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Jailbreak & Unlock iPhone 3GS without SIM?

K

Krishna21

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 29, 2010
62
0
Is it possible?

I'll explain the case.

My friend is going to give me his 3GS with a dead backlight, and he will upgrade to a iPhone 4 using his original accounts which is on the 3GS SIM, therefore when he buys it the SIM on the 3GS will deactivate.

He has warranty so I can send it to Apple for repair.
But, I need to unlock&jailbreak it to.

You see, I originally told him to give me the 3GS and wait two-three weeks till Apple returns it, but he can't wait.

So, when my friend gives me his 3GS, I'm thinking to send it into Apple for repair (I don't have to worry as Apple says please send it in without the SIM), and when they return it my friend will have his 4 already so the SIM will be deactivated.

If the SIM is deactived, I can't get into the phone. If I can't get into the phone, I can't unlock it. If I can't unlock it, I can't use the phone. If I can't use the phone, all hell will break loose.

So, the question is, is it possible somehow to Jailbreak&Unlock the iPhone 3GS WITHOUT a SIM Card inserted? So then after I jailbreak and unlock it I can pop in the T-Mobile SIM and gain access to the phone?

Thank you guys!!
 
You can activate any US iphone even with an old inactive AT&T simcard.
So tell him to give you his old 3GS sim that he's not using any more.
The question is if its on 4.0.2 you cannot unlock or JB it.
If its on 4.0 or 4.0.1 you can.
So it all depends how lucky you are and hope you get a 3GS shipped back to you thats not updated to the latest iOS version.
 
Applejuiced said:
You can activate any US iphone even with an old inactive AT&T simcard.
So tell him to give you his old 3GS sim that he's not using any more.
The question is if its on 4.0.2 you cannot unlock or JB it.
If its on 4.0 or 4.0.1 you can.
So it all depends how lucky you are and hope you get a 3GS shipped back to you thats not updated to the latest iOS version.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't activation make sign me up for a plan that costs money..?!
 
Applejuiced said:
No, it doesnt sign you up or charge you up for anything.
You just put any AT&T simcard inside the phone and plug it to itunes and in 3 seconds it activates it. Thats all.
Click to expand...

Ok, so then can't iTunes detect if it's inactive or not?
(Sorry for these newby questions ._.)

Oh and I'm on iTunes 10; do I need to degrade to a lower version of iTunes>??
 
Krishna21 said:
Ok, so then can't iTunes detect if it's inactive or not?
(Sorry for these newby questions ._.)

Oh and I'm on iTunes 10; do I need to degrade to a lower version of iTunes>??
Click to expand...

No, the latest itunes will work fine.
Itunes doesnt care if the sim is inactive, prepaid or anything as long as its an AT&T sim it will activate the phone and let you into the homescreen and past the connect to itunes logo.
 
Applejuiced said:
No, the latest itunes will work fine.
Itunes doesnt care if the sim is inactive, prepaid or anything as long as its an AT&T sim it will activate the phone and let you into the homescreen and past the connect to itunes logo.
Click to expand...

Awesome!

So my friend can give me his 3GS even if the SIM is deactivated, and I can activate it and go out and unlock it?

Also, how exactly do I use my warranty to send in the phone for repair?
Do I have to fill out some forms or something?
A URL point would help!
 
Krishna21 said:
Awesome!

So my friend can give me his 3GS even if the SIM is deactivated, and I can activate it and go out and unlock it?

Also, how exactly do I use my warranty to send in the phone for repair?
Do I have to fill out some forms or something?
A URL point would help!
Click to expand...

Yes, you can use that or any old or inactive AT&T sim to activate it but that doesnt mean you can unlock it. Only if its below 4.0.2 firmware you will be able to JB and unlock it.
About sending it in for repair you can call Applecare or go into any Apple store and they will exchange it for you.
http://www.apple.com/support/products/iphone.html
 
Applejuiced said:
Yes, you can use that or any old or inactive AT&T sim to activate it but that doesnt mean you can unlock it. Only if its below 4.0.2 firmware you will be able to JB and unlock it.
About sending it in for repair you can call Applecare or go into any Apple store and they will exchange it for you.
http://www.apple.com/support/products/iphone.html
Click to expand...

Ok, so it will go:

A) Receive phone with unactive SIM.

B) Remove SIM (According to apple site)

C) Bring into Apple Store.

D) Receive new/fixed iPhone and cross fingers it's not on 4.0.2.

E) When I come home put the unactive AT&T SIM back in, pop it into iTunes and activate.

F) If it's not on 4.0.2 go and jailbreak and unlock.

G) After the unlock pop in Tmobile SIM, charge airtime, woop de doo?
 
Applejuiced said:
Yep, pretty much.
You can try to ask for unit thats below 4.0.2 version if you find a nice Apple rep thats willing to help you out.
Click to expand...

Lol I bet they'll know that I'm gonna attempt a unlock and ask why :p


But, I did find this..

http://www.redmondpie.com/downgrade....0.2-to-4.0.1-without-shsh-blobs-saved-guide/

It's apparently degrading from 4.0.2 to 4.0.1 WITHOUT the SHSH Blobs.

Suppose I attempt this (In the case where my returned/fixed iPhone was preset to 4.0.2) and it gets stuck - can I do a general restore and re-activate it with the unactive SIM? So I can at least generally access the phone?
 
