iPhoneSimFree-unlocked iPhones require AT&T SIM to reactivate
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Sep 27th 2007 6:46PM
posted Sep 27th 2007 6:46PM
As we're sure a few readers have noticed, unlocked iPhones upgraded to 1.1.1 today aren't exactly unlocked anymore. Unlocking aside, the jailbreaking procedure that was used to load pretty much every application onto firmwares of old isn't working at the moment, so it seems the community's got a little work ahead of it in the next few hours. In the meantime, though, iPhoneSimFree has updated its site with the results of preliminary testing on the latest revision. The good news for buyers is that they apparently aren't getting the "Incorrect SIM" lockdown messages being observed by some anySIM users -- the bad news, though, is that you've gotta reactivate the darned thing with your original AT&T SIM after the upgrade takes place, then you're cool after that. Until the jailbreak is reestablished, activations won't be possible with alternative SIMs. EDGE usage looking a little lighter at the moment, there, T-Mobile?[Thanks, Wireless Imports]
I'm jailed right now with my GoPhone sim. I did not expect them to lock out GoPhones lmao. Kinda sucks, but oh well.
who would have thought, right?
All your Bases are belong to Engadget!
"As we've sure a few readers have noticed" ????
So my bet for the "re-unlock" is in the next 48 hours. I figure since it's a known quantity at this point, the second time should be faster.
lol i dont get it tho...att isnt bad service y do people so deperately want their iphone on tmobile? i came from tmobile and i can guarantee my iphone works in places my old tmobile phone didnt
You are thinking USA-centric. There are thousands of iPhone users around the world now that can use the iPhone once it is unlocked and they are not with AT&T or T-Mobile.
Cancellation fees are a bitch.
Because some people (including me) don't get at&t coverage where they live. Plus T-mobiles data plans are cheaper.
I found no price difference between T-Mobile and AT&T.
T-Mobile myFaves 300 + Total Internet = $59.95/mo.
Downside: loose the minutes at the end of the month, they do not transfer to the next month like AT&T does.
Upside: with T-Mobile you have 5 favorites that you can call for free at all times (and you do not get charged minutes if they call you - according to the T-Mobile rep).
As Luke already stated: some people just do not have coverage for AT&T - like me.
I seriously tried it for two weeks (why go the hard way if the easy would work, right?).
With AT&T I had 9 out 10 calls dropped even before it finished dialing.
At home (yes outside, and yes even on the roof!) and at work ... zero to 1 bar - IF you're lucky.
T-Mobile on the other hand; even inside 4 bars, every where else: 5 bars.
And ... no black-outs between towns ...
So a VERY good reason to unlock ...
Oh and as for Apple; I did have to pay the activation fee, so they already received their cut on that one. Spendy experiment bu the way: about $100 ... down the drain ...
It's the whole two year contract thing for me. Sign a two year contract for the privilege of using AT&T without any subsidy on the phone? AT&T must be laughing (all the way to the bank) on pulling that off.
no subsidizy on the phone? what do you think being locked to contract that gives apple and at&t money over 2 year perioid is if not sub?
it's just that you pay extra too, making iphone one of the most expensive phones on the market(more expensive than phones that sell for 700-800$ unlocked, really)
"This stereo plays techno music just fine. Why do you people so desperately want to play rock music on it?"
"so it seems the community's got a little work ahead of it in the next few hours."
good luck, theres been a team working on the ipod touch just trying to jailbreak it for two weeks. No luck. I don't doubt it will happen, but its not going to be as easy this time.
I bet all those people that actually paid for unlocking their phone are pissed right about now. Especially the guy that gave a car and 5 working iPhones for it....
thats assuming those people were dumb enough to update.
when i had the psp, it was the same, lock with updates, hack it within a few weeks game.
if you're smart you wait until the update has been dealt with before updating. If they never crack it.. well.. hope you like your device as is.
The guy who gave the car was not stupid. He knew that there would be a free unlock soon. It is obvious to anyone that he didn't give the car just to have an unlocked phone since it would have been cheaper to get an AT&T account and pay for it for the next 20 years.
