What are the REASONS why someone would want to UNLOCK an iPhone?

[Katin]

It sounds cool to jump from one carrier to another but what's the REAL reasons? .... Is it cheaper than AT&T? Better MMS? More Minutes? Better Service?

[NSK123]

I just bought a 3GS in Sweden recently and now I'm moving to another country soon. The carrier that it's locked to won't let me pay full price and get out of my contract.. and they won't perform a software unlock either before my 6 month contract ends.

When you get caught in a pickle like this there needs to be some rebels that offer untraditional unlocks like devteam, geohot etc..

This is all apples fault btw.

[IlliniDude]

I'm on a T-Mobile family plan with my parents and brother. Instead of $70 + taxes and fees for the cheapest ATT iphone plan, I pay about $35 for my share of the minutes, data, and texts.

[thegoldenmackid]

Better plans and service, particularly when it comes to think like text messaging. Or if you are on an existing plan, but just want that new phone.

[tboooe]

becuz att sux!!!

[Katin]

okay... T-Mobile actually sucks! I remember I had no service in my area and I live in King of Prussia, PA. Otherwise, I notice T-Mobile doesn't have the greatest 3G network either.... Thanks everyone.

[OllyW]

Is it cheaper than AT&T?

It's not just sold in the USA. :rolleyes:

If you look at the number of mobile network operators in Europe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_network_operators_of_Europe), you can see the majority of them are GSM. If you travel a lot, you can save a fortune by using local SIM cards.

It's also about choice. If you are happy with your current network and they don't have the iPhone then unlocking is the answer.

[HellDiverUK]

It's not just sold in the USA. :rolleyes:


Don't be silly. Sure the world ends at the US border. No-one outside the US could possibly have any use for technology. ;)

Why do people unlock? To get away from the woeful networks the iPhone is locked to.

[labman]

You unlock so you are not restricted to one carrier, great for traviling. It also it improves the resale value because now anybody on any GSM network can use your phone.

[scirica]

Because we can!

[Tokiopop]

For me:


T-Mobile has far better coverage than O2
O2 charge £10/month for internet, whereas T-Mobile you just need to top-up £10 and you get unlimited texts and internet the following month
Resale value increases by over £100

[darngooddesign]

It sounds cool to jump from one carrier to another but what's the REAL reasons? .... Is it cheaper than AT&T? Better MMS? More Minutes? Better Service?

Many people travel to or live outside the US. When I go to the TT this spring I'll run my unlocked phone; I already checked with IOM's telcom that it will work.

In the US some people don't get 3G service so Tmobile is a lot cheaper or they want pay as you go.

[jimmy83]

For me:



O2 charge £10/month for internet, whereas T-Mobile you just need to top-up £10 and you get unlimited texts and internet the following month



I was going to go on the O2 simplicity plan when my contract expires as I thought that was the best value on out there.

You got any info on the T-Mobile one?

[NoSmokingBandit]

okay... T-Mobile actually sucks! I remember I had no service in my area and I live in King of Prussia, PA. Otherwise, I notice T-Mobile doesn't have the greatest 3G network either.... Thanks everyone.

I live a little west of you (coatesville kinda) and the only decent carrier around here is ATT, but thats not always the case in other places. Unlocking gives consumers the choices apple wont.

[Badfoot]

To make it a viable business user/traveller phone rather than the anarak lovers toy it is at the moment. Especially EU users, where we are encouraged to travel and 'deal' more with our new 'family'.

[impulse462]

is this a joke?

cant you think of the most obvious reason

[Vegastouch]

I have T-Mobile which is cheaper for the iPhone and the resale for an unlocked iPhone is higher. Two good reasons i think. If you use AT&T then you have no reason to unlock unless you want to sell it for a little more money.

[pukifloyd]

My reasons are :
1)T mobile is cheaper
2)why should i pay over $1500 just for slow internet over 2 years when I am already paying $60 for my home connection?
3)unlocked iphones sell at higher prices.
:o

[ntrigue]

Just wanted to add that BlackSn0W has been released by Geohot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g23e9e9zOVI

Impossible Unlock made possible.

