The story behind iUnlock: the first free, open iPhone SIM unlock software

If you're like us, you're furiously unlocking every iPhone in sight at the moment, but what you might not know is the story behind the hack. It all started Monday when iPhoneSIMfree was finally released. Hackers immediately bought up licenses and started looking into how the thing ticked, and found something rather surprising: the app flashes to the baseband chip -- something the iPhone Dev Team had originally said couldn't be done at all without hardware hackery, diverting effort away from such attempts.

But instead of just swiping the iPhone Dev Team's method, hackers started looking for different ways to achieve the same results now they knew a baseband flash could be done, and a certain Zappaz finally struck gold after working on it all Monday night and well into Tuesday. But that was only the beginning. [Updated after the break]

While Zappaz was at work doing the hack from scratch, there were other efforts underway to spoof iPhoneSIMfree's software. Hexxeh was attempting to do it with an external server, while Geohot got in on the action and purpotedly managed to pull it off by tricking the software to do its thing even if the server returned a negative. However, Geohot decided to put his hack on hold and use the Zappaz method, which was decidedly less sketchy, since it wouldn't take advantage of iPhoneSIMfree's work and application to perform the hack.

When Zappaz eventually logged off due to fatigue, Geohot was preparing to build an application to wrap around the Zappaz script so it'd be ready for distribution. That's when iUnlock.zip showed up on the iPhone Dev Wiki and the iPhone hacking scene came to a standstill.

Apparently the iPhone Dev Team HaRRo (specifically including members Daeken, Darkmen, guest184, gray, iZsh, pytey, roxfan, Sam, uns, Zappaz, and Zfhad) been working on the same general method as Zappaz the whole time, but managed to finish first, and prep and post a usable solution. This same group assembled the binary from iUnlock together with a couple of other files necessary to complete the unlock, thus assembling the first easily distributable, (relatively) easily executed, and completely free and open iPhone SIM unlock software anyone laid eyes on.

After spotting the first initial release, independent documentation (and later official) documentation began sprouting up; before you could say "that's the end of the road for iPhoneSIMfree sales," there were people unlocking their iPhones in droves -- free at last, after 74 days on the market.

Update: It seems only inevitable, but we've received word from the iPhone Dev Team that credit for iUnlock doesn't rest squarely on HaRRo's shoulders, nor was he apparently responsible for the initial release of the iUnlock tool. (In similar fashion nor was Draken apparently solely responsible for the first packaged release.) We won't get into the he said she said of the tale, but the iPhone Dev Wiki has released an official statement today on the software unlock, and credit for the hack is being given to a broader core group.

Donations can be sent to the iPhone Dev Team via PayPal to iphone dawt devteam att googlemail dawt com.

[dahdout @ Sep 12th 2007 1:13AM]

FIRST COMMENT, OH YEAAA

[Joseph Smrekar @ Sep 12th 2007 2:43AM]

This just in...
Those who paid $99 for their sim unlock software are getting a $99 dollar instore credit at...wait! you got effed!!! hahahhaha you impatient losers...

[Scott @ Sep 12th 2007 1:14AM]

GPS please!

[Selkcip @ Sep 12th 2007 1:16AM]

Wrong story...

[Ramze Sleiman @ Sep 12th 2007 1:41AM]

GPS is a hardware thing. Nothing in the world will make your current iPhone have GPS. Read a little, you might learn something.

[eminem213486 @ Sep 12th 2007 2:03AM]

the iphone could read the coordinates read from googlemaps app and route pointer location to a gps reading through bluetooth.

nmea bluetooth apis are everywhere. the only problem is bluetooth routing on iphone and maps app.

[bigsteve @ Sep 12th 2007 4:49PM]

@eminem213486 -very true.

I also wonder if there isn't an AT command that can pull the GPS data out of the baseband, as I bet there actually *is* an e911-use-only GPS in the GSM module.

Has anyone had to call 911 with an iPhone yet? Did the dispatcher mysteriously know exactly where you were after a few seconds?

[Tonicboy @ Sep 12th 2007 1:33PM]

eminem213486-

Did you just look up a bunch of pseudo-technical words and string them together randomly? Read coordinates from Google Maps? Huh? What?! Do you know some secret feature of Google Maps where it can figure out where you are on the map? Route pointer location to a GPS reading?! What does that even mean? Seriously dude, what are you smoking...