He gave the car out of respect for GeoHot's accomplishment.
i agree scott. its just a matter of time. we´ll get another way around. as Jobs said: This is a cat & mouse game.
Unfortunately this is a "HA HA, HA HA... HA!!!" type situation iPhone owners are in...
I have a PSP and wish that I could go homebrew, but I dare not attempt it, because I know Sony could and would brick it, at their whim... Sony isn't playing nice with the PSP, just the same as Apple isn't with the iPhone.
iPhones users may own the unchangable hardware, but they'll never own the firmware. Apple can't change the internals, but they can change the guts... It's gonna be a never-ending battle until Apple conceeds to allowing 3rd party apps...
Here's the problem... Most iPhone users are iTunes users, who have iTunes purchases. Say, maybe they change something in iTunes that requires the latest firmware in the iPhone. Well now you can't sync or possibly even purchase music over the iTunes Wifi Music store, without this firmware update. Then you're forced to upgrade... So music can be unsecured with a burn, right? Well what about purchased video? Video can't be burned and ripped from iTunes... Some one cracks the firmware/modifies it? Apple issues a new iTunes update? Then disallows access to it until you upgrade everything to the latest and greatest.
What if Apple throws automatic firmware upgrades on the iPhone via a software update mechanism? Then they can just about force firmware updates.
Whether you're using 3rd party apps or T-Mobile service, you're gonna be screwed on both fronts. I don't think Apple will give up on either of them for quite sometime, pending the law dictates otherwise, through some unknown loop-hole....
"I have a PSP and wish that I could go homebrew, but I dare not attempt it, because I know Sony could and would brick it, at their whim... Sony isn't playing nice with the PSP, just the same as Apple isn't with the iPhone."
I guess you never heard about pandora's battery:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora%27s_Battery#Pandora.27s_Battery
With-it, you no-longer need to fear of bricking your PSP (although it doesn't work on the PSP Slim yet).
Has Apple required you to update your iPod in order to play stuff from iTunes before???? Honest question people, anyone know?
i needed to update my ipod video to play new video content under the new resolution. so if they wanted to go that way with the dirty tricks they could.
@The Grand Master
Yes. There have been times where I've had to update my firmware after upgrading iTunes in order to connect to my Shuffle/Nano.
I know it might not make a difference, but I vented my disappointment with Apple on this at the iPhone feedback page ... seemed that whining about a price drop gave some a $100 iTunes coupon ... so if we ALL complain, maybe they will listen? (idle hope, I know, but a $100 iTunes coupon will work for now)
http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html
Anybody know if the SIM card that comes with the iPhone is tied to the phone at all?
I threw away my SIM card (Like an over anxious idiot), so I'm wondering if it's possible to just go to an AT&T store and ask for a new SIM or what?
You can go to any AT&T dealer and tell them you lost your SIM and need it replaced. They charge $20-$40 bucks for the card depending on where you go.
Due to all the rumors about iPhones and unlocking, anyone that goes to an AT&T store and asks for a new SIM is taken into a back room and grilled for hours by two burly federal agents as to why it was out of it's slot.
Then they force you to sign a document that if you're ever caught with an unlocked iPhone you must surrender it, pay a $10,000 fine and are banned from using any carrier other than AT&T for the next ten years.
Jeez, these guys are playing some hardball shizzle.
"My kid got a hold of it and took the thing out and I don't know what he did with it."
I've simply abstained from updating mine.
That's good. The catholic church recommends abstinence over other conventional methods.
*cough*....
what does this mean..
"EDGE usage looking a little lighter at the moment, there, T-Mobile?"
i dont get it.
really?
T-Mobile's edge network probably has taken a pretty significan dip in usage since many people who unlocked their iphones to work on t-mobile can no longer do so if they updated
Meaning, unlocked iphones are not working that are using T-mobile instead, so less people are using EDGE
OOOOoooooooooo, Geez im really dumb. :P
"Then they can just about force firmware updates."
Sounds familair.
iphone = psp = lame
Same lame user restrictions. Pathetic.
You pay money for the item, yet its not yours.
Why don't they just 'lease' the iphone since that is what you're really doing with this sort of 'arrangement'.
