iPhoneSIMfree goes retail, let the unlocking begin

After numerous delays and endless cries of "hoax!", it looks like the iPhoneSIMfree iPhone unlocking software is finally available for purchase from four online retailers around the world. Wireless Imports in the US, iPhoneWorldwideUnlock in Australia, 1digitalphone in Germany, and iPhone4arab in Saudi Arabia (currently down) have all purchased bulk licenses from the iPhoneSIMfree team and are selling individual unlocks for around $100 (Update: that price is just from the US etailer, it seems; looks like the Aussies are letting it go for under 50 bucks American. Also, the Hackint0sh community is already busy at work trying to snatch these sites' code as we speak). Go nuts, and let us know your initial experiences below...

Update: The Hackint0sh guys claim they will not be reverse engineering the iPhoneSIMfree software. Ok, well, whatever. Scratch that. That crew definitely seems to be reverse engineering the IPSF solution, and frankly we can't blame 'em.

[joe23521 @ Sep 10th 2007 10:10AM]

It's only about $80 over priced.

[ARobinso0502 @ Sep 10th 2007 12:14PM]

I was thinking somewhere around $25... $99 is just bad...

[Concura @ Sep 10th 2007 12:33PM]

"It's only about [$99] over priced."

fixed

[E71 @ Sep 10th 2007 1:59PM]

That's what you suckers get for giving into something that looks sexy but doesn't do shit.

[E71 @ Sep 10th 2007 2:00PM]

That's what you suckers get for giving into something that looks sexy but doesn't do anything. Bow before my HTC Kaiser.

[Satish @ Sep 10th 2007 10:10AM]

WOW, Great news! to start a day with... Luv u IPSF

[resare @ Sep 10th 2007 10:11AM]

I kinda assumed that iPhone4arab would be charging no less then a car...

[Ellianth @ Sep 10th 2007 11:38AM]

THAN != THEN - tell a friend.

[resare @ Sep 10th 2007 12:22PM]

he knows

[Mr. B @ Sep 10th 2007 10:11AM]

...at that price they must be concerned this fix will be in the wild (for free) rather soon.

[Singh @ Sep 10th 2007 10:13AM]

Is this the reason why apple reduced their price on the iPhone??? Do you think they should cooperate with Apple and allow the additions of this features into the Apple's accessories list. $399+99 = $498. Quite cheap compared to the $599 on AT&T. Apple should start selling abroad so that people don't have to order their friends or pay for high postage fees. The news of the week was: http://www.gadget9.com/2007/09/06/apple-update-iphone-8gb-for-399/

[lassi @ Sep 11th 2007 5:17AM]

i think their little deal of exclusivity with at&t would somewhat suffer if they sold it unlocked.


it's intentionally exclusive. the simlock is intentional(of course, duh. one could argue that exclusivity was a stupid choice but we can't know that without knowing the entire deal between at&t and apple, like if they get any subs from the subs).

[Carlos @ Sep 10th 2007 10:13AM]

it won't be long before.. a few get together... pay $ .. then get the unlock... hack it .. and release it free...

[Homer J @ Sep 10th 2007 10:27AM]

The ultimate irony...a hack of a hack

[Matthew @ Sep 10th 2007 10:14AM]

Use ur $100 Apple discount ;)

[Gadgie @ Sep 10th 2007 10:19AM]

yahh, cuz Apple is going to be selling the unlock at its stores... right.

[Matthew @ Sep 10th 2007 10:25AM]

Joke.... Laugh a little?

[Tobias @ Sep 11th 2007 10:34AM]

Well actully, you could by it with Apples money. Sort of. The money that got refunded by Apple (When the price dropped) could be used to unlock. But, it's actully your money, but in a way, you could say it was Apple's money.

[Chris B. @ Sep 10th 2007 10:15AM]

Awesome news, but come on... $100?! That's pure profit! Just add it to my list of expenses...

[Ian Tullie @ Sep 10th 2007 12:22PM]

I know that these guys put a lot of time into this, so it's not "pure profit" at all - they're earning money for the time they spent. But anyway, what's wrong with profit?

[Martin @ Sep 10th 2007 12:25PM]

Pure profit?!?

Does that mean all software license fees are pure profit... Man, that photoshop is overpriced - look at all that pure profit the developers are making...

[rp @ Sep 10th 2007 12:35PM]

Considering that most of the work was done for them for free by other individuals (iphone dev/hack teams), I'd say yeah, it's basically pure profit.

[Hawkman @ Sep 10th 2007 1:33PM]

Absolutely. This is daylight robbery, and ethically highly dubious for many reasons.

[Juaquin @ Sep 10th 2007 1:55PM]

I believe bulk pricing for the licenses was between 25-35 a pop depending on the number ordered, so if they turn it around and sell for $100, they're gouging you. That's a 300-400% markup.

[Bob @ Sep 10th 2007 10:16AM]

Do they accept apple GiftCards ?

[aaron @ Sep 10th 2007 10:26AM]

$100 for an unlock? wouldnt it be better to pay my $175 cancelation then collect At&t's $25 transfer rebate? fifty dollars more and i dont have to worry about updates shipping or using this on a different network.

