iPhone 3 GS unlocking & jailbreaking

**ua549** · 06-22-2009, 12:38 PM

Does anyone own one of these handsets?

They are delivered in the USA with MMS disabled.
MMS can be enabled if the handset is unlocked.
Has anyone done this?
If so, what program did you use?
Is this product any good?

**ImaNihilist** · 06-22-2009, 12:59 PM

There are a number of free utilities that can fully unlock the phone. I believe one is called QuickPwn. I've never used it.

However... it appears that what's actually going on with the new iPhone 3.0 software is that all the settings are stored in a special "carrier file." This file can apparently be updated by running iTunes in some kind of carrier testing mode, and then editing the plist file in the carrier file to enable things like mms and tethering.

I started looking into this last night. There are a lot of articles like this: http://www.blogsdna.com/3610/how-to-...uild-7a341.htm
The key is in the ippc file. It's basically a bundle that has a few assets, some language information, and a plist or two. They are all fully editable. I'll take some screenshots when I get home, but it appears that adding things like MMS and tethering as as easy as editing the files and adding an extra line.

I really want to get a new 3GS, but I'm simply not going to get one and pay for a crippled piece of **** that can't do MMS or tethering for no other reason that AT&T hasn't figured out how much extra they are going to charge people. There are rumors that it will be an extra $15/mo for MMS and an extra $55/mo for tethering. Just what I always wanted, a $110/mo data plan. And it's not impossible. AT&T has charged extra for MMS in the past.

**ua549** · 06-22-2009, 03:10 PM

I wasn't planning on using AT&T even though I've been their customer continuously from when they were called McCaw Cellular in the '80's.
The handset will be used for travel, mostly in Central/South America and Europe with a Vodafone SIM.

FWIW QwikPwn doesn't work on the 3GS yet. That's why I was asking about the iPhone Unlocking product.

You can tether by turning on that option in the iPhone. Make sure it is allowed by your data plan.
You can turn on the MMS option, but the network must support it. If you can lock onto a tower, you may be able to roam on the T-Mobile network for MMS. My old Motorola V635 can lock onto a tower using the engineering menu, but I don't know about the iPhone.

**ImaNihilist** · 06-22-2009, 04:21 PM

The thing is, AT&T does support MMS. They have just chosen to *hide* it via the carrier file until they find a way to charge for it. Same with tethering, although the contract not so much.

As far as Jailbreak and unlock go... I would wait until the Dev Team comes out with tool. I've never trusted any of the paid stuff. A lot of them are just outright scams.

**MrDigital** · 06-22-2009, 04:57 PM

I don't think there is any 3GS jailbreak yet.

FWIW redsn0w is my favorite tool for jailbreaking.

**ua549** · 06-22-2009, 05:43 PM

I won't buy one until I'm sure I can swap sims for each country I visit.

**ImaNihilist** · 06-22-2009, 06:13 PM

Wait for the official Dev Team jailbreak then. Otherwise you might get stuck with a half-broken phone you can't return.

**kpxgq** · 06-23-2009, 03:38 AM

3gs has not been jailbroken or unlocked yet

i expect a jailbreak within this week... an unlock will probably take longer since its new hardware ( i would say a month or more)

you can buy a factory unlocked iphone (sold overseas) for $1k

**ua549** · 06-23-2009, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by kpxgq

you can buy a factory unlocked iphone (sold overseas) for $1k

I did that with my old Motorola. I couldn't get service or firmware updates, except when in Europe. Motorola refused support in the USA. I won't do that again.

**kpxgq** · 06-23-2009, 06:37 PM

jailbreak and unlock for 3.0 on the older 2g and 3g hardware was just released today. i would expect the gs hardware to be jailbroken by the end of this week. an unlock, not so sure

**mofoliar** · 06-25-2009, 07:04 PM

i just unlocked my 2g for 3.0 OS and it worked well! i like redsn0w better than pwnage tool!!! i just ordered a 3g s and gonna switch from tmobile to att and see how there 3g works and hopefully get a little better reception than tmobile.. i will miss there cheaper voice and data plans.. So i hope thery come out with it soon for the gs phone... i will miss my "girls next door" them and cyldia.

**James** · 06-26-2009, 06:41 AM

I will say this: the iPhone has some terrible reception. It's a great piece of tech, but they need to spend more time on the actual phone antenna.

**mofoliar** · 06-26-2009, 03:15 PM

you are referrring to the new 3g s or other generations? i have a 2g which i will agree has terrible reception drop more calls than other unlocked phones i have used on tmobile... well i have that 30day window to play with things... back the shack it will go if does not go well... thanks for the info!!

**DJBeanPole17** · 06-28-2009, 10:21 PM

What is the benefit to all of this jailbreaking and tethering and unlocking and redsn0wballingz0rsing?

**ImaNihilist** · 06-28-2009, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by DJBeanPole17

What is the benefit to all of this jailbreaking and tethering and unlocking and redsn0wballingz0rsing?

Not being tied to AT&T, being able to use the phone overseas, being able to use features like MMS or tethering which AT&T doesn't support yet because they haven't figured out pricing.

Thread: iPhone 3 GS unlocking & jailbreaking

Thread Tools

Display

iPhone 3 GS unlocking & jailbreaking

Posting Permissions