Independence From AT&T -- Unlocking Your iPhone 2G

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Independence From AT&T -- Unlocking Your iPhone 2G

Posted 06/30/2009 at 9:29:00pm | by Roberto Baldwin

t-mobile

It's been two years since the original iPhone's launch. And if you've stuck with the OG iPhone, and you're sick of AT&T, it's time for some unlocking.

There are two ways to unlock an iPhone. The call AT&T and hope that they give you the device code to unlock the iPhone way. One of our writers actually scored the unlock code from an AT&T rep, so it's a viable option. There's also the jailbreak and unlock the iPhone way. That's what we are going to teach you today.

If you're worried about AT&T or Apple getting on your case about the unlock, don't be. You are within your rights to unlock your iPhone, especially now that you've fulfilled your service agreement with AT&T.

If you're interested in unlocking your 3G iPhone, take note. T-Mobile doesn't support 3G on the iPhone.

Besides allowing you to choose a carrier, an unlocked iPhone is a great backup phone. Throw a pre-paid SIM card in there and you have a powerful backup and international traveling phone.

DISCLAIMER: Mac|Life takes absolutely no responsibility if you brick your iPhone while unlocking, jailbreaking, or replacing the original SIM card. Unlocking your iPhone via Redsn0w, or similar applications, will possibly void your warranty and is not sanctioned by Apple. It's a hack, treat it as so.

Difficulty Level:
Medium

WHAT YOU NEED:
> Original iPhone 2G
> Redsn0W (free, http://blog.iphone-dev.org/)
> 3.9 and 4.6 baseband bootloader (free, iPhoneFreakz.com)

salty

1. Before you start unlocking your iPhone, update it to iPhone OS 3.0. Whats the point of an unlock if you can't send emails in landscape mode.

dev

2. Download redSn0w from the Dev-Team blog

Read the Dev-Team's posting carefully. When you are sure you're ready to go for it, be sure to use the official torrent. You never know what some jerk out there will release under the name of Redsn0w. Quit iTunes, unzip and launch Redsn0w.

ipsw

3. Redsn0w will ask you to find the .ipsw file on your Mac. iTunes seems to delete the .ipsw file after updating your iPhone. So you'll have to download one from Apple.

iTunes
Check Save File.

You can download the .ipsw for the 2G iPhone directly from Apple's servers here. If you are using Safari, be sure not to auto unzip the downloaded file. Make sure you're using the file named:

iPhone1,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw

This file is for the original iPhone only. If you're unlocking a 3G or 3GS, you'll need to download the appropriate files from Apple's servers. You can do a Google search for the URLs.

Once you select the .ipsw you downloaded, Redsn0w will determine that it's legit. Press next and the app will begin creating a custom .ipsw.

restore

4. You will be presented with options to Unlock and install Cydia and Icy. Since all we care about is unlocking, we unchecked Cydia and checked Unlock. If you're interested in the jailbreaking community and its app, you can leave Cydia checked. Click next.

COMMENTS: 11

TAGS: AT&T, unlocking, dev team

COMMENTS

AT&T
Submitted by TVanWinkle on Wed, 2009-07-01 18:42

Personally I have no problem with AT&T what I did have a problem with was Apple setting absurd limits on the phone which is why I jail broke it! Now I absolutely could not get by without it!

http://www.complete-privacy.tk

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ATT sucks but why Redsn0w
Submitted by GrendelKhan on Wed, 2009-07-01 18:47

Pwnage is easier to use. Here's another set of instructions that works out a little easier (yeah, I jaibroke it as the same time).

http://www.modmyi.com/forums/iphone-news/635761-how-jailbreak-unlock-activate-iphone-2g-3-0-firmware-pwnagetool.html

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mms works
Submitted by trapi on Sun, 2009-07-05 10:50

MMS works perfectly with the 2G. You just have to install a custom carrier bundle through cydia. It will activate the factory mms in the os. Apple just wants you to switch to something newer and wants you to have more reasons to do so. :)

You just have to have MMS support from your carrier, which is a given in Europe.

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using another sim while updating
Submitted by AlbinoAsian on Sun, 2009-07-05 18:43

Hi I currently have an unlocked & jailbroken 2g running OS 2.1

I have looked at your instructions and they seem really straightforward.
I have one question before I try to update to OS 3.

Do I have to have an AT&T sim card in the device while doing this process. I do not have an AT&T sim, nor can I get one where I live.
Am I able to do achieve an update, and then unlock it. Or will it require me to insert an AT&T sim in order to unlock the device.

Thank you

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there is no need for an AT+T
Submitted by trapi on Mon, 2009-07-06 05:14

there is no need for an AT+T card. If your computer is a mac you can also use the pwnage tool which gives you more settings. With the 2g there is nothing you can do wrong. :)

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thanks
Submitted by AlbinoAsian on Mon, 2009-07-06 23:42

thank you so much for your reply I will do it now =)

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run Xp in safe mode
Submitted by AlbinoAsian on Tue, 2009-07-07 00:57

I'm not sure why, after getting the iphone into DFU mode, Redsn0w would go no further than the first waiting for the device to reboot screen. Running XP in safe mode fixed that... maybe others using XP might want to try the same =)

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unlocking
Submitted by jcollineal on Tue, 2009-07-07 04:38

new to all of this...why would you want to unlock your Iphone...I know mine is a old one and I need to upgrade..but it still works great.

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Help!
Submitted by onnie28 on Thu, 2009-07-09 15:49

I click on the correct Torrent on their website (for the Mac) - when I clicked to open the torrent file in my downloads folder, I get a message that Safari can't open the file b/c no available application can open it. Any help would be appreciated!

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Using an AT&T SIM on an Unlocked iPhone 2G
Submitted by coldwire on Mon, 2009-09-14 20:20

NEED HELP - using an AT&T SIM from a non-iPhone device on a Jailbroken and Unlocked iPhone 2G, in the US. NO SERVICE displayed when the AT&T SIM that works on another phone, is used on the unlocked iPhone (unlocked using redsn0w 0.8). The AT&T SIM I am using is on a voice plan with data block active. AT&T coverage is better where I live and want to use my iPhone, without having to pay for data. Plan to use WI-FI for most data intensive needs in any case. Thank you.

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omega watches
Submitted by benet (not verified) on Tue, 2009-11-10 19:14

Every little chat Salon 1000 ah!replica watchYou are my best's buddy
4e

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