[Advice] Will the 3G iPhone be unlockable with current methods ? Educated guesses?

[olisones]

Having been an avid follower of the iPhone dev scene since buying a unit last year, I'm intrigued as to what people who are involved in the dev scene think about the new 'soon to be annouced' iPhone.

I know it's probably a stab in the dark to think the phone will be jail-breakable/unlockable OTB, but it would be interesting to see what everyone thinks will happen when June comes around.

Any thoughts?

Oli

[goudok]

well i think the phone itself will be made very similar in terms of software and the way it works..however i think the bootloader will be very much different...everything is hackable just how long is it going to take..and weather the dev team will be still interested in trying to hack the new phone...

[secretmrx]

they will fix the AppleImage2NorAccess bug which allows you to pwn the phone and neuter the bootloader, so bootneuter won't work. And they will make the baseband bootloader 5.2 or something. They will have had infenon working hard on a new BL ever since geo discovered the testpoint 1.1.2OTB bootloader downgrader last year. This one will take a while to crack lol :)

[Locked]

It will be jailbreakable for sure. Jailbreaking has nothing to do with the radio/baseband anyway. Problem will be unlocking but I am 100% positive Apple will start selling it unlocked in new countries.

[theplague]

It will be jailbreakable for sure. Jailbreaking has nothing to do with the radio/baseband anyway. Problem will be unlocking but I am 100% positive Apple will start selling it unlocked in new countries.

Which should help unlocking the ones sold locked, shouldn't it?

[adyh]

I doubt they will bother locking the new one

[jav6454]

I doubt they will bother locking the new one

I somehow agree with this.

I mean, why would Apple go through the hassle of locking the device if people like GeoHot or the omnipotent Dev Team can undo the unlocks fast. However, there is also evidence which makes me believe it will be sold locked, like the fact that AT&T is willing to subsidize the iPhone by $200. Here (http://www.macrumors.com) is the rumor I am talking about, but its just that a rumor, nothing serious.

In conclusion, yes I believe Apple will have fixed current bugs in the software, but I'm pretty sure plenty of bugs are still present to allow unlocking if Apple sells it locked and if the Dev Team wants to battle Apple.

[jashsayani]

Definitely !

It will be using the same OS/Firmwares !!

[RVN84]

I somehow agree with this.

I mean, why would Apple go through the hassle of locking the device if people like GeoHot or the omnipotent Dev Team can undo the unlocks fast. However, there is also evidence which makes me believe it will be sold locked, like the fact that AT&T is willing to subsidize the iPhone by $200. Here (http://www.macrumors.com) is the rumor I am talking about, but its just that a rumor, nothing serious.

In conclusion, yes I believe Apple will have fixed current bugs in the software, but I'm pretty sure plenty of bugs are still present to allow unlocking if Apple sells it locked and if the Dev Team wants to battle Apple.

I dont share your optimism... "locking" the device is common practice for all mfgrs... it isn't a hassle as you indicate... I'm sure they'll lock it up again, and I'm sure smart people will eventually find ways around their locking mechanisms...

[xMemphisx]

I definitely think they'll keep it locked out to specific carriers.

I also think it will be unlocked (by GeoHot or the DevTeam)... but not right away. Apple always leaves holes in their software (then again... who doesn't...), but I don't think it'll take nearly the same amount of time that the first gen versions took to unlock since the overall structure should be relatively the same. The process is always the same... Jailbreak -> Activate -> Unlock

2.0b has been unlocked, and apple has been plugging those holes, but again, the DevTeam and GeoHot seem to find a new work around every time.

And now, since the Location type applications aren't going to be specifically tied to baseband (sighting that they might integrate a GPS chip), then it may be possible at some point to just erase the baseband and load an older version that can be unlocked. Or... atleast i hope so. :)

[jav6454]

I dont share your optimism... "locking" the device is common practice for all mfgrs... it isn't a hassle as you indicate... I'm sure they'll lock it up again, and I'm sure smart people will eventually find ways around their locking mechanisms...

Its not optimism, I said I somewhat agreed, which means I also think it will be locked [thats why I pointed out the rumor about AT&T subsidizing it], but at the same time have some hope of it being unlocked.

