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Software-only unlock for the current iPhone firmware announced

As many have you have emailed to tell us (thanks everyone), hacker teen wonder George Hotz a.k.a. GeoHot, of the hardware iPhone unlock heard 'round the world, has apparently made something unexpected: a software-only unlocking procedure for the iPhone's 1.1.2 and 1.1.3 firmware versions. With George's tools in hand (freely downloadable from his website), iPhone owners in non-supported countries should now be able to work their way up to the current release, wiggly icons and all.

It's worth noting, as Endgadget has already mentioned, that you unlock your phone entirely at your own risk; never mind the fact that a future update may brick you (although we hope not!). If the procedure seems daunting -- it involves downgrading to the 1.02 firmware to start -- blogger Pinky's Brain is working on a walkthrough that should simplify things (link via Apple 2.0). The ModMyiPhone boards also indicate that a version of the unlock, runnable on a 1.1.1 jailbroken phone, is packaged and in the repository there.

Is it worth diving into a new unlock tug-of-war with the official SDK (and, presumably, more exploits closed off with updates) in the near future? Guess that depends on how much you like having your iPhone working in the remote corners of the globe.

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iPhone Jailbreak/pwnage

As many have you have emailed to tell us (thanks everyone), hacker teen wonder George Hotz a.k.a. GeoHot, of the hardware iPhone unlock...
 

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brando_commando

it's called "ZiPhone" and its a 1 line command utility that can be run directly from 1.1.3

simply "ziphone -j -a -u"
and u have a jailbroken, unlocked iphone in about 3 minutes

February 11 2008 at 11:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mohit

hi,

I am not good in programming and I dont understand most of the terms ppl use (like firmware, jailbrake or bootloader).

I saw iphone yesterday and I liked it. I am not a US resident and will be moving back soon, so I cant have the 2 years contract that the AT&T ppl told me to purchase for iphone.

Would you please help me in knowing, how I can have a iphone and make it work without the at&t plan and will it work when I go back to my place.

Thanks in advance
Mohit

February 11 2008 at 5:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rene van den Abeelen

I have an unlocked iPhone in the Netherlands under 1.0.2.
Is this worth trying for me?

February 11 2008 at 12:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mark

If you need a guide for a 1.1.3 firmware 4.6 bootloader phone (the kind every AT&T and Apple store has just sitting on the shelf right now) then here is my OS X guide. I will make a Windows guide shortly.

http://www.hackthatphone.com/113/iphone_unlock_46bl_113.html

February 11 2008 at 12:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cadiddle

this worked perfectly for my two 1.1.2 OTB phones but there's an easier guide at http://iphone.unlock.no/OTB112unlock.htm

good luck. A little patience'll get you through

February 11 2008 at 11:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rob

I hate it when folks keep using the term "illegal" or "illegally" improperly. In most countries (and I believe this includes the US), it is not illegal to jailbreak or unlock an iPhone and use the phone in that state.

(In the US, I believe there has been some recent cases where the court has said that it is PERFECTLY legal to unlock a phone).

You may be breaching or violating the Apple License Agreement. BUT breaching or violating a License Agreement (or any other type of contract) is NOT illegal in most countries. Businesses do it all the time and no one accuses the business of doing something "illegal". (e.g. Failing to perform a service by the time specified in the contract is an example of a breach).

People make deals or contracts all the time (e.g. Making a verbal deal with your wife to take out the trash if you wife will wash the dishes). Violating this "verbal contract" is NOT illegal but there may be consequences!

This is the same in the business world. The person or business who breached or violated a contract might be liable to pay damages under the contract (assuming that damages could be proved). Many good contracts (including license agreements) spell out what will happen in case of a breach or violation (e.g. pay so many dollars or euros in case of a breach).

So if Apple found out that you have violated the iPhone License Agreement by unlocking your phone, they may go after you for damages (including the lost $$ that Apple would have received from AT&T). If your jailbreak your phone (but don't unlock it), I am sure the damages would be a lot lower (if there are any damages at all!)

Phone manufacturers may lobby your Government to enact a law to make it illegal to unlock (or even jailbreak) phones. But I don't know of any countries that have done that yet.

February 11 2008 at 9:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tryagain277

The iPhone is the new PSP....

February 11 2008 at 12:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
r s d

I wonder why Erica, who is alway in the forefront of the iphone community had not reported this, and took several days for TUAW to comment on the developing story. With all of the soap opera drama going on in the hacker iphone team ie dev team vs elite team. I am curious where she stands and what her thoughts are?

February 10 2008 at 10:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jomi294

Mr. Rose, iClarified.com also has a package based on the George Hotz method. It unlocks your phone from your jailbroken 1.1.2 or even 1.1.3. I've personally tried it on my 1.1.3 (1.1.2 OTB) and it worked perfectly. You just have to add http://installer.iClarified.com to your sources in the Installer.app and use the package provided in the install tab.

February 10 2008 at 8:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dagamer34

Just to clear things up because I think people misunderstand, Apple has NEVER purposely bricked a phone because of an update. NEVER. Now, don't blame Apple because they don't test the multitude of ways to jailbreak and unlock a phone that could lead to an unworking iPhone, but it has never been done on purpose. You could imagine the REAL lawsuits that would come if people were able to prove that Apple disabled hardware they payed for.

Besides, the only time that an iPhone was left in a wonky state was upgrading from an unlocked 1.0.2 phone with the original buggy anySim 1.0 to firmware 1.1.1. Any other time you upgrade, the unlock is wiped and you can "legally" use your phone buy having a plane with AT&T/O2UK/T-Mobile (Germany).

February 10 2008 at 7:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to dagamer34's comment
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