iUnlock released: the first free, open source iPhone SIM unlock software
By Ryan Block 
posted Sep 11th 2007 9:37PM
posted Sep 11th 2007 9:37PM
To pull this off you'll need iUnlock + nor + the .fls file, which is available in ZIPs all over. We've got the app here, but this package doesn't include all of the files necessary. Good list of links here, or try here, here, here, here, and here.
For the how-to, just hit up one of those guides down below. Naturally, we offer zero guarantees that any of this will work. (Read: don't whine to us if your iPhone gets bricked.) Big ups to the iphone.unlock crew, Draken, and, of course, the iPhone Dev Team. Let us know in comments if this technique works for you.
Update: We've confirmed the hack! Yes, it's fully restore-resistant, too, which is great news. We'll get you all the juicy proof in a few, but we have indeed managed to software unlock an iPhone with iUnlock. Also, HaRRo says the app should be out "very soon" to make this easier on the noobs.
Update 2: Depending on activation method, YouTube might not be working after the unlock -- ours isn't. This is, of course, expected behavior. There's a Windows script here that should hopefully fix you up (again, we don't make any guarantees), but Mac users will have to look elsewhere. Also, alongside the Mac GUI iUnlock app in the works, the iPhone Dev Team is prepping a Windows version, a simple bash script and an iPhone app -- and eventually an all-in-one app that can do everything from the Jailbreak to the unlock.
Update 3: We've posted our terminal output from using the hack after the break. Go ahead. Nerd out. Also, the graphical version isn't out quiet yet, but we've got the first image of it above. Check it out.
Update 5: Ok, the graphical unlock app still isn't yet out, but we've tested an early build, and it definitely works! Check it out here.
Read - Official unlock guide
Read - Unofficial unlock guide
Terminal session for iUnlock
-sh-3.2# cd /usr/bin
-sh-3.2# chmod +x iUnlock
-sh-3.2# chmod +x minicom
-sh-3.2# launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.CommCenter.plist
-sh-3.2# iUnlock ICE03.14.08_G.fls nor
iUnlock v42.PROPER -- Copyright 2007 The dev team
Credits: Daeken, Darkmen, guest184, gray, iZsh, pytey, roxfan, Sam, uns, Zappaz, Zf
* Leet Hax not for commercial uses
Punishment: Monkeys coming out of your ass Bruce Almighty style.
Sending Begin Secpack command
Sending Erase command
Waiting For Erase Completion...
Sending Write command
00%
05%
10%
15%
.
.
.
95%
Sending End Secpack command
Validating the write command
FW are equal!
Completed.
Enjoy!
-sh-3.2# pwd
/usr/bin
-sh-3.2# bbupdater -v
Resetting target...
pinging the baseband...
issuing +xgendata...
firmware: DEV_ICE_MODEM_03.14.08_G
eep version: EEP_VERSION:207
eep revision: EEP_REVISION:7
bootloader: BOOTLOADER_VERSION:3.9_M3S2
Done
-sh-3.2# minicom
"", line 2331, terminal 'hpansi': exit_am_mode but no enter_am_mode
"", line 2385, terminal 'iris-ansi': save_cursor but no restore_cursor
"", line 2403, terminal 'iris-ansi-ap': save_cursor but no restore_cursor
"", line 4359, terminal 'vi603': enter_insert_mode but no exit_insert_mode
"", line 8138, terminal 'dg+ccc': set_color_pair but no initialize_pair
"", line 8508, terminal 'd430c-dg-ccc': set_color_pair but no initialize_pair
"", line 9587, terminal 'hp+color': set_color_pair but no initialize_pair
"", line 9595, terminal 'hp2397a': set_color_pair but no initialize_pair
Welcome to minicom 2.2
OPTIONS:
Compiled on Jul 21 2007, 05:09:51.
Port /dev/tty.baseband
Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys
AT S7=45 S0=0 L1 V1 X4 &c1 E1 Q0
OK
AT
OK
AT+CLCK="PN",0,"00000000"
OK
AT+CLCK="PN",2
+CLCK: 0
OK
launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.CommCenter.plist
=END=
Put in the SIM and voila!