Krishna21 said:
Lol I bet they'll know that I'm gonna attempt a unlock and ask why :p


But, I did find this..

http://www.redmondpie.com/downgrade....0.2-to-4.0.1-without-shsh-blobs-saved-guide/

It's apparently degrading from 4.0.2 to 4.0.1 WITHOUT the SHSH Blobs.

Suppose I attempt this (In the case where my returned/fixed iPhone was preset to 4.0.2) and it gets stuck - can I do a general restore and re-activate it with the unactive SIM? So I can at least generally access the phone?
Click to expand...

Yep, they might know why you're asking but some are pretty cool about it.
Yes, try that trick if you get stuck with 4.0.2
I cant verify that its solid and it will work but worth a shot.
Yes, you will be able to restore and activate the phone at any time with that old sim and at least use it as a touch for the time till the next JB and unlock.
 
Applejuiced said:
Yep, they might know why you're asking but some are pretty cool about it.
Yes, try that trick if you get stuck with 4.0.2
I cant verify that its solid and it will work but worth a shot.
Yes, you will be able to restore and activate the phone at any time with that old sim and at least use it as a touch for the time till the next JB and unlock.
Click to expand...

Man..I love the community here.
[/Corny] Especially you, you've helped me in all of my threads :)

Thank you all, especially you Applejuiced!

All of my threads here have been answered here in less than one hour - amazing!!

Two last questions :|

A) So you pointed me the the product support iPhone URL. Do I just go to the Apple Store and ask them to fix it up? Do I have to provide any certain information? BEcause I need to know it so I can ask my friend the info.

B) So I get past the above question and they go in to fix it. I request one below 4.0.2 and ask why. Anyone know a reason so I can let it slide? :p
 
Welcome bro, you caught me on the right time while I was on but Im sure many other folks would have given you a helping hand even if I wasnt around.
And yes you can walk into any Apple store and explain them what the problem is with the phone and they will replace it for you as long as its not water damaged and you're still under warranty. They wont ask you for any paperwork or anything. It all goes by the iphones serial number and its on their system. Check your warranty expiration date below:
https://selfsolve.apple.com/GetWarranty.do
If they ask you why you want it below 4.0.2 give them some BS excuse that you heard people have alot of problems with that firmware version and you would like something previous than that built untill 4.1 comes out so you can upgrade later.
 
Applejuiced said:
Welcome bro, you caught me on the right time while I was on but Im sure many other folks would have given you a helping hand even if I wasnt around.
And yes you can walk into any Apple store and explain them what the problem is with the phone and they will replace it for you as long as its not water damaged and you're still under warranty. They wont ask you for any paperwork or anything. It all goes by the iphones serial number and its on their system. Check your warranty expiration date below:
https://selfsolve.apple.com/GetWarranty.do
If they ask you why you want it below 4.0.2 give them some BS excuse that you heard people have alot of problems with that firmware version and you would like something previous than that built untill 4.1 comes out so you can upgrade later.
Click to expand...



:eek:

THE PHONE IS WATER DAMAGED, HENCE THE DESTROYED BACKLIGHT!!!!!

I STILL HAVE THE WARRANTY THOUGH! CAN'T THEY FIX IT?!




oh and I found some BS reasons, worse battery life "3 out of 5" text messages do not get sent. :D
 
It doesn't even need to be an AT&T SIM to work.

Here are SIMs I've gotten to activate the iPhone 4:

Net10
O2 (the U.S. company not the U.K. one, they are at Best Buy)
Inactive Cingular
Inactive AT&T and GoPhone
 
hackthatphone said:
It doesn't even need to be an AT&T SIM to work.

Here are SIMs I've gotten to activate the iPhone 4:

Net10
O2 (the U.S. company not the U.K. one, they are at Best Buy)
Inactive Cingular
Inactive AT&T and GoPhone
Click to expand...

Already said but THANK YOU!
=D

Members are so helpful here :)
 
Krishna21 said:
:eek:

THE PHONE IS WATER DAMAGED, HENCE THE DESTROYED BACKLIGHT!!!!!

I STILL HAVE THE WARRANTY THOUGH! CAN'T THEY FIX IT?!




oh and I found some BS reasons, worse battery life "3 out of 5" text messages do not get sent. :D
Click to expand...

If it's water damaged then no you don't have a warranty. A warranty is for defects of the device not of the users fault. They will know that it has water damage and I can't condone fraudulently trying to exchange a device because of a user caused malfunction.

PS. Avoid the use of the caps lock button in posts.
 
TMar said:
If it's water damaged then no you don't have a warranty. A warranty is for defects of the device not of the users fault. They will know that it has water damage and I can't condone fraudulently trying to exchange a device because of a user caused malfunction.

PS. Avoid the use of the caps lock button in posts.
Click to expand...

Sorry (caps lock) :\
 
Krishna21 said:
We discussed Jailbreaking and Unlocking..not specifically if Apple will repair it or not..god dang it..if only Apple could repair it on my warranty..
Click to expand...

The only thing not covered in your thread from 2 days ago is water damage, other than that, this is a repeat. Same questions, same replies by many of the same who replied here.
 
dhlizard said:
The only thing not covered in your thread from 2 days ago is water damage, other than that, this is a repeat. Same questions, same replies by many of the same who replied here.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry if this is a double thread then; but my question from my last thread is whether to have the SIM in the phone during the unlock.

The question for this thread was going through another scenario as I thought I'd have a iPhone without a SIM and I was asking how to unlock it without the SIM.

But Applejuiced cleared it up for me.

But, you guys are more smarter than me on the forums, if this is counted as a double thread then lock it, sorry :(
 
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