iPhone unlocking FAQ

[T Sizzles]

iPhone and iPhone 3G Unlocking FAQs
By T Sizzles

I have seen many threads asking about unlocking the iPhone and iPhone 3G to use on other networks. I have compiled these questions and answered them for your convenience

Q. What is "unlocking"?

A. Unlocking is the removal of the SIM lock that restricts the phone to be used on a single GSM network (like AT&T in the US).


Q. Is unlocking legal?


A. Most of the time unlocking is legal. A law was passed years ago in the US that requires carriers to provide customers the unlock code at their request. For AT&T and T-Mobile, they usually require you to be a customer for 90 days to get the unlock code. However, the iPhone was not meant to be unlocked and the easiest way out there to unlock the iPhone requires you to jailbreak the software, which is in fact illegal.


Q. So both the iPhone and iPhone 3G can be unlocked?


A. Right now, there is only software available to unlock the iPhone. You can bet that there are people out there trying to unlock the iPhone 3G, but as of now there is no free and easy way to do it.


Q. Can I use the iPhone on Verizon, Sprint, Nextel, or Alltel?


A. Nope. The iPhone uses GSM, while the 3G supports GSM and UMTS/HSDPA. Verizon, Alltel, and Sprint use the CDMA family of technoligies while Nextel uses iDEN. If you want to use the iPhone on a network other than AT&T, they have to use GSM too.


Q. Can I buy an iPhone overseas and use it in my home country?


A. Only if it's unlocked. iPhones have the same internal components, but the software locks it to a single carrier. So if you go on vacation to the UK an iPhone there would be locked to O2. If you went to Canada it would be locked to Rogers. iPhones in the US are locked to AT&T.

Q. What happens to my existing service if I buy an iPhone from AT&T, and unlock it to use it with T-Mobile?

A. You have two options on this one: You could had paid big bucks and bought it with a no-commitment pricing plan (if you were previously a customer) or you can buy it with the 2-year agreement, pay a month's bill and then cancel service and pay the ETF.


I hope this has helped anyone who has been seeking answers on this topic. I will try to update it whenever new information comes out. If you have any other questions about unlocking post them here and I will add them to the FAQ.

(C) 2008 T Sizzles. This is not to be posted on any other website without credit given to me (T Sizzles) and Se7enSins.com

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+Rep great guide i have the feeling i will be linking to this a lot lol

should be stickied