ALL HAIL OPEN SOURCE!
I bet these guys had the unlock this whole time. They were just waiting to release it when that other site started charging people for it.
Now, what's the hack to turn the Touch's 16gb to 160gb?
Sheewt, I am just awful at Computers. Id rather spend the extra 100 dollars!
Mother of God
oo man that had to sucked some poor souls paid 100 bucks yesterday when it came out the next days its free, thats what i call a competetive price drop
Are you going to ask for a refund?
What's the bet you don't get one. :-P
inorite?
maybe they'll get a gift card
Does this work for windows users?
yeah see the "more information here" link:
http://iphone.unlock.no/
still not enough to convince me to buy an iphone
Nobody cares.
Question I haven't seen asked or answered...
If I put a SIM from another AT&T (non-iphone) phone into an unlocked iPhone, will visual voice mail and YouTube work?
Thanks
Jonathan, just call them "early adopters".
now.. me need to buy an iphone
Why don't you guys change the site's name to www.iPhoneWorshippers.com?! Honestly, I'm getting kind of sick about seeing the picture of the iPhone every 3rd feed. Especially, when it isn't even that good of a product.
use the apple free feeds ya tool.
stop your whining.
i'd like to see you make a better device...
oh boo hoo.i dont own or want an iphone but you can do what i do most of the time and IGNORE IT!skimming over a picture and story wont kill you.
grats to the iPhone Dev Team always love when open source matches commercial products and tops it by being free.
Thank you. Now I know the product is innovative or whatever, but its not that special, and on a site all about tech news, it is annoying to see them so concentrated on one device, product, and brand.
bboyrskids, you got me there. I honestly couldn't make a better device. Neither could you and the majority of the world. But you know who could? Microsoft. And they've been doing it for years before the iPhone and I don't see Engadget sucking up to them.
Now as far as the "Apple Free" feeds go, I simply don't like the layout of it. Why should we have to go to the modified original site? As far as I know, the iPhone sales haven't been doing that well that would merit Engadget to do all this publicity for them. It would be fair to have an optional "Uber-Apple" site instead.
Ant, I wouldn't own an iPhone if someone gave one to me. I'd sell it for $500 and buy a car with it or something. My Dash has been my loyal companion for over a year now and I wouldn't replace it for the world.
Dyer13, I totally agree with you pal. It isn't special at all, and it is quite annoying to see it stamped all over the site. I wish Engadget stopped taking bribes from Apple, but you know...
Engadget has predicted your anti-iPhone/Apple feelings and has provided links that show everything except iPhone/Apple related news. If you don't want to read about iPhone or Apple then just use one of those links. I believe they posted them a few days ago, so you might have to scroll through some news to find them.
Microsoft's been making media players/cell phones/internet communicators for years? I might be reading your comment wrong, but Microsoft has never made those devices. They make an OS that others combine with their hardware into devices that work well with Microsoft's enterprise email system and desktop OS, but which are also buggy, crash-prone, and not natively cross-platform. And if you search Engadget for phones that utilize Microsoft's mobile phone OS, I think you'll find plenty of coverage for them.
I agree with PK.
Name one phone-based hardware device that microsoft has made and sold to the general public in the last... well... ever!?
There is plenty of coverage of anything that micro$oft makes sells and produces. Do a search for windows mobile 6.
You have been given a choice, use the apple-free feeds, or deal with it. No one wants to hear your whining.
Thanks PK for shooting down Alex, just another ungrateful guy that will knock down engadget for putting up current info. If engadget puts something up that I never intended on buying, it’s the knowledge that I gain from it. Ungrateful basterd.
"I'm getting kind of sick about seeing the picture of the iPhone every 3rd feed" then go away.
engadget will survive without you. it's there site not yours, and they write what they want.
deal kid.
Lord. boo hoo I don't have an iphone so I don't care.
Dude, engadget puts tons of stuff out that i couldn't give a rip about. handheld gps units, goofy PMP speakers, etc etc etc.
And I don't post whining about it like a dork. You know what I do? Manage to hit the pagedown key or spacebar. Like I do with every other site when I don't see something I'm interested in.