I'm holding out for a similar device that lets me treat the damn product like my own property..
exactly my bafflement, i don't understand what apple could even be thinking.
I imagine 14 years ago when I was in grade8 if sony had shown up at my public school to rip the stickers off my discman..
even at that young age I would have kicked them in the head.
now a days.. hell I'm tempted to pay apple a visit.
someone needs to smack steve back into reality. you bought it, you bought it, screw off.
They already do, it is called a WM Professional device. Check out the HTC Tytn II, or if you want restricted capacities like the iPhone, but sleek styling, check out the HTC Touch.
yeah but the HTC touch keyboard sucks - bad reviews..
@ Tony:
i always thought replacement SIMs cost money, but my friend lost her phone a couple weeks ago, and when she went to AT&T, they just gave her a new SIM and told her that they were free. or maybe it's because some nerdy AT&T tech helped her, and she's pretty good looking =P
Ask her out already!
..So she can hook you up with them free SIM cards.
Yeh, she sure was a fox. I'd give that cutie-pie free SIMS any day of the week. Drool.
ABSOLUTELY Agree with what you've said!!! I've had T-mobile/VoiceStream for over 7 years and I've NEVER gotten Dropped Calls and I've ALways Had Coverage and I go EVERYWhere>>>>>
I dont think I'll ever part with them if they continue on this Great Streak = D
Oh and by the way Customer Service In Store AND On the Phone is REALLY the BEST out of them all from Personal Experience. Always very Helpful and Courtious>>>>>
ABSOLUTELY Agree with what you've said!!! I've had T-mobile/VoiceStream for over 7 years and I've NEVER gotten Dropped Calls and I've ALways Had Coverage and I go EVERYWhere>>>>>
I dont think I'll ever part with them if they continue on this Great Streak = D
Oh and by the way Customer Service In Store AND On the Phone is REALLY the BEST out of them all from Personal Experience. Always very Helpful and Courtious>>>>>
I live in Michigan USA btw.
Here's to the 6 people currently using their iPhones on AT&T, cheers!
I'm probably gonna get the Black PSP Slim when it comes out, so I'll haft to live with that. My problem in the PSP side of things is this, with going homebrew... I've accepted DRM for the time being. My iTunes Music Store was Sony CONNECT and my iPod is my PSP. I'm hoping Sony implements Windows Media DRM 10 into the PSP, since their Walkman division recently made the DRM switch here in the U.S.
The reason Sony is trying to stop homebrew is because they're trying to close the majority of the holes that exist in the firmware, before they launch online game downloads and upcoming movie/music services, atleast in my opinion. Also, Sony exec's have expressed security concerns with running 3rd party software, the same as Apple with the iPhone. I don't mind web based applications myself, though unfortunately, their functionality tends to be limited. Running 3rd party apps on the PSP, like viruses probably aren't as serious (less they brick it) as they would be on the iPhone. Viruses could wipe your address book out or SPAM everyone in your address book or spread through bluetooth or rack-up cell minutes via dialers running in the background.
I would love to have VNC for the PSP or an FTP PSP client. But, not at the risk of idiots screwing me over, cause it's fun to brick other's PSP...
But, life is a risk! So I dunno...
Dude, we're talking about the iPhone. Seriously.
"Apple essentially has two choices. Either it exposes most of the iPhone’s capabilities to developers. Or it will have to gird for an ever escalating war in which it will have to send ever more electronic brick-bombs to its best customers who don’t follow its strict rules."
Source:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/steve-jobs-girds-for-the-long-iphone-war/
I'm that guy, the guy that you ask when you have problems with your laptop, and through some miracle of magic I make it do tricks like a show pony.
I was also the same guy that tsk'd and constantly berated friends and family with windows, constantly showering them with info on the "awesome, new!,, crack snazzle and pop" of the latest Steve Jobsian product.
Alas no longer,
Have I mature?..... maybe?
Have I realised that Apple needs a sustainable business model of selling products and staying true to contracts, of course.
Am I an Apple advocate? no sadly no, no longer.
I convinced Mother, Father, and all three brothers. Countless friends and acquaintances, to all purchase Mac, but alas no longer.