[Javier Diaz @ Sep 10th 2007 10:32AM]

Aaron, what transfer rebate? I just switched from Tmobile to ATT, I didnt know about a transfer rebate?

[BrettB @ Sep 10th 2007 12:11PM]

That comment is GOLD!!!! Best laugh of the morning.

[lolec @ Sep 10th 2007 10:21AM]

iphoneworldwideunlock is selling them for just $50 they are the first in list engadget do a litle research :S!

[Z @ Sep 10th 2007 10:34AM]

$50 *only*???
As someone stated before its well over priced.

[lolec @ Sep 10th 2007 10:41AM]

Well, maybe, but im in mexico and for now i only have an overprized and fat 8gig ipod touch... for 50dls the only cellphone i can get is a motorola f3 so i think its a good deal ( apple is selling the cellphone function for 100 dls :) ipodtouch 8gig + 100dls = iphone8gig)

[Juice @ Sep 10th 2007 10:51AM]

Do I hear $40?!!!

[JugoGoya @ Sep 10th 2007 10:21AM]

I just got my Iphone last night. Connected and activated it this morning to ATT and as much as it hurst, paid the 400 etf for Tmobile for two phones. I'd rather have full support from Apple and ATT and be covered by warranty and be able to freely update my phone without any issues. I'd rather not live on the wild side on this one. But for all of the others Overseas, more power to you guys.

[ItsTheOMGShow @ Sep 10th 2007 10:33AM]

That was pretty stupid. You could have activated with a pay as you go plan, should have done your research.

[Javier Diaz @ Sep 10th 2007 10:38AM]

And paid for two phone plans for 14 months, that would have been stupider.

[Javier Diaz @ Sep 10th 2007 10:26AM]

Come to realize it, I should have waited a bit longer. But being that Apple made their 1 million mark today, I'm sure the 4gb Iphones would have left the store shelves fairly quickly. Oh well, life goes on.

[Michael @ Sep 10th 2007 10:40AM]

Well, just bought this at two different retailers. No news from them yet.

[Sean @ Sep 10th 2007 10:48AM]

I don't care who you are or how much you want an unlocked iPhone, if you pay ANYTHING for a software unlock, you're an IDIOT... and I am going to laugh out loud when this purchase comes back to bite you in the arse, one way or another.

[Sean @ Sep 10th 2007 10:54AM]

Rank me low for being such a pessimistic "hater," but even THEY admit that it's a possible FAIL:

"We CANNOT guarantee that this software will work after any future updates for the iPhone. It does currently work on all firmware versions, up to and including, 1.02
We will naturally try to provide our resellers an updated version of our software for each firmware update, it is in our interest, but we do NOT guarantee that we will be able to do so. All updates will be free."

[djs @ Sep 10th 2007 10:49AM]

$100?

hahahaha, you're kidding, right?

[John @ Sep 10th 2007 10:50AM]

At this point, the people who get hurt by the hack getting hacked are the guys who purchased bulk licenses. But I guess that's the cost of doing business.

[Rob @ Sep 10th 2007 10:55AM]

Wow, $100 ???
You must be out of your mind.
And what's their warranty that you'd get free updates when Apple slams the door on this hack???
NADA, NOTHING, ZIPPO.

Come on. If you're itching to get rid of $100, I can give you my PayPal account info so you can send me that Benjamin you're dying to throw down the shredder.

[Andy @ Sep 10th 2007 10:59AM]

isnt it obvious that future iPhone updates will somehow cripple unlocked phones.

[Clem @ Sep 10th 2007 10:59AM]

100$ for a hacking software!!! This is quite expensive!!! Wait and see for a free version!! ;-)

[Andy @ Sep 10th 2007 11:00AM]

You just know this is Steve Jobs gettign his $100 coupons back :)

[Jan Nord @ Sep 10th 2007 11:00AM]

Just bought 1 license...100 bucks...still waiting confirmation.
Cheers !

[Chad @ Sep 10th 2007 11:04AM]

Obviously the only way the original hackers were going to make any money was from the bulk-only sales. They *new* that once this got out into the open there would be a very short window to make any money...so they let others take the risk. Well played h4ckz0rz.

[Jugomugo @ Sep 10th 2007 11:08AM]

So, at this point, couldn't we just buy an iPhone, use the unlock, and use it as a non-cellular iPhone/iPod Touch with additional features?

[Geoff Thompson @ Sep 10th 2007 11:09AM]

yes 100 hundred is way to steep, but 50 wouldnt be so bad to unlock a pretty nice phone these guys do deserve some reimbursement for there time and effort, they are the only 1`s to pull thru(although i dont know anyone who has unlocked yet)if you thinks 50 is to much you spend the next 2 months hacking it for yourself and if you dont know how to hack thats why you gotta pay the piper.

[wei @ Sep 10th 2007 11:16AM]

I thought they priced the unlock at $30? Greedy bastards. Heh heh. No thanks, I'll stick with my crappy-ass LG (not smart) phone on Verizon. It may have a crappy UI and no features, but at least it works as a phone.

Looking forward to my ipod touch though :)