Find another hobby besides whining about stuff you don't care about to people that do.
Woah, woah, woah guys... I know you have to support your investment on the iPhone to the fullest and all, but c'mon now...
As far as the Microsoft remark goes, you know what I meant. Microsoft has been in the smartphone market for years and doing quite well on it. Name me one thing, aside from the 8GB "iPod" ability that the iPhone has over my Dash and I'll shut up. Hell, you guys can't even record video on this "multimedia" device.
Look, I am not saying that the iPhone is a complete P.O.S., but I am saying that it isn't all the big deal that you guys, and Engadget for that matter, claim it to be. Sure, it'll be awesome in the next generation or so, but as most 1G devices go, it's got some tweaks to overcome. Until then, save everyone the hassle of having to take an extra step to go to a "Apple-free" site. I mean, why do you think Engadget even made one? They even know that it might upset some folks (a lot of them) out there to even make the modified web site.
All in all, keep the replies coming... I completely understand that it can be quite frustrating to invest so much money on something that others put down... I feel your pain guys!
People are defending Engadget, not the iPhone.
The iPhone coverage has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not the phone is a good product. The fact is, whether you like it or not, the iPhone is absolutely the most talked about phone on the market this summer; nothing even comes close. So why would you expect different from a major corporate Blog? They're just covering the news.
Excellent! All now that's needed is this to be easy to use in OS X, Windows, and Linux. Then people can unlock their iPhone for free and not have to pay $99, which is ridiculous.
That's assuming this works. Either way, it'll be available to the masses for free. It's just a matter of time.
Death Star destroyed!
lol someone reads giz
this is great.... wish I knew how the heck to do it. I barely know where to find out this exists much less how to use it. guess I'll wait for a "price drop" from iphone sim free?
And this, in a nutshell, is the market for the iphone. I won't go so far as to say it's the smart phone for stupid people, but it is the smart phone for people that don't know that a two year old Windows Mobile device is far more capable (3g anyone?), and far more open.
@Pimpzilla: "...a two year old Windows Mobile device is far more capable (3g anyone?), and far more open."
With the exception that it's a "Windows Mobile device". I can't stand Windows Mobile as a platform, personally; it's too much like...well, Windows Desktop. I don't like the way that it operates, but that's just my personal preference. The fact that I'd prefer Apple's interface and UI/browser over microsoft's is in no way, however, a reflection on whether I'm an intelligent user or not. Quite the contrary, I'm fully capable of making an informed, technical decision, and I'll happily choose the iPhone because it fits my lifestyle in ways that are leagues apart from what Windows Mobile can provide.
Broad, sweeping generalizations FTL?
@Alex, why don't you go suck it!!
i just hope that IPSF just gives up selling its method and helps the comunity
lol @ "Quick and dirty guide to getting iUnlock running"
followed shortly by
"do not consider this a guide"
classic.
From what I can tell, the iPhoneSimFree unlock is based off of a lot of stuff that people have been passing around, and there was just one detail that they hadn't been sharing back, so once people got that last piece of the puzzle it all fit into place.
Wow! The hackers are faster than I thought. When I saw the prices for Simfree's stuff I balked. I knew a free solution was coming but I never imagined it would be this fast.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: God Bless those hackers.
and god bless america!
And God bless us, everyone!
We shall all remember 9/11 as the day that hackers opened up the iPhone for free.
...with razzleberry dressing.
Wow...
I'm amazed at the speed of the open source community yet again
Now the real question is...if you have enough dough to spend on an iphone..would you still want to show of your haz0r skills or take the safe route and spend a little more for peace of mind?
I keep seeing references to things like,
"If you have firmware 1.01 or later you can go to Settings → General → Netword → EDGE to configure EDGE. Check your provider's website for settings."
I know that the preferences panel exists on my iPhone, but I don't know how to enable it. I unlocked and rebooted in case that was what I needed to do; no luck.
