Update 8/21: The iphone has been fully unlocked, but there is still some work to do before it becomes practical
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I just checked the iPhone dev wiki and saw this announcement:
We need help unlocking the radio. We can issue AT commands. Can you help? Join us on IRC!
This is pretty major. They’ve had to get through many layers of defenses to get to this point. It now remains to be seen what the defenses are like in the inner sanctum.
It already looks like it won’t be easy:
“We know how to unlock the phone. Unfortunately the commands needed gave “Permission Denied” errors. We did find a reference to a hardware register that causes “Permission Denied” error in the bootloader, but we cannot software patch the bootloader because it is signed. The only way I see around it is JTAG, which we currently know nothing about. Or possibly in DFU mode. I think we may just be better off accessing the radio through user mode.”
If they succeed, it will be possible to use the core phone features (ie not visual voicemail) with T- Mobile in the US, and other GSM carriers around the world. It remains to be seen whether you will be able to use it with other EDGE networks, and how quickly Apple plugs the holes.
If you think you can help, check this out:
<geohot[sleep]> first person to send me an ida db fully disasm of http://www.gofilego.com/?fileid=a812bf8b92dab591c29689aeba369e839acf5079 gets windows jailbreak w itunes working.
Join them on #iphone-dev on fusion.osx86.hu. Just don’t ask stupid questions, that’s what #iphone is for :).
Update 8/21: The iphone has been fully unlocked, but there is still some work to do before it becomes practical
This is very good news. Can’t wait to see how this unfolds. I’m not sure T-Mobile USA is a great alternative, but this is good for folks overseas!
Looks like it is going to take some time still, iPhone 2 will be released before they crack it! haha
Guys, what do you think about the 2 months lockout by AT&T if the phone is taken out of the AT&T network? Will this potential unlock method resolve this issue
As I have moved away from Canada for 9 years and I am not familiar with locked phones and the carrier’s procedures with them. Is this 2 months lockout that I hear true? Does this only apply to iPhones that are activated in AT&T’s network?
I am currently located in Hong Kong and will be in the United States in September. I hope the unlock procedures will be finalized and tested by then.
I would love to be able to bring back a new iPhone that had been applied with the unlock procedure.
iPhone (European Version) was given a release date of EOY’07 - Qtr 2 of 2008
“core phone features (ie not visual voicemail) ”
I just noticed that you can review and replay visual voicemail messages when the iPhone is in airplane mode , ie with the radio off.
Makes me wonder if maybe the iphone just has the equivalent of an answering machine on it , and visual voicemail is not carrier dependent.
Guys, I hear that AT&T will lockout the iPhone if it is taken out of the AT&T network after 2 months? Is this true?
I had not been in North America for some time (9 years) and are unfamiliar with locked phones and the carrier’s procedures for them.
If this lockout is true does it only apply to iPhones that had been activated in the AT&T network?
Will the potential unlock procedure be able to prevent this 2 months lockout by AT&T?
Sorry for the dumb questions if these are.
I will be in New York this September and hope to be able to bring back (to Hong Kong) an iPhone with the unlock procedure applied.
Please keep up the good work.