Unlocking an iPhone 3G

scootermaster

Platinum Member
Nov 29, 2005
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I'm going to sell my iPhone 3G and a buyer would like it unlocked. Is this difficult? I've never done the jailbreak thing, much less the unlocking thing, so I don't stay up on these things. It's got iPhone OS 3.1.2 or something (whichever the latest, pre-4.0 OS was).

Thanks!

(Anyone wanna buy an iPhone 3G in good condition with all the original accessories/box? =] )
 

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
6,012
18
81
Thanks for the link!

Questions:

1). Is it possible something bad will happen because the phone no longer has service (i.e. the SIM is deactivated, or whatever)?

2). Can it be switched back easily?

1) I don't think so. I'm pretty sure the jailbreak / unlock can be done without a SIM inserted. After you're done you should try to find a buddy with T-Mobile so you can test their SIM to make sure it works.

2) Yes, but before you do make sure to run Cydia and save your SHSH's (Option at top says "Make my Life Easier".) What this does is let you restore back to 3.1.2 firmware. If you didn't do this, you would be forced to upgrade to 4.0.1 or whatever the latest release is. Google has more info concerning SHSH's and restoring.
 

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
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2) Yes, but before you do make sure to run Cydia and save your SHSH's (Option at top says "Make my Life Easier".) What this does is let you restore back to 3.1.2 firmware. If you didn't do this, you would be forced to upgrade to 4.0.1 or whatever the latest release is. Google has more info concerning SHSH's and restoring.
His phone is a 3G. The 3G doesn't used signed firmware - it's the 3GS that started that.

Anyhow to answer the more direct question, unlocking and jailbreaking are both easily reversible. For the unlock (Ultrasn0w) it's a program that loads with the OS; if it doesn't run the phone is no longer unlocked.
 

scootermaster

Platinum Member
Nov 29, 2005
2,411
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His phone is a 3G. The 3G doesn't used signed firmware - it's the 3GS that started that.

Anyhow to answer the more direct question, unlocking and jailbreaking are both easily reversible. For the unlock (Ultrasn0w) it's a program that loads with the OS; if it doesn't run the phone is no longer unlocked.

I sold it not-unlocked. [To a kid who will invariably sell it unlocked and make some more money]. But I'm happy with the $210 I got for it. =]

I completely wiped it -- to the point where it wouldn't even do anything and needed to be connected to an iTunes account -- and stupidly managed to leave my sim card in there. I'm pretty sure neither will come to bite me in the ass, but both make me nervous (somehow recovering the data from the phone and/or exploiting the sim card). I have a new iPhone4, so ATT told me repeatedly that sim card is worthless, especially since there aren't any contacts on it.
 

Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
1
71
newer 3G's have tethered bootrooms.

even some MB models.

make sure you get an untethered model. test it before you buy. same with 3GS.