[lovemygti]

i believe....this is a useless thread wasting bandwith

[thecompkid]

There is absolutely no basis for evaluation concerning 3G iPhone hacking. I mean, c'mon guys, it hasn't even been announced yet. :rolleyes:

BTW, don't forget about that pesky exclusivity contract that Apple has with AT&T in the US, which covers future models for over 4 more years :eek:. Bottom line: even your children's children won't live to see an iPhone sold unlocked, in the united states anyway. ;)

[secretmrx]

There is absolutely no basis for evaluation concerning 3G iPhone hacking. I mean, c'mon guys, it hasn't even been announced yet. :rolleyes:

BTW, don't forget about that pesky exclusivity contract that Apple has with AT&T in the US, which covers future models for over 4 more years :eek:. Bottom line: even your children's children won't live to see an iPhone sold unlocked, in the united states anyway. ;)

hmm...

Hope they are sold unlocked in New Zealand anyway :D

[)law(]

yea but you guys on the other side always get the good stuff lol dont be greedy:D j/p big ups to you guys

[hachu]

i believe....this is a useless thread wasting bandwith

I agree with lovemygti. This whole discussion is pointless and many people are speculating completely wrong.

You guys can hope all you want but:
1) It'll be locked because of contract with ATT and all the other exclusive providers. Besides, locking is easy since it's a feature of the cell radio. Regardless of whether you like it or not, Infineon makes this easy out of the box. Apple just has to toggle a few flags.
2) It will have a different baseband bootloader and firmware because it's a different radio chip to support 3G. So old techniques might not work because it's just different. (kinda like how Win95 exploits probably don't work on Vista)
3) It might not to be too difficult to jailbreak, but nobody knows for sure unless they work in the iPhone group.

[HomeGrown]

Apple them selves have said that they are not married to one business model, and also according to numerous providers around the world the new iPhone will not be locked it will just go for a higher price and they will only have contracts with subscribers to sell it first for a couple of months as the official retailer then everyone else will be able to sell it... it would be stupid to lock it, especially if they plan on selling it all over the world cuz they will have to lock it for different subscribers in different countries which means it will take longer to start selling in different parts of the world, which also means fewer sales, Apple has realized this after locking the 1st iPhone and will probably not make the same mistake again...


HomeGrown

[Digitalchaos]

Most probably it will not be locked. Apple had targeted to sell more iphones that it actually sold. and that is partly due to the fact that the iphone was locked and they couldnt ship it to many countries that doesnt allow locking (E.g Germany) eventually they sold it for a whopping 1000 Euros !! which was quite rediculous to most buyers, and so fewer sales. They also missed out many countries and regions due to this (The entire middle east and parts of asia) alot of iphones could have been sold there!!. So along with the fact that the U.S Economy is not exactly at its best point right now and with more people saving than spending the last thing they would want to do is lock it again. Infact I think this time they are going to opt for a worldwide release way faster than the 1st iphone.

Again all that was just my personal speculations. But I hope its true :) and that they dont lock it.

[odysseus]

The rumors (http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/06/06/alleged-iphone-3g-hands-on-from-a-vodafone-employee/) don't look good! :mad:

[romenator]

I also feel that the iphone 2 will be sold unlocked, but i reckon they will make you sign the contract before leaving the store. So, you will still have to pay the monthly line rental. This is where apple made a mistake with the first iphone, should they have done this, then everyone who desperately wanted the iphone would have switched their operators.

[odysseus]

I also feel that the iphone 2 will be sold unlocked, but i reckon they will make you sign the contract before leaving the store. So, you will still have to pay the monthly line rental. This is where apple made a mistake with the first iphone, should they have done this, then everyone who desperately wanted the iphone would have switched their operators.

The contract signed with AT&T for the US is for five years. So unless it was renegotiated, iPhone 2 will probably not be sold unlocked. But yes, it certainly would discourage hacking if you had to purchase a plan or show evidence of being on an AT&T plan when purchasing it.

[jumphopspin]

I also feel that the iphone 2 will be sold unlocked, but i reckon they will make you sign the contract before leaving the store. So, you will still have to pay the monthly line rental. This is where apple made a mistake with the first iphone, should they have done this, then everyone who desperately wanted the iphone would have switched their operators.

hmm.. this thought just popped into my head, but i'm pretty sure a number of you might've had the same thought. first of all, i live in the u.s. so the exclusive provider is at&t, but i'm stuck on a fresh contract with t-mobile. if the rumors are true that at&t is going to subsidize your iphone $200 but also force you to sign a contract before you leave the store, you can now use the same $200 to pay off their contract cancellation fees so in the end you paid $400 total, which is the retail price that most of us were expecting to pay before this rumor anyway, right? my point is that you can still use the phone on another network (here it's t-mobile) without being tied to at&t. it's just that i won't be able to use 3g, which is basically useless to me because i can just get the $20 wifi hot spots for internet anyway. the same goes for international users, except you CAN use 3g.. i've heard that several telcos like o2 was subsidizing the price as well so you can basically use the money you saved to cancel their forced contract.

or..

should i just use the extra $200 and use that to cancel my t-mobile contract? i mean, at&t isn't exactly the best service provider and i don't want to be tied to them.

[romenator]

I hope they don't make us sign contract in shop. I live in UK. When O2 announced iphone in Ireland, they made customers sign a contract in store before leaving with an iPhone. I think O2 and apple will learn from this mistake this time.

There was also a rumour on iclarified.com. It said, that O2 will offer the iphone for free on a £75/month contract (hell of a lot of money), and £100 on any other contract, but they will offer £269 for pay as you go. I surely hope the pay as you go deal is true.

[jumphopspin]

I hope they don't make us sign contract in shop. I live in UK. When O2 announced iphone in Ireland, they made customers sign a contract in store before leaving with an iPhone. I think O2 and apple will learn from this mistake this time.

There was also a rumour on iclarified.com. It said, that O2 will offer the iphone for free on a £75/month contract (hell of a lot of money), and £100 on any other contract, but they will offer £269 for pay as you go. I surely hope the pay as you go deal is true.

lol pay as you go = unlocking madness.

[romenator]

lol pay as you go = unlocking madness.
Yep i agree. What would be even more sweet is if we can buy the iphone for £100, and then unlock it. So saving the £169 from buying it pay as you go.

[bobbylight]

I also feel that the iphone 2 will be sold unlocked, but i reckon they will make you sign the contract before leaving the store. So, you will still have to pay the monthly line rental. This is where apple made a mistake with the first iphone, should they have done this, then everyone who desperately wanted the iphone would have switched their operators.

I dont think this is legal in the U.S. I saw someone in another thread that posted the link to an act or bill passed by congress which stated that a product cannot be sold requiring this type of agreement.

[romenator]

Really?? This is how it is operated in the UK. All the phones we buy (except pay as you go), we have to sign a contract before you can take the phone home/ or before it is delivered to you. The first time where were allowed to take the phone home before signing a contract was with the iphone.

I don't know about USA, but in UK majority of phones are given free with a contract, and the quality of the phone depends on the contract (£35/month gets you majority of phones for free, except the super special ones).

I hate 18month contracts, they are way too long to stick with one network provider, which is one of the reason i didn't sign upto O2

[jumphopspin]

I dont think this is legal in the U.S. I saw someone in another thread that posted the link to an act or bill passed by congress which stated that a product cannot be sold requiring this type of agreement.

not to gloat, but see! i knew there some was kinda law that prohibited apple/at&t or any telco from selling a phone with a forced contract. check back a few posts from earlier.

[jumphopspin]

Really?? This is how it is operated in the UK. All the phones we buy (except pay as you go), we have to sign a contract before you can take the phone home/ or before it is delivered to you. The first time where were allowed to take the phone home before signing a contract was with the iphone.

I don't know about USA, but in UK majority of phones are given free with a contract, and the quality of the phone depends on the contract (£35/month gets you majority of phones for free, except the super special ones).

I hate 18month contracts, they are way too long to stick with one network provider, which is one of the reason i didn't sign upto O2

here in the U.S. you can purchase a phone just by itself. if you do that, though, you have to pay full retail price.

[ChronicProductions]

I can 100% without a doubt confirm that all current released methods are done. That being said, there are more methods that have not been patched.