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iPhone 3G unlocked via hardware hack

updated 01:25 pm EDT, Tue July 15, 2008

iPhone 3G unlocked


Less than a week after the iPhone 3G launch, a hardware-based unlock has been announced for the new phone. Gizmodo describes how the process works using the SIM card. Utilizing a special card on the back of the iPhone 3G SIM card, the phone is fed a forged International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), tricking the phone into working on a different network. The hack is confirmed via video, but not currently available.

Unlocking the iPhone to other carriers has usually been done by software, hacking the iPhone 2G and the iPhone 2.0 software were both software-based. This new hack is physical, translating carrier IDs to trick the phone into working with a preferred service.




by MacNN Staff

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TAGS :

 iPhone, hacks, iPhone 3G, iPhone unlock

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Comments

  1. Eldernorm

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2007

    -9
    07/15, 03:06pm | report spam | Reply |

    jailbreaked iPhone???

    Hmmm, lets see. The iPhone 3G works most anywhere. It accepts hundreds of new programs easily.

    So, lets c*** it up so we can void the warrentee and make it not work with numbers of programs and services ..... so that we can..........er.........why is that now???


    LOL

    en

  1. quandmeme

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2007

    +9
    07/15, 03:39pm | report spam | Reply |

    No damage done

    That's not how I read the post (or Giz's post). It is a hardware-based work around but but the iPhone case isn't even opened. It's the sim card that is manipulated, not the phone. Right?
    Simmer down on the hate.

  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    +11
    07/15, 03:41pm | report spam | Reply |

    Sigh

    You're confusing jail breaking with unlocking. Obviously, you never travel outside the US, and that's fine, plenty of people are unaware of life outside the borders of the USA. Here's a disturbing concept though, outside the US, there are OTHER carriers than AT&T. Yes, it's hard to believe, but it's true. Also, there are things known as prepaid SIM cards in other countries, scary I know. Even worse, it's much MUCH cheaper to use one of these cards than AT&T via roaming when you're in a foreign country. I know, sounds like a fairy tale. So why don't you go back to living in your insular little world, where airplanes are magic sky birds, and the rest of us will travel the big scary world.

  1. rytc

    Senior User

    Joined: Jan 2001

    +1
    07/17, 04:06pm | report spam | Reply |

    Turbosim

    This just sounds like the Turbo and StealSIM systems that were all the rage back when the 1.1.2 iPhone was unlockable via the usual software. The card slips over the existing SIM, no one need even know you were using a different SIM if someone looked at your phone - so no warranties voided.

  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    +1
    07/28, 02:53pm | report spam | Reply |

    3g need to unlock?

    I'll be moving to London soon, but only for about a year.  I want to get the 3g iphone.  Will I need to alter the programming or can I just change the SIM card?

    Please help, I'll need to get it soon.

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