[eminem213486 @ Sep 12th 2007 8:01PM]

any link in google maps has the coordinates The X,Y on where you want the map to be when you link it. i think that this could be read by a hidden "gps port" app that would emulate a gps com port to a bluetooth device. this gpsport app would also read the coordinates from the bluetooth gps, this would give the x,y and it will change the map on iphone to your current position.

solution 2 would be a separate gps map application on top of iphone that connects to gps via bluetooth. (no need to download maps)

[Surkhail @ Sep 12th 2007 1:15AM]

thats what iphonesimfree desirves useing the dev teams work building on top then selling it for cash and not even to the end user puting people through alot of shit o whell i guess its all over now i got my phone unlocked thanks dev team!!

[dj-kenpo @ Sep 12th 2007 2:27AM]

what do you mean, what they deserve, as already mentioned, they sold licsences in bulk. they already go their money and ran off with it. cuz they're all classy-like...

[Scott @ Sep 12th 2007 1:16AM]

oops, wrong tab. Thought this was the gadget giveaway.

[Task514 @ Sep 12th 2007 1:16AM]

Should we expect a book on their lives and the iphone unlocking soon?! lol

[TK @ Sep 12th 2007 1:17AM]

Now they need a nice GUI version for even n00bs to use.

[TK @ Sep 12th 2007 1:18AM]

Actually a nice easy GUI one step software solution :D

[Michael @ Sep 12th 2007 1:19AM]

A heart-warming tale about two distant heroes, coming together to unite a world of imagination. And a blood curdling epic of a man who would risk everything to destroy it all. Coming this fall to theaters everywhere...

[Bob @ Sep 12th 2007 7:39AM]

Arnold Schwarzenegger is "Little Tortilla Boy"

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 12th 2007 8:27AM]

"I want him and his Tacos DEAD, you hear me??"

(great stuff)

[Amir Naqui @ Sep 12th 2007 10:13AM]

hahaha i see some comedy central presents junkies on here too.

[Tyler Ransom @ Sep 13th 2007 2:35AM]

Pablo Francisco right? "Oh f*ck yeaahh!"

or:

"We knooow too much!"

[EnergyBlue @ Sep 12th 2007 1:19AM]

Thx for sharing this iPhone Dev Team , now i can use my iphone in mexico
great work guys!!

[chris @ Sep 12th 2007 1:21AM]

so........if i unlock the phone for use with t-mobil, will they mind all the internet use on their network? if i buy a data plan will they just ignore all the use?

[malaeum @ Sep 12th 2007 9:05AM]

If you get the correct data plan then they wont mind. Its a matter of finding the correct one. IF you want to learn a bit more about t-mobile's data plan setup then cruise on over to howardforums.com. Using unlocked non-t-mobile phones on their network has been going on for years. I myself do this all of the time. Due to the advanced nature of the non-t-mobile phone I use alot more data than I ever could with one of their pieces of garbage. I've been doing all sorts of net surfing and yes, even youtube (despite what apple says, they were not the first to get this).

[Tarvus Domicus @ Sep 12th 2007 1:22AM]

iPhones are locked? Why would anyone buy something you can't use?

[carthis @ Sep 12th 2007 6:37PM]

Do you even understand the concept of a SIM lock?

[uberfu @ Sep 12th 2007 10:29AM]

Where have you been Tarvus ?

[Gadget Mike @ Sep 12th 2007 1:26AM]

When is the movie coming out?
iPhone: From Chinese factory to unlocked in 74 days.

[Frank @ Sep 12th 2007 4:55AM]

Try googling for "gsm carriers". To my knowledge att & tmobile are the only nationwide gsm carriers. The phone doesn't have hardware support for CDMA. That rules out verizon and sprint.

[two @ Sep 12th 2007 1:33AM]

ok guys help me out..seriously...I am debating ..on an ipod touch..or an unlocked iphone..now i have verizon..so would that be worthless to do? and whould i have to get a plane with t-mobile instead..anyone know..which carriers have SIM CARDS!!?!gahd..

