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First full-software iPhone unlock finally available
Engadget is reporting that a full iPhone software-only unlock is now available, courtesy of the iPhoneSIMFree.com team, allowing owners to use their preferred network.
We can confirm with 100% certainty that iPhoneSIMfree.com's software solution completely SIM unlocks the iPhone, is restore-resistant, and should make the iPhone fully functional for users outside of the US.
Engadget tested the hack with an active T-Mobile SIM and was able to confirm that everything worked except for Visual voicemail and YouTube, although the latter can be manually activated following this guide. The unlock method seems to be restore and upgrade resistant, too. Engadget factory-restored their iPhone with the 1.0.2 firmware and the unlock stuck around. You can see the complete notes on the install here.
We can confirm with 100% certainty that iPhoneSIMfree.com's software solution completely SIM unlocks the iPhone, is restore-resistant, and should make the iPhone fully functional for users outside of the US.
Engadget tested the hack with an active T-Mobile SIM and was able to confirm that everything worked except for Visual voicemail and YouTube, although the latter can be manually activated following this guide. The unlock method seems to be restore and upgrade resistant, too. Engadget factory-restored their iPhone with the 1.0.2 firmware and the unlock stuck around. You can see the complete notes on the install here.
User Comments (8)
Post a comment| kitty500cat on August 24, 2007 1:35 PM | Are there any terms or conditions you have to accept before using the iPhone?
If so, does this go against those terms? Is it legal?
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| Fornacis on August 24, 2007 3:41 PM | uhhhh.....I'm pretty sure this is illegal. The article used the works "hacking" and "unlocking"..
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| kitty500cat on August 24, 2007 7:41 PM | Good point, although in this context hacking might not be considered illegal. Product hacking, for instance, refers to unauthorized yet often legal modifications of products.
I just searched for "hacking iphone illegal" and came across this Engadget article. > http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/know-your-rights-is-it-illegal-to-unlock-my-iphone/ An interesting read.
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| jackjack on August 25, 2007 11:10 AM | How can you say this unlock is available. I can't get the unlock yet so it isn't available.
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| Erris on August 25, 2007 3:06 PM | Does "software-only" unlock mean you can unlock all the programs, but cannot use the phone for talking?
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| PanicX on August 26, 2007 6:51 AM | It means that you dont need to physically modify the phone to perform this hack. It's done strictly in the confines of the phones programming.
Also, hacking/modifying your purchased equipment isn't illegal. However what you use the hacked equipment for may be, IE circumventing copyright protection, eaves dropping, etc.
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| Fornacis on August 27, 2007 8:57 AM | You don't think Apple and AT&T aren't going to try and go after the kid all over the news with unlocking his phone? lol We'll see. Its all about the $$$$$
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| PanicX on August 28, 2007 2:26 AM | You're confusing criminal acts with civil complaints. A criminal act is a direct violation of law that can result in jail time or other forms of punishment. In the US, modifying your cell phone is not illegal. Unless your modification directly violates existing law, such as to intercept other peoples calls.
However, if ATT and/or Apple can prove in civil court that he has caused them monetary damages, they can sue to recoup said damages. Which in all likelihood would be a waste as he could then file bankruptcy and avoid payment. Because of this, corporations have lobbied to get laws passed such as the DMCA to try and criminalize a lot of previously legal activities, so that they could "set a precedent" or "make an example of" people that can circumvent their profit machines. But I can't see a DMCA violation being a viable option in this case.
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