(The main reason I want this setting, actually, is to turn *off* EDGE when I am roaming on AT&T. I want to use WiFi and voice only instead of $$$,$$$ in roaming.)
don't bother! I suggest getting a 2nd sim card. if you get charged roaming within the USA (I'm canadian btw) get a prepaid AT&T sim card. you can get $100 worth of prepaid on at&t or t-mobile usa and it doesn't expire for a whole year. I do this once a year with my cellphone and I don't use in a year what rogers would charge me in one weekend in roaming fees. the prepaid stuff doesn't get charged long distance or roaming. If you're frequently visiting another country get a prepaid sim card from local providers. wave goodbye to roaming fees.
*yawn* call me when the iphone can play snes, like my touch can(or be used as a gps navigator for my car, or copy-paste, or use mp3's as ringtones, or make word documents, or make excel documents, or watch powerpoint presentations , or install programs to do just about anything I want them to do).
your "touch" can do all this?
Most likely he means the HTC Touch.
Because watching powerpoint presentations is so much cooler than YouTube or videos on the iPod (the feature), right?
Am I the only one who has no problem with AT&T for their iPhone?
yes
probably not. but now people can use the iphone overseas...
i dislike most carriers equally, but AT&T seems to have bad coverage where i live, everything is in roaming. It would be nice for iPhone owners to be able to use the service of choice. Thats what it is all about anyways, right? Free country
I find (for me at least) that AT&T gives me some of the best coverage, better than verizon or t-mobile did when I used them. I was a verizon customer when I got my iPhone, and even if it wasn't just for the phone, I am glad I made the switch.
wurd, i love the hacking and freeing of the iphone, but im pretty happy with att. however, i hope now they start working on gps or upping the interet speeds or sometin
I love ATT. I get extremely fast internet and my phone works perfectly and clearly at both home and work. It's SO much better than my old service with Sprint (and $10 cheaper!)
I live in the heart of Chicago, though, so I'm sure it's not always like that for people that don't live in a big city.
Can someone answer this for me?
I am a current AT&T subscriber, out of contract (have had a Treo 650 for over 2 years now). I'm interested in an iPhone, but would certainly love to be able to use it without having to commit to another 2 years, and I'd also like to be able to use my existing plan (since I get a premier discount on monthly service).
If I unlock the iPhone with this (or something similar), would I be able to just pop in my SIM from my Treo and use it (including visual voicemail), or would I run into problems?
I am pretty sure you don't even need to unlock it! just use a tool like iAsign to bypass activation. I don't have an iPhone, but this is what I have gleaned from tuaw.com, so you may want to check there
I'm still within my 14-day return period, so I'm trying it right now...
Is there anyway to just use the iphone without the phone part? I hate the ipod touch and dont want the ATT service? Wasnt there a way to fake activate it?
Thanks
Wait, you hate the iPod Touch, but you want an iPhone without the phone part? Unless it's because you're bothered by some of the missing things on the iPod Touch (e-mail client, being able to enter in calendar appointments and notes, a speaker, etc.), what is the difference? I'm just not sure I understand why someone who hates the iPod Touch would be happy with a phoneless iPhone.
HELLO ENGADGET, THIS IS YOUR OVERLORD. YOU WILL NOW CEASE POSTING VERY IMPORTANT NEWS IN THE TECH COMMUNITY IF IT RELATES TO THE IPHONE, EVEN IMPORTANT, GROUNDBREAKING NEWS SUCH AS THIS SIMPLY BECAUSE I DO NOT LIKE THE IPHONE. ALSO, I AM A TOOL... AND YOUR OVERLORD.
Seriously, this is great news, even though I'm content with my AT&T service. Also since writing to the minicom is possible now, I'm sure the great people who brought us the unlock can bring data and other features to those who chose to not use AT&T.
Just to let you know, I unlocked my iPhone and am up and running on O2 in the UK. I did it all in Windows, too!
C~
BTW, why would you mind sticking with AT&T when the phone doesn't have 3G capabilities anyways? Besides, you're all stuck with a 2-year contract and it'll cost you some dough to break the contract.
How wrong are you? Very. I'm on AT&T but I opted for the Pick your plan prepay iPhone. That way I have all the good features such as Visual Voicemail and Unlimited data, without the contract.
