Hands-on with DesbloqueioBr's iPhone 3G unlock

We just happened to be in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this week and when the news popped up that a group of Brazilians had unlocked the iPhone 3G, we just had to pop in to say hi. Like the Turbo SIM unlock for the original iPhone, this system uses a wafer-thin card that piggybacks on your SIM while in the phone. Of course, Turbo SIM needed some tools installed on the iPhone -- so Jailbreak was key -- this solution does not, just DesbloqueioBr's chip and your SIM. Paulo and Breno of DesbloqueioBr explained that the magic lies in the programming of the SIM adapter itself, by tricking the iPhone into believing a test SIM has been inserted, the iPhone allows service and then functionality is handed back to your SIM. We tested the unlock in our own FIDO locked handset with a local TIM SIM card, then in their AT&T set, and it worked perfectly in both. How much will this cost average Joe iPhone user? They were pretty tight lipped as to what the final pricing will be and how exactly they'll deliver the service, but we should hear more in the next few days. Check the vid of it all in action after the break.

[ridahgadgetguy @ Jul 16th 2008 9:13AM]

well it's about time ! but still hoping for dev team pwnage tool to unlock WITH installer.app

[Dale Massey @ Jul 16th 2008 9:11AM]

Thirst.

[Itsuru @ Jul 16th 2008 9:26AM]

Why has there been so many "first" comments lately?

[Dale Massey @ Jul 16th 2008 9:33AM]

Come on I was being ironic / idiotic.

[Number_41 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:35AM]

Also, Im all for saying that brazilians are first and what not being brought up there..but I think TA, from Vietnam deserves the credit...

http://www.gsm.com.vn/forum/main/showthread.php?t=107515

Sorry brazilians :)

N41

[Number_41 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:52AM]

Engadget,

While you're in Brazil be sure to check out Cafe Photo.

You may just enjoy it.

N41

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 16th 2008 12:03PM]

Good one.... Thirst. Kudos to ya. Keep up the good work with more original stuff.

[Bob @ Jul 24th 2008 8:45AM]

Thecond

[Brian @ Jul 16th 2008 9:11AM]

T-Mobile US meet iPhone 3G.

[ScOObyDoo @ Jul 16th 2008 9:23AM]

iPhone 3G, meet slow as hell EDGE Data.

[JAmerican @ Jul 16th 2008 9:25AM]

...at EDGE speeds. The iPhone 3G does not support T-Mobile 3G which is at 1700MHz band.

[bachviet @ Jul 16th 2008 11:10AM]

@ ScOObyDoo

Just about as fast as AT&T 3G at this moment anyway. ;-)

[Mark @ Jul 16th 2008 9:12AM]

Can this also trick AT&T in making them charge my neighbour?

[nanobis @ Jul 16th 2008 9:13AM]

is there supposed to be no sound on the video,

btw 1st.

[CromwellD @ Jul 16th 2008 9:26AM]

Nope. I count four posts before you... And who cares if you are the first to post anyway? Does it make you feel special?

[Dale Massey @ Jul 16th 2008 9:14AM]

So this gives access to standard features by tricking the phone into thinkning it is a test SIM.

Does this require a test version of iTunes to activate the phone?
I thought the public version of iTunes wouldnt be capable of activating and syncing with a "test" or debug device?

[Matt Smith @ Jul 16th 2008 11:53AM]

Good questions... find anything out? I don't see any replies yet.

[Zf @ Jul 16th 2008 9:21AM]

Could those guys be kind enough to show us reliable incoming calls, incoming sms, and data ?

That test IMSI trick can be performed on every mobile, but usually you won't get attached properly to the network ...

[Number_41 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:25AM]

They are charging about 400 USD for it

N41

[rodsky @ Jul 16th 2008 9:36AM]

F that

in the US will it even matter if you can unlock it? since T-Mobile doesnt use the same 3G band

[deyanimay @ Jul 16th 2008 7:59PM]

there is still gps

[natels @ Jul 16th 2008 9:29AM]

Are devs going to start making jailbroken apps now? Or can you use the previous ones?

[Meezzio @ Jul 16th 2008 9:53AM]

A serious question though? Why would a developer choose to create Jailbroken apps when they could just distribute for free (and legitimately) in App Store?

[Lombardi @ Jul 16th 2008 10:25AM]

this is their web site with new videos

http://desbloqueiobr.com.br/portal/

[Hellios @ Jul 16th 2008 9:58AM]

Because apple does not allow voip over wifi apps, nor turn-by-turn gps navigation apps, porn apps (well it has a touch screen), etc.

[SirCrumpet @ Jul 16th 2008 10:04AM]

Because there is still a need for some apps to be *truly* running in the background, or to integrate with the device in ways that apple doesn't allow, such as the Last.fm MobileScrobbler ( http://dev.c99.org/MobileScrobbler/ ) or Summerboard.

[Red @ Jul 16th 2008 9:37AM]

for that price you could buy a simlock free iphone in Belgium (525 €)

[Robert @ Jul 16th 2008 10:28AM]

The belgium phone has a country lock, so it will work only with providers present in belgium.

[KyleK @ Jul 16th 2008 5:34PM]

Not true. The phone has been tested with German SIMs and it works fine. All you need is a Belgian iTunes account to activate it.

[kamiboy @ Jul 21st 2008 12:35PM]

KyleK

Can you give me a link backing up your claims about the Belgian iPhone being fully unlocked as opposed to locked to belgium?

I was just about ready to pull the trigger on a Belgian iPhone when I found out the fine print on Mobistars website.

I have had enough with all the hassles of hardware and software unlocks, I just want a legit unlocked iPhone so I can upgrade to future firwares without worry.

[JJV @ Jul 24th 2008 4:26PM]

Swisscom is selling it for 320Euros + and addition 30 euros or so to get rid of the sim lock.......

[nerdz182 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:49AM]

hey.

Which is the best place to unlock the firs iPhone, and is there a jailbreak for 2.0

Hep would be greatly appreciated ass i suck at google searches

[Number_41 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:51AM]

http://www.hackint0sh.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=123

N41

[desbloqueiobr @ Jul 16th 2008 12:16PM]

we doens't have any price for this. We are still thinking if we'll sell this or not some day.

[Pengadget @ Jul 16th 2008 9:53AM]

does this mean that the iphone is still useless?

[Steve Miller @ Jul 16th 2008 9:59AM]

Way to use the 1st gen. SIM slot releasing tool thingy...gawd. =D

[chilko @ Jul 16th 2008 10:16AM]

dealextreme sells the adapter for about $7. with free shipping

[Michael @ Jul 17th 2008 1:45PM]

Didn't the first gen iPhone's TurboSIM hack break incoming calls because of the way it messes with the SIM's IMSI?

Is this still the case with this iPhone 3G unlock, or does it work fine with incoming and outgoing calls and SMS, as well as 3G and EDGE?

[Eric @ Jul 16th 2008 10:36AM]

I couldn't get my T-Mobile Blackberry to work in Bello Horizonte three weeks ago.

But since you're in Sao Paulo, if you see Jane, tell her howdy from Eric. You'll know here 'cuz she's the smokin' babe with the incomparable eyes and the wicked smile. And the cute 6 year old daughter.

If you make it up to Salvador, make sure to eat at Mama Bahia's. Friend of a friend owns it, and it's rated the best restaurant in Salvador four years running. It's in the historic downtown district. Incredible Bahia cusine!

Have fun!

[Nomi @ Jul 16th 2008 10:55AM]

LAST!
.
.
.
.
.
I dare you...

[r3loaded @ Jul 16th 2008 11:37AM]

Fail :)

[Billy Gun @ Jul 16th 2008 11:15AM]

Congratulations for the Brazilian Team!

[zephxiii @ Jul 16th 2008 11:22AM]

we need something like this for all locked handsets!

[yode @ Jul 16th 2008 11:23AM]

might as well wait for the software unlock.

[Carlos Alvear @ Jul 16th 2008 1:02PM]

but....how you activate it? because you suppose to activate it first to use the Sim adapter or not? I have a TurboSim..

[cf292007 @ Jul 16th 2008 1:13PM]

you can't use the 3g over there because it doesn't support the same at&t 3g bands

[Me @ Jul 17th 2008 4:58PM]

This unlocking makes no sense....in a few weeks Brazil will have Iphone available in 3 different carriers, costing basically the same as USA.
Besides that, in Brazil it is completelly ilegal to unlock any phone that you bought under a contract....

So this guys wont be able to sell this shit there....or they will go to jail!!

[phelipe @ Jul 20th 2008 3:43PM]

Actually it's illegal SIM LOCKED mobile phones in Brazil. All the Carriers need to unlock if you ask... Just like Hong Kong..

[TwhiT @ Jul 16th 2008 2:48PM]

I wish I was JUST happened to be in Brasil >.<

LUCKYS!!!!!!!1

[Jonathan @ Jul 16th 2008 3:23PM]

they sell these wafer things at fruper DoT com for like 35 dollars... it has been on their website for quite a while.... i thought it wouldn't work, but it looks like they might...