So I've read that after people jailbroke their 3G, the phones' OS became unstable and slower. Is it possible someday when the iPhone is out-of-date, Apple will release an official update (not to effect the OS performance) to let us unlock the phones so we can use them oversea?
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Will Apple Ever Release Official Software to Unlock the 3G Someday?
- Thread starter crazyyankeefan
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At the end of your contract, depending on where you live most networks will unlock the phone for free or a small charge.
That`s certainly the case in the UK.
However Apple will not release that unlocking process otherwise everyone would be doing it.
Cheers
M.
That`s certainly the case in the UK.
However Apple will not release that unlocking process otherwise everyone would be doing it.
Cheers
M.
I will never use any jailbreaking software to unlock my phone because it will mess up the OS. As for Apple possibily releasing any unlocking software, I certainly don't mean "now". I mean when the iPhone 3G becomes obsolete.
$1480
Proof:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ByteOfTheApple/blog/archives/2007/11/want_an_unlocke.html
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/iphone-w...ls-vodafone-that-they-suck-updated-325298.php
P.S.: I'm assuming as the carrier hasnt changed, neither has the opposition or the national laws..... the same applies to 3G as well!
That lasted less than a week. Then a higher court overturned the lower court's ruling and the exclusive carrier chose to stop selling the unlocked version.
In France it is possible to obtain an officially unlocked version of the iPhone. You pay an extremely large amount to get it contract-free and unlocked right from the start, or alternatively you can wait six months, and the network will unlock it for free on request (although you won't be released from your contractual obligation to continue making regular monthly payments for the life of the original contract).
Apparently the iPhones for sale in Hong Kong and Australia are also available in an officially unlocked state. It may also be true in other countries too.
Certainly in the UK the exclusive carrier has said that they never intend to offer unlocking services for any of the iPhones they sell.
To answer your question:
Apple has produced official unlocking software. It is not immediately clear to me whether they always intended to have an unlockable version available, or if they were forced into it as a cost of doing business in certain jurisdictions where it was required.
However, it appears to be the case that now that we know such an official unlock does technically exist, it is up to the discretion of the carrier you purchased the phone from (along with any agreements they may have entered into with Apple, as well as the relevant laws which may trump those agreements in the jurisdiction where you live) to decide whether the official unlock will be made available in your area.
Why do the US carriers always have this weird system? I know in some countries in Asia and Europe, though they too require for 1 or 2 years contract for subsidized prices, they don't lock up the phones or "re-package" the phones. It seems the US is the only country that the carriers sell only re-packaged locked phones with their UGLY logos on the phones.
You probably should get your facts straight on jailbreak and unlocking through software.
You're right. I haven't really dig into this since I have heard jailbreaking messes up the OS, I have no intention of doing so. However, I thought unlocking through official software (if there's any) would be fine.
In the UK the operators brand their phones. My old nokia had vodafone logos on the front, and the software was vodafone skinned. There were also shortcuts to vodafone live, and references to that in the software menus. I bought it direct from vodafone.
However you can easily get an unbranded, and unlocked (but still subsidised) phone by purchasing through a reseller, like phones4u or carphonewarehouse. All their phones are unbranded so they can sell it on any network, as they sell several different networks.
So it's the same there. Then I guess it's just Asian counties don't brand their phones tho.