2 or will the latest one be fine ?

If updating firmware to 3.1.2 then i believe you need to latest version of itunes (correct me if i am wrong!)

Should I just update my firmware to the latest and then jailbreak and unlock ?


Oh and by the way for those of you who are wondering. I have been wondering I am still paying my O2 bills because I would still need my connection in 6 months time. If I cancelled payments, unlocked my phone and then returned to the UK in 6 months wouldnt they track me down or something god yeah...those corporate companies will hound you for a penny!!? I called them and asked if I could suspend my account for 6 months and then also extend my contract by 6 months to make up for it but they refused saying my only option was to end my contract which means I would have to pay the total for the remaining 18 months. So I would just end up paying for 1.5 years worth of a connection and at the same time I wouldnt have an active connection. How stupid is that ?

thelatinist : Your post is insulting, unhelpful and pointless. Keep your opinions/accusations to yourself if you have no proof.

Bl0ckHe1d : Are you sure about this ?
Click to expand...

Yep, quoted (from this link http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html) from the O2-UK website:

From 10 November, the iPhone can be unlocked for O2 customers in the UK.

Pay Monthly customers
Your iPhone can be unlocked at anytime free of charge. If you unlock your handset and place a non-O2 sim into it, you will still have to honour the remainder of the minimum term on your contract.

What do I need to do?
Firstly, complete the unlocking form - it will take up to 14 days for the iPhone to be unlocked and we'll text you to confirm the unlock request. Then place a non-O2 sim into the iPhone and connect to iTunes via a USB cable. iTunes will confirm that the iPhone has been successfully unlocked.

Having trouble unlocking your iPhone? Visit our FAQs section.

Regardless of how you unlock your iphone you will still have to honour your contract!
 
He he, not planning on ditching my contract anytime soon. I think Ill just jailbreak/unlock it without without updating it from 3.0.1 since that seems to be my best option.

I just wanted to confirm, updating my firmware after jailbreaking will remove the unlock right ?
 
I think you're overcomplicating stuff. No need to jailbrake or anything else (unless you want to!).

You have an o2 pay monthly phone - o2 will unlock it for you from the URL posted above for free.

Once they've unlocked it you can use any SIM you like in it.

You will have to keep paying o2 until the end of the contract, whatever SIM you put in.
 
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