I worked as an HP Rep in stores selling laptops and printers, but sneakily, ever so sneakily I would make the customers buy macs, because I new, just new, it was better for the customer.
But alas no longer,
Oh, grow up!
"Have I mature?"
Don't know, but surely you have manure.
"because I new, just new"
Maybe you've matured, but your English skills still have a little ways to go.
not updating my iphone
I feel bad for the people who brought unlocked iphones off ebay for $1000+ and is not in a ATT area
Just YESTERDAY I bought an iPhone off eBay, for use in the UK with Virgin Mobile.
I wont be updating mine for obvious reasons, but also that Virgin Mobile offer a really good £10 serice plan which gives you 300 minutes and 300 texts each month, because I also get my internet, cable tv, and home phone from them.
I paid £330 for the phone (£60 over the o2 price) But I will save that much money in two months of contract.
Winnar?
if your not one of the iphone dev hacker team members then why would you upgrade before an updated crack has been made.
Its simple sit back for a bit and don't upgrade, wait for the dev team to release a new simfree utility for 1.1.1 as well as the other utilities for 1.1.1 before you go upgrading its that simple
Here's a little secret for anyone that tried to upgrade their unlock iPhone and is now getting the activation required/invalid SIM message.
First off, Apple changed the IMEI on your iPhone to a special one that identifies your phone was unlocked by third party software. If you take your phone to a Genius Bar or call Apple Support, they will ask for the IMEI number. If it's this special IMEI, they will stop and not help you any further.
HOWEVER...
There is an unconfirmed bug that the 1.1.1 update is causing the same IMEI activation message on AT&T GoPhone (prepaid) accounts. If you tell the person at the Genius Bar that this is a GoPhone account, they will replace your iPhone right then and there with no further questions. You must have an AT&T SIM card in the phone, but the Apple employees have no way of verifying whether or not it is a GoPhone account or not.
IMEI gets changed all right. You takes the risks, and pays the price.
Anyone know if you can take the SIM from the now inoperative iPhone and move it to a new, unactivated one?
Amazing. You just saved a lot of people's asses. Apple screwed up. If they didn't have this bug, their plans would have worked like a charm.
You can get an AT&T SIM for $20 by just going to RadioShack and buying a $20 GoPhone. Do it fast, before Apple catches on.
If the IMEI is changed, then would it not also screw up iPhoneSIMFree's new software to unlock iPhones upgraded to 1.1.1? I had to give my IMEI to iPhoneSIMFree so that they could authenticate my license. If my IMEI changes when I upgrade to 1.1.1, and a new version of iPhoneSIMFree is released, how will their authentication software identify my phone as validly licensed for the unlock?
Some ppl like myself use Cingular already but want it unlocked so they can use overseas
I know, but it's sad. You should consider a real unlocked phone. Normally AT&T would unlock any phone you buy from them if you say that you need to use it overseas, just call them. They make up their subsidy because you are under contract with them.
In the case of the iPhone, Apple makes revenue from your AT&T service. So AT&T will not unlock your phone and Apple doesn't want your phone unlocked either since they lose revenue.
This is a device, due to the way Apple thinks that their product is so hot that carriers should pay them to offer it, that will always be a locked down device. They changed the whole revenue model in cellular telephony and in the process negated the major benefit of GSM: portability of your accounts and devices. If they can't track your usage, they won't get paid. So they NEED you to be tied down to a carrier that will pay them for every service you use on that phone.
The one question I have is, what about auto-updating? All of the other carriers do this with their phones. Updates are automatically sent to your mobile phone around the clock. Of course you never notice it (who would notice firmware version 1.2.2 from 1.2.3 on their mobile phone?).
So do you have to manually update, or can / is it automatic? If it does become automatic, remember that's the norm in the cellphone world.
OTA (Over the Air Updates) require that they know your phone number.
If you are using your unlocked phone on Tmobile or Rogers, how would Apple or AT&T know to send the update to your phone?
Best solution is not to update your iPhone firmware nor iTunes.
Not a problem for me cause I dont buy tunes from the iTunes store.
Peter
Hmmm...interesting.........and thanks!
