How do I know if I need an unlock?

[Elweezy]

I'm trying to jail break my iPhone four 4.3.2, with redsn0w 0.9.6rc14 . But ive never jail broken it so I'm guessing I need an unlock. I want an untethered jail break. So how do I know if I need an unlock or not? And if I do I need pwnage tool correct? But isn't pwnage tool also a jailbreak? So what do I download first? Help please

 

[Applejuiced]

You need much more research before you try anything.
Learn the basics at least on what an unlock is and does.

 

[mds]

Do a lot of reading and learn how all this works before doing anything to your phone...check out the dev-team site, iclarified, etc.

That said, unlocking your means removing the carrier restriction. It allows you to run other companies sim cards on your phone instead of ATT, etc. If you already have a carrier and don't want to use another carrier, you don't have to unlock.

 

[Ramsay2011]

jailbreaking is completley different from unlocking
Jailbreaking allows you to install custom apps onto the iphone
unlocking allows you to use any sim card
im sure u need to use redsnow for untethered i always find redmondpie as a good help