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32 Comments
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -0/+14So quick question. I have a razr on a family plan. If I bought this software, I could buy an iphone, and unlock it, and just switch sim cards? I wouldn't get visual voicemail or whatever, but that would work?
- gurka1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9Yes, that is correct. I have done this with several phone models over the years - it's the beauty of GSM. The only thing you won't get is the visual voice mail confirmation is as being reported - who cares about that though.
- axisofphilippe, on 10/10/2007, -6/+15NOT BREAKING: Thing's worked as advertised.
- blablaman, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Yes, that's basically how it would work. The thing you would have to be careful about though is data usage. You would have to make sure you're on a plan that allows unlimited data usage if you want to use Safari or Youtube without getting raped by the monthly bill.
- o2o2o2o2, on 10/10/2007, -1/+724 HOURS TILL iPhoneSIM Free HACKED!
I give the the iPhoneSIM Free software 24 hours to get hacked and be free to everyone. Do they really think they have better protection against hackers than some of the biggest companies around like Adobe, Microsoft who spend millions on copy protection. - noamchomskeet, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8Who gives a sh!t, when is this gonna be FREE
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6Yeah, thats ALWAYS the case.
- derekivey, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Why does Engadget have to post 2 articles related to this? They already had a post earlier today with a video, why do they need another post with a picture?
Buried as spam - o2o2o2o2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3you travel overseas. att has international roaming, but in allot of countries its $4.99 a minute. Instead, you could just buy a local sim card for $0.05 cents a minute.
- kidd3ckz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Its not really unlocked tho, its just a hack that lets you switch carriers... an unlocked phone you can just swap out the SIMs as often as you want without having to re-activate it..... amirite?
- Stea1th, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I don't see how they should be allowed to make money off this. I'm not saying Apple/AT&T have the right to keep the phone locked, but they did
have a agreement and now a bunch of virgins go ahead and find a bypass around it, to allow it to be used on other carriers. I could see if it was free
which I think it should be..but to make profit is *****. I hope it gets cracked. - chrisxkelley, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2no. it wont work.
worded a little better:
visual voicemail has been confirmed as not working, which has been reported. - bigsteve, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Well a few things to keep in mind. There's only so many lock operations the GSM radio module in the iPhone can go through before it just ignores any further commands ["unlock" is a lock operation.] So, any communication, whether it be launched by an Apple software update, or a hacker's script, will be ignored. Given this, and my blind speculation [as I of course haven't seen the source code behind this solution] is that it probably calculates how many writes to the radio are left, and makes sure that the unlock is the last write. This ensures that no more lock operations performed by Apple updates will even be heard by the GSM radio. Also keep in mind that the FAQ on iphonesimfree.com states that it WILL NOT warranty it's solution against future updates from Apple that may break it.
In order for Apple to release an iPhone that they can re-lock, they'd have to change out the internal GSM radio module with one that can be written to unlimited times. Problem there is that if Apple can write to it, hackers can intercept that communication, and then you're in a cat-and-mouse with updates breaking unlocks and vice versa.
The final solution, I believe, will most likely come with a possible world-wide launch of a 3G handset. This corresponds with the recent price drop on the EDGE iPhones - an attempt to liquidate stock. The solution comes in the fact that T-Mobile and AT&T 3G networks in the US, while still technically able to be called 3G, won't be frequency-compatible. Will this frequency be hard-coded into the module, or will it be a software-set variable, and possibly unlocked for different carrier use? Time will tell. - jonnyeh, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2What about activating the iphone? I heard that you need to activate the phone first with ATT before unlocking it.
- toast4321, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2another question, assuming that:
1) you live in the US
2) you're not under contract
3) at&t & t-mobile has about the same coverage in your area
4) you'd like an iphone
Are there any benefits to this or any future unlocking hacks? Besides for the initial cost of the phone, pricing packages and data plans seem roughly about the same. I'm just curious if there are any compelling reasons to stick with t-mobile. - o2o2o2o2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Wonder what the legal implications would be if Apple re-locked the phone after you unlocked it. Legally you are allowed to unlock your phone, but.................
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Wow. And I want a SE w810i over an iPhone but I don't have either of those. Life sucks.
- Wang, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Big question to those who are spending $100 on this at the "US retailers" for iphonesimfree......WHY??? you can get it cheaper at the Australian / other country retailers! LOL.
- venom8599, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Because locked phones are usually heavily subsidized by the carrier you sign up for. That doesn't apply to the iPhone though, but they don't sell those unlocked at all.
- kolywater, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1"The only thing you won't get is the visual voice mail confirmation is as being reported"
it's late, sorry if i'm being dense... but does that mean visual voicemail WILL function but one won't get confirmations of voicemail? - craterburnsu, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1So what is to stop people from distributing the software to friend etc?
- bakingoven, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Someone should crack unlocking program for unlimited usage
- tomgibbons, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You have to provide the IMEI number of the phone and only that phone can be unlocked with the software that you're given.
- sanarchy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3No huge surprise here, but I'm stoked to see it happen none-the-less :)
- tomgibbons, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You unlock it via iTunes. I believe that's also what iAsign does.
- zeromancer, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1or maybe they are assuming you already have an iPhone... ?
- Texas04, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Duplicate.. Buried
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Dont they sell non locked phones in america? Why dont you guys just gp and get those rather then put up with this kind of *****?
- mntbikeracer1, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Same boat I am in basically, I have a SonyEricsson w810i. I would like to get an iphone, but I am on a family plan and don't want to sign another 2-year contract. I am pretty sure this will work fine. I am a little worried about a future update breaking the sim hack though.
- mugglesdiedie, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0Screw the iPod/iPhone, there better stuff coming from Asia http://www.mp4nation.com/products/index.php?PID=mp4 and meizus are better
- Stea1th, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1It would be funny if At&t gave them a big, FU and just announced that the new firmware would allow to have the phone unlocked for free.
I'm sure that would be a much bigger slap in their face then anything. - TheMacThinker, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1Hey guys we (MostOfMyMac.com) now offer iPhoneSimFree software licences. We are the second and only retailer in the U.S. right now and we are running a promo at the lowest of $49 for the first 100 orders. Please visit http://iphoneunlocked.mostofmymac.com to get your now. Only a few left...
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