[Tokiopop]

I was going to go on the O2 simplicity plan when my contract expires as I thought that was the best value on out there.

You got any info on the T-Mobile one?

I'm not exactly sure what the deal is called, I just went into the store and asked about internet for my iPhone and they went on about this £1/day thing, then one of the staff remembered about this deal. Just go in and ask about the £10 a month top up for unlimited texts/internet, they should help you out :D

The reason I got it rather than a contract or anything else is because all it requires is for you to top up £10, then the next month you get the unlimited internet and texts, and you still get to keep your £10 credit for calls.

[andybno1]

£simple answer better value for money on your tariff

currently in the UK we have only O2 as the carrier (which is changing within the next few weeks)

their cheapest iPhone tariff (18 month contract):

£29.38 a month
75 mins
125 texts
unlimited data

I'm on Orange (18 month contract)
I pay £30 a month
200 mins
unlimited texts
500mb data

yes I only get 500mb but I still see it as more value for money than what O2 is offering plus I get added bonus of 2 4 1 at cinema.... this is why I unlocked my iPhone

[nateo200]

Just wanted to add that BlackSn0W has been released by Geohot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g23e9e9zOVI

Impossible Unlock made possible.
Finally! Is that the latest baseband that he hacked.

[andybno1]

Finally! Is that the latest baseband that he hacked.
yes it is and it has NOT been released yet

[jayeskreezy]

Does your phone need to be jailbroken also using his software or can you unlock with Geohots if you used the dev team to jailbreak?

[andybno1]

as with all unlocks u need to be jailbroken

[jayeskreezy]

as with all unlocks u need to be jailbroken

my phone is jailbroken, but I mean specifically using his software....

I'm asking will a jailbreak with pwnage tool allow you to unlock using blacksn0w?

[Tokiopop]

my phone is jailbroken, but I mean specifically using his software....

I'm asking will a jailbreak with pwnage tool allow you to unlock using blacksn0w?

Yes. No matter what method of jailbreaking, you can still install stuff from Cydia. Can't you?

[andybno1]

my phone is jailbroken, but I mean specifically using his software....

I'm asking will a jailbreak with pwnage tool allow you to unlock using blacksn0w?
the above poster doesn't quite get your question.

as regards to blacksn0w it looks like it could be a case of geohot releasing a program specifically to install the exploit as it jailbreaks your phone, but saying that it could end up being a cydia download....... its just a waiting game to see how they release it

[Tokiopop]

the above poster doesn't quite get your question.

as regards to blacksn0w it looks like it could be a case of geohot releasing a program specifically to install the exploit as it jailbreaks your phone, but saying that it could end up being a cydia download....... its just a waiting game to see how they release it
He asks if he's jailbroken with PwnageTool can he unlock with blacksn0w, the answer is yes.

[andybno1]

He asks if he's jailbroken with PwnageTool can he unlock with blacksn0w, the answer is yes.
oh so you know how they are going to release blacksn0w do ya? hmm are you geohot?

[Tokiopop]

oh so you know how they are going to release blacksn0w do ya? hmm are you geohot?

He has a repo,and his last unlock was available there. So yes, I do.

[jimmy83]

I'm not exactly sure what the deal is called, I just went into the store and asked about internet for my iPhone and they went on about this £1/day thing, then one of the staff remembered about this deal. Just go in and ask about the £10 a month top up for unlimited texts/internet, they should help you out :D

The reason I got it rather than a contract or anything else is because all it requires is for you to top up £10, then the next month you get the unlimited internet and texts, and you still get to keep your £10 credit for calls.

Sounds good, might do this instead of the simplicity deal then when my contract expires...T-Mobile have good 3G coverage?

[Tokiopop]

oh so you know how they are going to release blacksn0w do ya? hmm are you geohot?

It's now in Cydia. Looks like I was right :cool: