Filed under: iPhone, Jailbreak/pwnage
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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
itchytooth said 11:34PM on 2-10-2008
Is there now an 1.1.3 jailbreak which doesn't result in any baseband weirdness? Last I checked, it "worked", but did so by using an older baseband, which made some features not work.
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Keith said 7:33PM on 2-10-2008
If you have a legit AT&T account, you can DFU upgrade to 1.1.3, then go back to 1.1.1 - 1.1.2 - 1.1.3 (jailbreaking it at each step) and you'll wind up with a new basband jailbroken phone.
apx said 7:39PM on 2-10-2008
this worked for my 1.1.2 OTB (4.6BL) phone:
http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=649
it will keep your baseband at 4.2.13_G, so you can still do the devteam soft update to 1.1.3. you won't be able to use the google location feature though. however, the LocateMe app does work with 4.2.13 so you can still find your position in google maps with that.
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dagamer34 said 7:46PM on 2-10-2008
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).
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Michael Rose said 7:51PM on 2-10-2008
I didn't say that Apple had deliberately bricked phones, and I don't personally believe that's what happened.
I do believe that if you unlock your phone you do it completely and absolutely at your own risk.
Michael Rose said 7:54PM on 2-10-2008
Also, to clarify your comments, unlocking and jailbreaking are two completely different things, with different risk profiles. Jailbreaking is generally considered "safe" or at least recoverable. Unlocking is riskier.
dagamer34 said 8:04PM on 2-10-2008
The only real danger comes from turning off your phone in the middle of jailbreaking or unlocking. That CAN cause disastrous effects.
John said 8:44PM on 2-10-2008
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.
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r s d said 8:39AM on 2-11-2008
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?
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tryagain277 said 12:51AM on 2-13-2008
The iPhone is the new PSP....
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Rob said 9:40AM on 2-11-2008
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.
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cadiddle said 11:41AM on 2-11-2008
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
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mark said 12:11PM on 2-11-2008
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
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Rene van den Abeelen said 1:12PM on 2-11-2008
I have an unlocked iPhone in the Netherlands under 1.0.2.
Is this worth trying for me?
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Mohit said 5:23PM on 2-11-2008
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
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brando_commando said 11:19PM on 2-11-2008
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
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