Neil Hughes
Dubbed "ultrasn0w," the updated hack now works with the iPhone 4 and its baseband version 01.59. It is also compatible with the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, which have basebands 04.26.08, 05.11.07 and 05.13.04.
To run the carrier unlock, users must be on a jailbroken handset, a process that modifies the iOS software and allows users to run unauthorized code. The ultrasn0w unlock can be found in the Cydia store. The unlock comes just days after hackers released a browser-based jailbreak for all iOS devices, including the iPhone 4.
The jailbreaking process takes advantage of a dangerous PDF security hole found in the Mobile Safari browser. Apple said this week it is aware of the vulnerability and is looking into the issue.
The mastermind behind the free software unlock was David Wong, a member of the iPhone Dev Team who goes by the handle planetbeing. He is the same programmer who earlier this year ported Google Android to the iPhone.
While many countries have access to the iPhone on multiple carriers, in the U.S., Apple's iPhone is available exclusively through AT&T. Unlocking it can allow for voice calls and EDGE data speeds on rival carrier T-Mobile. An unlock could also allow iPhone owners to use localized SIM cards while traveling abroad, to avoid paying high roaming charges when using their native carrier.
Last month, the U.S. Library of Congress reiterated its stance that unlocking is legal. It also officially made it legal for iPhone owners to jailbreak their iOS-based device and run unauthorized third-party software. Doing so, however, can still void Apple's warranty.
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62 Comments
Yes! Now I can use my iPhone 4 worldwide with my other SIM cards! Buh bye BlackBerry, for now.
Yes! Now I can use my iPhone 4 worldwide with my other SIM cards! Buh bye BlackBerry, for now.
Yes because your life is just like the movie Jumper.
Is this really an unlock, or one of those "for all intents and purposes, it's unlocked... till you update the firmware" style unlocks? I ask because I'm pretty sure it's the latter. AFAIK it is impossible to factory unlock an iPhone (as in, do what you like to it, it's still unlocked) with out going through Apple.
Yes because your life is just like the movie Jumper.
It doesn't take that much travel to make this a big deal for some of us. If you aren't going to a country on ATT's list of discounted data service, you can be looking at $100/day in data roaming charges. Places where you can get a SIM in the airport are a huge bonus for this.
Thinking the unlock process would be as problematic as for the 3GS almost kept me away from the iPhone 4.
Hope Apple keeps the cat and mouse mindset within reason. It is a big deal for some of us.
Is this really an unlock, or one of those "for all intents and purposes, it's unlocked... till you update the firmware" style unlocks? I ask because I'm pretty sure it's the latter. AFAIK it is impossible to factory unlock an iPhone (as in, do what you like to it, it's still unlocked) with out going through Apple.
I thought the factory unlocked phones required activation with your computer each time you changed SIMs. The ideal solution is something persistent through firmware upgrades, but I expect that is impossible. Anything that doesn't require you to hook up to your computer after a shutdown is good enough for me though.