Unlock iPhone 3G to work on T-Mobile?

[d wade]

Ok, I'm a pretty savvy iPhone user. I had the original, and have had the 3G since launch. I've jailbroken many times, I use SSH, etc.

However, I'm about to go into uncharted territory. I have AT&T, so I never cared about unlocking or using other SIM cards, etc.

My sister has Blackberry Curve with T-Mobile, and is going to buy a 3G iPhone from her friend. I thought the 3G was unlockable, but apparently a new unlock is out.

With the new unlock out, can someone tell me how to get the iPhone 3G to work with her T-Mobile please? I want to do this for her so she doesn't have to pay someone who may or may not rip her off.

I appreciate the help. Thanks guys.

 

[iamse7en]

Ok, I'm a pretty savvy iPhone user. I had the original, and have had the 3G since launch. I've jailbroken many times, I use SSH, etc.

However, I'm about to go into uncharted territory. I have AT&T, so I never cared about unlocking or using other SIM cards, etc.

My sister has Blackberry Curve with T-Mobile, and is going to buy a 3G iPhone from her friend. I thought the 3G was unlockable, but apparently a new unlock is out.

With the new unlock out, can someone tell me how to get the iPhone 3G to work with her T-Mobile please? I want to do this for her so she doesn't have to pay someone who may or may not rip her off.

I appreciate the help. Thanks guys.

This is how you get an iPhone 3G to work on T-Mobile.

1. Update to 2.2 to update to new baseband. Jailbreak it.
2. Install yellowsn0w via Cydia. Simple Instructions here.
3. Reboot phone.
4. Turn off 3G.

Now, it's unlocked and will work with a T-Mobile Sim. Notice step 4. You cannot use an iPhone 3G on T-Mobile's 3G network. What the hell is the point of unlocking it for T-Mobile in the U.S.? Not sure, but I guess it's better than paying the termination fee, if you can stand the slow Edge network. I'm so used to 3G, that I can't bear to live without it.

 

[LoMonkey]

This is how you get an iPhone 3G to work on T-Mobile.

1. Update to 2.2 to update to new baseband. Jailbreak it.
2. Install yellowsn0w via Cydia. Simple Instructions here.
3. Reboot phone.
4. Turn off 3G.

Now, it's unlocked and will work with a T-Mobile Sim. Notice step 4. You cannot use an iPhone 3G on T-Mobile's 3G network. What the hell is the point of unlocking it for T-Mobile in the U.S.? Not sure, but I guess it's better than paying the termination fee, if you can stand the slow Edge network. I'm so used to 3G, that I can't bear to live without it.

Yeah, since T-Mobile USA uses a nonstandard frequency for their American 3G, your sister will not be able to use the T-Mobile 3G network on the iPhone 3G, only edge.

 

[d wade]

thanks for the help guys. if anybody else has anything to add, you're always welcome.

 

[Me Myself & i]

This is how you get an iPhone 3G to work on T-Mobile.

1. Update to 2.2 to update to new baseband. Jailbreak it.
2. Install yellowsn0w via Cydia. Simple Instructions here.
3. Reboot phone.
4. Turn off 3G.

Now, it's unlocked and will work with a T-Mobile Sim. Notice step 4. You cannot use an iPhone 3G on T-Mobile's 3G network. What the hell is the point of unlocking it for T-Mobile in the U.S.? Not sure, but I guess it's better than paying the termination fee, if you can stand the slow Edge network. I'm so used to 3G, that I can't bear to live without it.

I was told that yellowsn0w isn't available. Then when I search it on Cydia I am getting boss yellowsn0w? Any suggestions on how to download Yellowsn0w?

 

[alejovh1]

you have to install yelowsn0w, follow the directions provided by theaustinpeay

mine is unlocked and using tmobile with no issues

 

[tekgeeek]

Step By Step Guide

Here is a link to an iPhone 3G unlock tutorial. It's pretty easy to use and has videos showing you step by step also. Basically everything without sending some guy to your house to actually do it for you! =)

 

[danny316]

Hey, I've been wondering for some time....

