Question about Unlocking/Jailbreaking 3G for Pre-Paid?

[Hls811]

OK - let me preface this by saying that I know that its not currently possible to unlock a 3G iPhone - which is sorta why I'm asking this question.. I'm not sure of the terminology.

I currently have a 1st Generation iPhone which I am using with a Pre-Paid card through AT&T - I have a legit pre-paid account and each month I apply $20 for unlimited data and $5.00 for 200 texts.. It seems to work fine for me since I don't need voice (I have Verizon for that).

Is this possible to do with a 3G? Since I'm using AT&T as my carrier I'm not really unlocking anything, am I? I'm not sure if the jailbreak process allows me to do this, or the unlock, or just the activate (I've been using the iPhone-Dev Pwnage Tool since it was released for 2.0.x).

Just curious - I'm not really ready to spring for what a 3G would cost without a contract but had been curious in case I came across a good deal..

 

[8CoreWhore]

If I understand your question... Jailbreak will allow you to take an iPhone that is not yet activated (and thus unusable for any functions) and give you an iPod plus Wifi device --- but not voice or 3G data. I'm certain at&t requires a voice plan on that phone before they will sell you data on 3G.

You're correct in that there is no way to currently unlock the iPhone 3G to be free from it's intended carrier.

 

[aspenboy]

I don't believe you can

You need to unlock the phone to use AT&T's prepaid (pay as you go) plan. Unless you want to pay a very large amount for the 3G, you'll have to use AT&T's regular plan.

I have a 1st gen iphone and you'll need to unlock it, then you can use the pay as you go plan.

 

[StoneColdSober]

You need to unlock the phone to use AT&T's prepaid (pay as you go) plan. Unless you want to pay a very large amount for the 3G, you'll have to use AT&T's regular plan.

I have a 1st gen iphone and you'll need to unlock it, then you can use the pay as you go plan.

I believe this is incorrect. If the OP can get their hands on a iPhone 3G without having to sign the contract (ie. buying from eBay, CL or friend) then all they should have to do if it has been previously activated and not restored to like new is put in the PAYG SIM card. However, if it has not been activated, they would need to jailbreak the iPhone to bypass the official activation process and then put in the PAYG SIM card. I know I have seen more than a couple of posts by people who have done just this. Refer to this post here for more information.

If I am wrong, please explain how as the AT&T system has no way to prevent it from happening. The SIM lock only locks the phone to the carrier. As far as the AT&T network is concerned, a PAYG and a post pay SIM card are not treated any different except in the method of billing.