Terminology Clarification Needed: Jailbreak vs Sim Free

[3Tabernacles]

Hi,

Can anyone clarify the differences of the 2 terms, i.e. Jailbreak and Sim Free.

Does Jailbreak include Sim Free?

I currently have an AT&T phone with an AT&T SIM card. If I purchase an iPhone, all l I need to do is free the SIM part of the iPhone correct? I have no need to jailbreak it because I am already on the AT&T network. Anyone?

Thanks,
3T

 

[Small White Car]

I currently have an AT&T phone with an AT&T SIM card. If I purchase an iPhone, all l I need to do is free the SIM part of the iPhone correct? I have no need to jailbreak it because I am already on the AT&T network. Anyone?

No need to Sim-free it. You won't use your old card either. Use iTunes to activate the phone and transfer your phone number to it. Then sync the phone with the contact information from your computer. You don't use the old SIM card at all.

 

[cazlar]

You have it backwards. SIM unlocks such as AnySIM or IPSF allow you to use a different carrier. As you are AT&T, there's no need to do this step.

Jailbreak means to have full access to the phone's filesystem. This allows you to run third-party apps etc, transfer files back and forth etc. Otherwise, you are limited to doing everything via iTunes.

So, in summary, you could jailbreak if you wanted to, but you have no need to unlock. Where some people get confused is that you must jailbreak first before you can unlock the SIM, so in that way they are "intertwined".