Hey buddy. The only one who's wrong in this argument is you for opting for the iPhone period. Now, I didn't know that you could have opted for the prepay plan, that's a good deal indeed and I hope that others (the majority) figured that out and did the same. Unfortunately, I know that the majority (those who I intended my questions to) did not know/cared about it and went for the 2-year contract and are now stuck with it. Enjoy your toy buddy... hell, you definetely paid and arm and a leg for it... =)
An arm and a leg? 600 is barely a fingernail. Oh, excuse me for having a job.
Are you serious? $600 for a cell phone is unheard of. Now, I might not be as rich as you are, but I wouldn't pay that much for a phone no matter how much money I made. Especially when there are phones that can do much more than the iPhone out there for a fraction of the cost.
I don't even want an iPhone and I think this is cool as hell...gotta love open source
But does it actually work? Please confirm.
Yes, it works, i did it in windows too.
Bastards! This totally ruins engadget's iPhone SIM unlock giveaway!!!
Hahah, no one cares who win anymore. lol
Just to confirm -- up and running on O2 - UK. If anybody using windows needs help, tell me now, im going to bed soon...
where did you people outside the states buy your iPhones from?
i need help. i have a brand new iphone that hasn't been activated yet. im lost as to where to even start.
Maskeno, I have mac and and a pc, but utlimately i will be using it with the MAC. if i use this method will it be ok to work on the mac when i try to sync my itunes library? Also your help would be greatly appreciated; from jailbreaking it and on. thanks
I'm in Canada, and bought mine from detroit off of ebay
I'm on a Mac, does anyone have instructions for Mac instead of Windows? Thanks.
hi guys, would love to help, what's a good way to walk you through? There are guides now available...
Masenko, since you have already done this, do you mind giving us newbies a little help? I have a brand new in box iphone and needs help to get it upgraded to 1.02 and rest of the process. Can you do a write up? Appreciate all the help. Thanks.
If you are now w/ O2 in UK - can yu tell me what tariff that you'll be using?
Seriously : a tariff without unlimited data transfer will bring you a crippling monthly bill with its email-checking and surfing the net.
By the way, does anyone know whether there is any unlimited data plan in the UK? I see no point in unlocking mine unless I can have a decent tariff.
Cheers
I pay £50 a month for my tarriff. I get 22 hours free to any network, any time, plus I get 20mb data transfer and 500 texts.
C~
Thanks for the write-up Ryan. May I suggest putting in a reminder for people that they should have the iPhone fully charged, auto lock set to never for the purposes of the update - it does take 20 minutes after all!
Friend of mine went to the USA, won an iPhone at a Casino in Atlantic City. So I bought it from them :D
GUI version... Sweet
Worked like a charm!!!!!!
/bye bye AT&T, you SUCK!
Wonder why the first link is the "official", when it's clearly a rip off of the second "unofficial", which really is the original tutorial: http://iphone.unlock.no/
Just completed the free unlock about 10 minutes ago! Don't have an active SIM to try out tonight, but it does appear to work even when I put in an expired Kyivstar SIM since I can now access the extra settings for EDGE and to choose a carrier. At first the phone wasn't displaying AT&T after unlocking, but turning the phone off and on again got things back to normal and all appears well! Gonna try it out with my mother's T-Mobile SIM tomorrow and hooray to the free unlock heroes, you'll be getting a donation from me for sure. :-)
you're free to read another tech site. I suggest microsofts blog. it's uber nifty!!
Iword!
Engadget has predicted this sort of response and provided links on several occasions to feeds/versions of the site without Apple, iPhone (or both) news. The iPhone is a big deal (TM) in the tech world right now, get over it.
mines unlocked now ;]
Worked like a charm for me ;)
What other phone companies work in the US with the iphone... We do not have t-mobile... just SunCom, Cricket, Verizon, Sprint , AT&T...
My at&t service is always hit and miss... Drop at least 5-10 calls per day...
JUst make sure there on gsm, not cdma network and they should be ok.
So does this mean everyone wins the iPhone SIM unlock giveaway? Woohoo!