Um, this may be a stupid question.. but cant you just restore your iphone to firmware 1.0.2 and not use the Wifi itunes music store, oh boo hoo, download them from your comp.. Odds are you'll probably be at your computer when you find a song you want to buy anyways... and the starbucks thing, who cares.. really.. Just ask the guy next to you with an iphone what its called and download it when you get home.. doesn't anyone know how to restore the phone with an firmware 1.0.2???????
lot's of people shitting bricks today, ...ibricks that is.
Makes no difference to me being an owner of the 4G for $300 I never wanted a data phone anyway, I have a data card and a laptop for that. Now when they make it jailbreak free that will piss me off the most. I've all ready sworn to myself I'll never opt for a mobile contract again.
I unlocked one of my iPhones manually, before any GUI versions were available to me. This phone is activated with AT&T (Go Phone). I unlocked my second iPhone with anySIM. This phone was never activated with AT&T. Is there any way to restore or otherwise return these phones to their original state and then update to 1.1.1? I would like to get my phones back to the locked and unhacked state in such a way that Apple's software would not detect that my phones had ever been altered so that my IMEIs don't change when I upgrade to 1.1.1. Thanks.
My unlocked iphone shipped today. Will not update it for sure.
HELP!
I bought an iphone yesterday. I ran itunes and did a restore + update. When i used ibrickr it said it worked and even installed anySim. But then the phone still says emergency calls only, please connect to itunes.
Does anyone know if I did the restore as instrcted if the 1.1.1 firmware went on or if the ibrickr problem is a common one. I don't want 1.1.1 on the phone and am happy with an unlocked one with 1.0.2. But I am worried itunes has already installed 1.1.1 any tips?
When doing the restore it certainly didn't look like it downloaded a 150MB file!!! So maybe I am in luck. Has anyone had a problem with iBrickr saying it worked but the phone still not being jail broken?
THANKS!!
Did any really think AT&T/Apple would just roll-over and take this unlocked non-sense? I really don't understand some of these posts that cry about fees & contracts. You shelled out $400 to $1000 buck for the phone in the first place. That seemed easy for you to do. Now to break the contract is a low $175 dollars and that is waaaaaay too much for some of you. A cell phone is a perk item. If you can't take the looong term effects of this ALWAYS changing technology, you are in for one hell of a time of dissapointent.
Jersey...
Fuck Apple over this. I want an iPhone, however I don't want to leave T-Mobile for O2 in the UK. O2 is a terrible service, with terrible customer service, requires you to battle a war of words with their phone monkies in India to cancel thier lame-ass contract. Sure, this news is about AT&T, but this will obviously bleed-over into the UK launch on 9th November this year. With the difficulties people have had jailbreaking the iPod Touch, I don't hold high hopes of this new iPhone firmware being broken any time soon and thus, no new Sim hacks can occour until the iPhone is re-jailbroken.
Apple, stop being a money whoring bitch over your multimillion dollar contracts and for once, think about your end users here. Not about your already lined pockets!
Nice simulation of righteous rage. You clearly need to invest in the numerous unlocked cellphones that are available.
That is not true. O2 has amazing service and their support team is in Yorkshire (north of England). I've been with them for 6 years I will not be buying IPod expensive, but I won't leave O2 extremly cheap. I pay 9.99 quid per month 500 mins + 100 txt anytime any network, beat that!
Nice simulation of (self-)righteous rage! You clearly need to invest in one of the many unlocked cellphones that are available.
I still have the old sim card the one that came with the iphone. I have already installed iphonesimfree and i'm using it with a cingular gophone sim card. What is gonna happen if I upgrade? thanks in advance
I need advice... i live in Belgium and we have a law that says you can't lock any phone for any period of time further more you cant have exclusive phones for any carrier so is unlikely that apple will sale the iPhone here anytime soon, but thanks to Ebay there are some (high priced) unlocked iPhones available in my city... now the suestion is.. would it be totally stupid to get an unlocked device nowthat the new update F**k's it up??? can i still manage teh device on iTunes without UPDATING it?? or should i just wait till the hackers come up with a solution??? its also an american iPhone wich i belive doesn't support other languages keyboards (correct me if i said anything wrong) and please give me some advice... thanks in advance