[Surkhail @ Sep 12th 2007 1:36AM]

i would go with iphone just 100$ more will get u a phone sms maps a camara ipod with speekers and i think there are going to be more mods on the iphone in the feture un like the thouch t-moble has SIM CARDS

[Fat Tony @ Sep 12th 2007 1:41AM]

I think both Surkhall and yourself should just spend the money on grammar lessons instead.

[two @ Sep 12th 2007 1:40AM]

ok so i can just go out buy a tmobile sim card..and have it work just like that....do i have to sign a contract with them whats the big deal about unlocking other than you basically screw AT&T..which i am all for!!

[MR @ Sep 12th 2007 1:47AM]

I'd go with the iPhone. Sure you get 16GB for the same price of iPhone 8GB. But you lose bluetooth and the convenience of a single device. Besides, it's not like that extra 8GB is going to fit some people's music collection anyway...

[BiG� @ Sep 12th 2007 2:54AM]

Any GSM provider uses SIM cards I believe. In my part of the US, that means only T-Mobile or AT&T.

[eric cumbee @ Sep 12th 2007 1:05PM]

it depends where you live. AT&T and Tmobile coverage sucks in alot of places like georgia.

[Chris @ Sep 13th 2007 9:13AM]

They do not suck in the parts of Georgia that people with at least a high school education live in.

[Jeff @ Sep 12th 2007 1:55AM]

wow. only 4 iphone stories on the front page. you guys are slipping.

[dj-kenpo @ Sep 12th 2007 2:32AM]

ya i know eh? I was totally hoping for some exciting image of an lcd screen from samsung instead... ohhh... so exciting... haven't seen enough lcd's lately.

[sang lee @ Sep 12th 2007 1:57AM]

just got it unlocked. hardest part was the ibrickr i was having problem trying to brick it. after that it was smooth.

[wslcrew @ Sep 12th 2007 1:57AM]

I was gonna get iPod touch but now I'm seriously considering 4Gb iPhone for use with my t-mobile sim. My question is, if I'm on the t-mo network with unlocked phone, will apps like google maps, mail and youtube work??

[MR @ Sep 12th 2007 2:07AM]

You'll need to add T-mobile's internet plan ($19.99 I think) for the apps to work unless you only use Wifi. You'll also need a separate YouTube hack but someone's already written a script for it. So basically everything (except visual voice mail, or whatever that's called) works as long as you have a comparable t-mobile plan (i.e. voice+data)

[simplyjas @ Sep 12th 2007 2:04AM]

Sorry to sound like an idiot, but how do I unlock my iPhone now? Is there something I have to download? Once again, my apologies for sounding like a moron to all the smart ones on here...

[shakeboy2k @ Sep 12th 2007 2:07AM]

I really hope that the crackers are going to give the people who are paying $600-$750 on eBay for unlocked 8GB iPhones a $100 Apple Store credit voucher. Those poor poor people.

I mean, suckers.

[eminem213486 @ Sep 12th 2007 2:07AM]

id also like to say bc of this hack i just bought me a refurb iphone from apple.com :p i can rest assured i can resell later when 3g comes out.

[Rich @ Sep 12th 2007 8:51AM]

$349 for a refurbished 8GB iPhone. Why not just spend the extra $50 and get a brand new one?

[Rich @ Sep 12th 2007 8:54AM]

$349 for a refurbished 8GB iPhone. Why not just spend the extra $50 and get a brand new one?

[Shahryar @ Sep 12th 2007 10:32AM]

What's wrong with saving $50 on $400? That's a pretty decent savings if you ask me - and Apple Refurbs are great. This is how I'm probably going to buy my iPhone soon too actually.

[eminem213486 @ Sep 12th 2007 7:54PM]

to me it always comes down to. i could buy alot of gas with $50 dollars!

[eminem213486 @ Sep 12th 2007 8:07PM]

im also still on AT&T and pay 60 a month for data + phone. i just dont want to enter a contract again. AT&T scares the shit out of me.

[two @ Sep 12th 2007 2:11AM]

so i would have to get a tmobile plan or just the 20$ month...internet fee thing..? well and a sim card..can you just buy those??