Noticeable difference between factory unlocked or software unlocked iphone?

[rawCpoppa]

Is there any way to know if an iphone is truly factory unlocked? Whether it be a 3G, 3GS or iP4?

I need to purchase an unlocked iphone and I don't want to purchase a software unlocked iphone by mistake.

 

[BeyondtheTech]

Well, if it's jailbroken, it's more than likely a software unlock.

If you ask them to perform a full firmware restoration on iTunes and it's still unlocked, it's factory/carrier unlocked.

 

[-Ryan-]

The only way you can tell is by checking the Model from within Settings > General > About. You'll need to compare this to a list of known model numbers to see whether it is unlocked. However, this is not fool-proof, as some carriers (such as UK carriers) sell their phones locked but offer unlocking.

 

[twigg]

Check if the phone is jailbroken, if it is then go to Cydia and check for Ultrasn0w or Blacksn0w (Yellowsn0w on phones with pre-3.0 iOS and Bootneuter for 2G). If one of those are on there then its not factory unlocked. Whats the easiest way? Ask them to bring it to you unjailbroken and restored to factory state. If they refuse, its probably not factory unlocked. Oh, and check with a sim card from another carrier and make a call, you can change the carrier name in the upper left hand corner (and keep it that way even when not jailbroken if restoring from a jailbroken back up).

 

[Benji222]

You can go into the iPhone, iPod-Touch files and check by checkign for the software there.
I know the software version takes about 2 mins to get a signal if you pop the sim in and out(or airplane mode on/off). When I sold mine I thought the unlock hadn't worked when I tested on a friend phone and then read that you have to wait about 1.5-2mins and "TMobile"or whatever will come up.

 

[rawCpoppa]

Ok thank for the info.