Iphone minus AT&T

Dorkenstein

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2004
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Is it possible to buy the new 3g Iphone without an AT&T contract? I just want to use skype on it and not have to shell out 70 bucks a month for a plan I don't need. Any ideas? Thanks.
 

Wonderful Pork

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2005
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why not get a touch? You could use Skype on that as well, and no worried about a contract for cellular service.

that said, I don't think its possible to purchase a 3G iPhone from Apple or AT&T without a contract. You may be able to purchase one from a 3rd party but I'd imagine it'll cost $400+
 

Dorkenstein

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2004
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Ahh, ok. I was just looking for an Iphone for the cool apps. I think I just realized, however that you can't have skype AND the official apps, unless I am very much mistaken.
 

Wonderful Pork

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: Dorkenstein
Ahh, ok. I was just looking for an Iphone for the cool apps. I think I just realized, however that you can't have skype AND the official apps, unless I am very much mistaken.

the iphone and the ipod touch both run very similar firmware versions and can run 95% of the same apps.

If the skype app (which I am not familiar with) requires a jailbroken device, I beleive it is still possible to run official apps on it as well.

EDIT: I just realized you wanted the iPhone for the built in Microphone (for skype duh!). The new Touch has mic support, so you can buy the standard iPhone headphones for $30 (with button and mic) or the new in-ear versions for $80 (with volume control as well).
 

pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
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The biggest Skype app doesn't require a jailbroken device. It's called Fring, and it's free. Just search for Fring on the iTunes app store. It will work with the newiPod Touch (version 2) with headphones as Wonderful Pork mentioned.

I used it throughout Europe and it's fine for outgoing calls. There's a bit of a noticeable delay, but it works fairly well. For incoming calls, it's not so useful because as soon as the phone goes into sleep mode, it is disabled. Or if you just go to check your email (it doesn't run in the background).



 

Michael

Elite member
Nov 19, 1999
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If you want an unlocked iphone that can work with any carrier, then the only place that sells them is Hong Kong. So either find a service that can get you one there or a friend going there.

As for the $70 plan, if you plan on using it as a phone other than Skype, you'll need a plan anyways and if you live in a 3G service area, the speed is actually decent. If you just want Skype and to use free wifi, then consider a netbook. The eee PC and similar are much cheaper than an iphone and are small enough to bring along in a bag.

Michael
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
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Originally posted by: Michael
If you want an unlocked iphone that can work with any carrier, then the only place that sells them is Hong Kong. So either find a service that can get you one there or a friend going there.

As for the $70 plan, if you plan on using it as a phone other than Skype, you'll need a plan anyways and if you live in a 3G service area, the speed is actually decent. If you just want Skype and to use free wifi, then consider a netbook. The eee PC and similar are much cheaper than an iphone and are small enough to bring along in a bag.

Michael

Very wrong.

Here's an example:

http://www.puremobile.com/Apple/Cell-Phones/

You get price-raped without a contract though.
 

pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
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iPhone 3Gs will be software unlockable starting New Year's Eve.
Unless there's been a big breakthrough on the hacking scene, this is only true as long as you didn't upgrade to the latest baseband firmware.
 

Cobalt

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2000
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Originally posted by: pm
iPhone 3Gs will be software unlockable starting New Year's Eve.
Unless there's been a big breakthrough on the hacking scene, this is only true as long as you didn't upgrade to the latest baseband firmware.

And unless you find someone selling one second hand they didn't upgrade, good f*ckin luck. All new inbox iphones are pre-upgraded.
 

pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
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And unless you find someone selling one second hand they didn't upgrade, good f*ckin luck. All new inbox iphones are pre-upgraded.
True. I found this out with the 1st generation iPhone - Apple would swap to the new firmware version being sold in store within a week. It was actually pretty impressive... even if it turned out to be really annoying for me.
 

shocksyde

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2001
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Originally posted by: pm
iPhone 3Gs will be software unlockable starting New Year's Eve.
Unless there's been a big breakthrough on the hacking scene, this is only true as long as you didn't upgrade to the latest baseband firmware.

2.2 firmware unlock for the 3G iPhone will be available new year's eve.
 

pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
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Originally posted by: shocksyde
2.2 firmware unlock for the 3G iPhone will be available new year's eve.

Yes, 2.2 firmware, but 2.11.07 baseband (or earlier). This is not the latest baseband. So if you plugged in your 3G iPhone and updated it to the latest firmware, this unlock will not work. You had to avoid upgrading the firmware, and then upgrade by separating the baseband from the rest of the firmware and then repackaging it with an older firmware. PwnTool will let you do this of course, but it's a fairly advanced thing to do and I think most people (nearly everyone) is running the iPhone with the latest firmware and latest baseband.

There's two microprocessors in an iPhone - the main CPU which drives the GUI and the OS (made by Samsung), and then a baseband CPU (made by Infineon) which drives the WiFi, 3G and other cell phone and radio communications. When a firmware is released by Apple, it can update either the main CPU OS, or the baseband or both. And the lastest firmware updates both - and this is bad because you can't downgrade basebands on the 3G iPhones (you can on the original iPhone) and there's no hack for the latest baseband.

http://blog.iphone-dev.org/

3G Unlock

We have been working hard on a few other things. The main one being the 3G unlock codenamed ?yellowsn0w?. This is now completed and is currently being packaged into a user-friendly application with the simplicity that you see in QuickPwn or BootNeuter.

* The target release date for the unlock is New Year?s Eve 2008.
* This unlock method is available to iPhone 3Gs that have 2.11.07 baseband or earlier, we did warn you.
* You can tell what version baseband you have by going to Settings->General->About->Modem Firmware
* The unlock requires a jailbroken 3G iPhone. It?ll be installable via Cydia and so it doesn?t matter if you have a Mac or PC.
* Please refrain from updating your baseband, regardless of what version you?re at. We?ll have complete directions on New Year?s Eve.
* We?ll stream a live demo of the unlock before Christmas (see the update at the end of this post)

Note the bit about the baseband in the second bullet.