iPhone 3GS from US and "Locked" to ATT unlockable?

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cgreenwood

201 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 9

#94065 5-Dec-2011 15:25

Hi all

My sister just bought an iPhone 3GS off trademe and it is proportedly "locked" to the US AT&T network. The auction states that it is "easily unlockable for use in NZ". By this do they mean Jailbreaking with the likes of Redsn0w, which I have done quite easily on my iPod touch? If not then how is this done? Can it be done? Thanks for your help.

cgreenwood

201 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 9

#554092 5-Dec-2011 15:29

BTW, the phone is on iOS 4.0.1.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
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Inactive user

#554102 5-Dec-2011 15:48

Have you done a Google search on this subject, There must be millions of threads on the internet about this,

John

Behodar

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Lifetime subscriber

#554114 5-Dec-2011 16:02

All AT&T iPhones need to be "hack unlocked", there's no official way of doing it. I believe that OS upgrades can be problematic on a hacked phone.

cgreenwood

201 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 9

#554116 5-Dec-2011 16:03

Have you done a Google search on this subject, There must be millions of threads on the internet about this,

That is precisely the problem, who do you believe?

uglyb0b

335 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 19

#554139 5-Dec-2011 16:55

"easily unlockable" will be referring to a jailbreak unlock. Make sure you don't upgrade the firmware past 4.3.3 as this is the last untethered jailbreak available.

From memory I believe 4.0.2 has some kind of issue with jailbreaking or unlocking, I can't remember what it is.

My understanding is that with this firmware version you will need to jailbreak and flash the iPad baseband. This process is irreversible and will result in you not being able to restore with stock .ipsw files. You will always have to restore with custom .ipsw files, however the phone will be unlocked for use with any sim.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek
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#554146 5-Dec-2011 17:16

was it really that much chepaer than just buying a second hand NZ one and avoiding all the unlocking pain in the butt

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

johnr

19282 posts

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Inactive user

#554149 5-Dec-2011 17:20

Sounds like trouble to me

cgreenwood

201 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 9

#554156 5-Dec-2011 17:35

was it really that much chepaer than just buying a second hand NZ one and avoiding all the unlocking pain in the butt

My family enjoy creating problems like this for me to solve :) I am the family IT support. I am guessing most of my fellow Geekzoners fill the same role in their respcetive families.

Thanks for your help, I don't think she has comitted to the purchase yet so will advise her against it as it sounds like to much hard work

TeWharau

35 posts

Geek

#556517 10-Dec-2011 23:44

I haven't found a 3GS that can't be jail broken & unlocked for NZ networks. Stick with iClarified.com, Redmond Pie, Lifehacker.com as your trusted sources. I reckon you've got around 48 hours of research ahead of you but it's a small price to pay to become a cult hero.

clicknz

477 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Trusted

#556541 11-Dec-2011 08:46

Hi - I reckon that if you'll dealt with JB'ing an iPod Touch then if this deal goes thru' you won't have any problem sorting out a 3GS. I have found the iClarified site to offer excellent 'walk thru' guides (click on Jailbreak in the red badge at the top of the web home page) - you'll just need to click the icons relevant to the hardware/firmware you're dealing with. It'll require a jailbreak AND an unlock (probably Redsn0w then UltraSn0w).
With a bit of checking for suitable software JB's & unlocks you'll be able to continue on the upgrade path for a while - seems they're having the most trouble hacking the iPhone 4s & iPad2.
With XT now being an official carrier you should be able to receive a carrier via iTunes which will make things a bit simpler than they used to be. Good luck.

Cheers,
Mike

Photographer/Videographer clickmedia.nz

uglyb0b

335 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 19

#556558 11-Dec-2011 10:13

Keep in mind there is currently no untethered jailbreak available for any firmware above 4.3.3. If the firmware is a version after 4.3.3 and you don't have shsh blobs saved for downgrading it is not possible at the moment.

There is an iOS 5 jailbreak that is almost ready though, not available to the public just yet.