If you buy the 3G, doesnt apple/att make you sign up for a plan with a 2 year contract? So if you unlock, does that void forcing you to sign up for a contract? Because someone told me if you dont sign up for a plan they fine you, or something.

I havent had an iPhone in a while now, so I havent made sure

 

[mkrishnan]

If you buy the 3G, doesnt apple/att make you sign up for a plan with a 2 year contract? So if you unlock, does that void forcing you to sign up for a contract? Because someone told me if you dont sign up for a plan they fine you, or something.

Unlocking an iPhone you bought from AT&T doesn't really get you out of anything from AT&T, except I guess that it's easier to use a non-iPhone plan with it. You remain just as liable for contract fees, ETF, etc. However, if you can find someone to sell you an iPhone third party (e.g. used), then that's all between them and AT&T, and has nothing to do with you.

For instance, if I have some other AT&T phone... a BB or LG Incite or whatever... and I get an iPhone and don't like it, then I can sell it to you (probably at a profit vs. the $199 or whatever I paid for it), continue on my AT&T plan (with my other device), and just live out the terms of my contract on my other phone, or whatever else I upgrade to.

The trick is that there has to be a market of such sellers before it has any real relevance. Over time, the iPhone 3G should become more plentiful on the used market, but probably not until people start upgrading from it to something else, e.g. the next iteration from Apple.

 

[danny316]

Unlocking an iPhone you bought from AT&T doesn't really get you out of anything from AT&T, except I guess that it's easier to use a non-iPhone plan with it. You remain just as liable for contract fees, ETF, etc. However, if you can find someone to sell you an iPhone third party (e.g. used), then that's all between them and AT&T, and has nothing to do with you.

For instance, if I have some other AT&T phone... a BB or LG Incite or whatever... and I get an iPhone and don't like it, then I can sell it to you (probably at a profit vs. the $199 or whatever I paid for it), continue on my AT&T plan (with my other device), and just live out the terms of my contract on my other phone, or whatever else I upgrade to.

The trick is that there has to be a market of such sellers before it has any real relevance. Over time, the iPhone 3G should become more plentiful on the used market, but probably not until people start upgrading from it to something else, e.g. the next iteration from Apple.

Oh, ok I understand now. Because I wanted to take the iPhone to t-mobile, and I was looking up the phone on eBay, and wow, they go for double the price, but they are unlocked. And I was wondering what people were doing to sell these phones. But I don’t want to pay that price to take it to T-mobile. I guess I’ll just wait till the prices fall, or some miracle happens. Thanks

 

[mkrishnan]

Oh, ok I understand now. Because I wanted to take the iPhone to t-mobile, and I was looking up the phone on eBay, and wow, they go for double the price, but they are unlocked. And I was wondering what people were doing to sell these phones. But I don’t want to pay that price to take it to T-mobile. I guess I’ll just wait till the prices fall, or some miracle happens. Thanks

For what it's worth, I have an iPhone (EDGE) on T-Mobile. I bought the 8GB model refurbished from AT&T for $249 in February, when they were very briefly available. More recently, Apple actually was selling first gen iPhones refurbished for a brief period, too. I don't know how many more times they'll be available, or how long it'll take for the market to cool down.

In terms of the iPhone 3G, it would still be an upgrade in most senses. Aside from (if you do) liking the metal casing of the original better, the 3G has longer battery life, GPS, and is slightly faster, even if you don't use 3G. But right now, yeah, they're brutally expensive.

 

[Me Myself & i]

I am scared to download yellowsn0w - known problems?

Has anyone attempted to download the latest version of yellowsn0w on their iPhone? Anyone know of any problems or concerns to watch out for. I want to unlock my phone, I believe that this is the key to getting my data network back. When I attempt to unlock my phone should I take my TurboSIM out first? I am so scared that something is going to happen to my iPhone

ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED!