iPhone 3G finally unlocked by the Dev-Team!

Well this has been a long time coming. It seems that the iPhone Dev-Team has finally done the impossible -- they've gone and unlocked the iPhone 3G. The hack isn't out yet (the team says they're shooting for a December 31st release), and it requires that you've got a baseband of 2.11.07 or earlier, but when it drops, the crew seems fairly confident it will result in freedom from carrier oppression. The team is packaging the app -- formerly codenamed "yellowsn0w" -- into a user-friendly app a la PwnageTool and QuickPwn. Of course, you know how this cat and mouse game goes by now, so don't be surprised when Jobs and company come calling with an update that adds toast making to the official menu, but breaks your breaks all over again.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Alex @ Dec 16th 2008 8:56AM]

now that was stupid in mor than just one way.

[Charlie Tokowitz @ Dec 16th 2008 8:49AM]

!!¡¡¡

[Flashpoint @ Dec 16th 2008 9:01AM]

epic pwnage.

It took me just 45 minutes to unlock mine.

[Bobby @ Dec 16th 2008 11:21AM]

@Flashpoint
my record 1 hour with 2.28
Crap Team dissapoint again and with 2.11 only it won't last long. As evil company will add new features to baseband soon, their crap "unlock" is pretty much obsolete already

[Alex @ Dec 16th 2008 8:50AM]

Great! Been waiting for this.

[tom @ Dec 16th 2008 9:12AM]

Tipping my hat to the Dev-Team.

A job well done =D

[Tonicboy @ Dec 16th 2008 10:36AM]

Exactly, me too! Only problem is, I've also been waiting to buy... and now, how can I be sure that the one I buy has that baseband?! Any tips, anyone? Is that a common baseband or only in earlier batches?

[Blaine Oliver @ Dec 16th 2008 11:18AM]

Give me jailbroken iPod Touch 2G please.

[Shugg @ Dec 16th 2008 2:53PM]

Ok so y u been waiting,.what u gonna do with ur new iPhone $600,use it on tmobile USA ? You'll be at crawling edge speeds on tmobilusa, with a 3g phone.

[tealfixie @ Dec 16th 2008 10:02PM]

@Tonicboy I bought a 3g today. It had the right baseband. So go out and spend some money.

[Techlova @ Dec 16th 2008 8:50AM]

the dev team is seriously amazing.

[Dopefish @ Dec 16th 2008 8:52AM]

My fucking god, stop spamming your god damn site!!!!!!

[Dopefish @ Dec 16th 2008 11:17AM]

Thanks for removing the link engadget.


Now if you can edit comments, why the hell cant we?!!

[ProfessorKaos @ Dec 16th 2008 12:01PM]

I know, engadget, why can't we edit, its embarrassing to double post!

[rock99rock @ Dec 16th 2008 8:50AM]

SWEET! Value of this puppy just upped by $100 on ebay!

Not that that is any way to gauge the value of your gadgets...

[CubeGuy @ Dec 16th 2008 1:32PM]

Naw. That's the perfect way.

[andymac @ Dec 16th 2008 8:50AM]

finally...

[BIGKIDD325 @ Dec 16th 2008 8:54AM]

Watch them release a new iPhone next month.

[iCandy @ Dec 16th 2008 8:55AM]

Ha! iRaped again...

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 16th 2008 9:03AM]

+1. for the pic, at least.

[Saad Rabia @ Dec 16th 2008 10:31AM]

iLick?

[rock99rock @ Dec 16th 2008 10:40AM]

iBAMBAM

[loocas @ Dec 16th 2008 11:46AM]

iWant!

[cindy @ Dec 16th 2008 4:46PM]

iMotorboat....vrrrrmmmmmmmmmmm

[suprxtragrav @ Dec 16th 2008 8:55AM]

Next up, hopefully they'll start work on the iPod Touch v2!

[RaFy186 @ Dec 16th 2008 12:02PM]

We are going to have to wait as they already stated its not in their agenda. Anyone looking to trade a iPod Touch 2g for the 1st. LOL I bit the bullet

[Mile @ Dec 16th 2008 8:56AM]

In all seriousness: This is good because then you can switch carriers? Isn't the 3G part a bit of an issue with other technologies?

Or is there more things that can be done with the OS/SW when it's unlocked than can be done today?

TIA

[Aaron @ Dec 16th 2008 9:03AM]

It's probably more useful to people in Europe and Asia, where all of the carriers have standardized on a set of frequencies.

For example, an unlocked iPhone 3G in the UK would work perfectly on 3-4 other networks.

In the US, it still won't work on Verizon or Sprint. It would work on T-Mobile USA but probably only in 2G mode.

[Félix @ Dec 16th 2008 9:26AM]

If think this makes a point : Europe >> USA

[rock99rock @ Dec 16th 2008 10:20AM]

@Félix

If you are only speaking of cellphone band interchangeability and having promiscuous sex with many anonymous partners without protection while at the same time experimenting with mind-expanding drugs in a consequence-free environment, then yes you are correct.

[The Angry Intern @ Dec 16th 2008 12:01PM]

@rock99rock: thanks, that made me smile on a dreary tuesday morning!

[Sam @ Dec 19th 2008 1:24PM]

@ aaron
yeah except the iPhone comes unlocked in Asia, you can just get it off the Apple store

and UK's consumer telecom service is so archaic I never understood it even after living a year in London

[Manu Ullas @ Dec 16th 2008 8:57AM]

Is CNN going to cover this?

I think the pleasure of watching footwear thrown at the Bushman has worn off.

[iCandy @ Dec 16th 2008 9:02AM]

Too bad the prez did not catch the second shoe and then toss it back at Random Task... that would have been truly inspiring and awesome ...

[b3nign @ Dec 16th 2008 10:39AM]

Obama ftw but Bush gets +1 Ninja Points for evading that shoe.

[Bryce Dechert @ Dec 16th 2008 8:58AM]

Amen!

Been waiting for this for months, and months. Now (or in the the damn near future) I can use Tmobile with out any sketchy sim adapters, or paying exorbitant costs for a factory unlocked 3G from overseas.

Best news of the month, period.

[Mike @ Dec 16th 2008 9:43AM]

"Best news of the month, period."

That's what *she* said.

[Red1337Sox @ Dec 16th 2008 10:02AM]

HAHAHAHAHA

[oZ @ Dec 16th 2008 11:20AM]

But you'll still be stuck with EDGE, as the iPhone doesn't support the AWS frequencies.

[Beastage @ Dec 16th 2008 9:02AM]

Hello Apple, meet free world, liberty and justice for all.

[fhlh @ Dec 16th 2008 11:31AM]

remember... commie's like Job's don't believe in a free market... they'd rather control it.
makes the1984 Mac commercial all the more fitting...

[Robert @ Dec 16th 2008 1:48PM]

In Soviet Russia, iPhone unlock you! Wait no... that didn't come out right :/

I'm suprised they got it out so fast, for awhile it looked bleak.

[Shugg @ Dec 16th 2008 3:08PM]

can u give all the benefits?????will this save us money?more apps?more 3g?gps?

[Shugg @ Dec 18th 2008 1:06AM]

Yeah free world ,iPhone just went from 199$ to $738 ,dumb ass ,.not to mention all those features that won't work on non orange france carriers,no apps, no visual vmail,no mobilme,no gps, etc etc freedom yes ,cheap woodenteeth euros, get with the times .

[Skeepax @ Dec 16th 2008 9:03AM]

When someone is voted down they really should leave the voting buttons and the rating visible rather than 'dimming' them as well...

[Justin B @ Dec 16th 2008 4:03PM]

Sadly for you, I can still see them.

Down you go!

[Filip @ Dec 16th 2008 9:06AM]

Right around the holidays. This will bump the sales for iPhone. DevTeam has nothing to do with Apple! ...my ass. Anyway my respects for DevTeam and Apple for the evolution generated by the so called "war".

[Perspective @ Dec 16th 2008 9:11AM]

Nothing shows the lack of perspective (no pun intended) of you message board 'tards like the phrase "freedom from carrier oppression." Please.

[BOGRASH @ Dec 16th 2008 9:12AM]

when the lowest ranked comment hits rock bottom it should be removed, and the "contributor" should be signed up for 500 spam mails a day

[Hashbrown Hunter @ Dec 16th 2008 1:31PM]

If only it were true......if only.