Anybody used internet software to unlock an iPhone 3G.

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HowardQ · #1 Post by **HowardQ** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:03 pm

My daughter Joanne has just replaced her iPhone 3G with the new Samsung Galaxy, so it looks like I might be getting a hand me down.
Trouble is I want to use it on O2 rather than Orange.
Was going to pay £20 - £25 to have it unlocked at the local "phone" shop, but then started looking at stuff on the Net, but not too confident as it is still Joannes phone at the moment. Anybody had any experience of using it.

flatlander · #2 Post by **flatlander** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:38 pm

there are ostensibly 2 levels of unlock on an iphone the one they charge 25 quid for which will probably get overwritten by the first time you update it and the more expensive one which is more stable and costs up to 100 quid. There is also jailbreaking which unlocks the phone from apple approved software and I cant really see the point of personally unless you want hookey software. Most iphones in the UK generally come unlocked depending on who had them so I would try the other sim first. The O2 shop may eb able to help

Willopotomas · #3 Post by **Willopotomas** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 10:57 pm

Save yourself a fortune and just put a hammer through it.

D-Rider · #4 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:26 pm

Oh dear .... another apple victim - but at least not by choice!

Anyway - unlocking info: http://giffgaff.com/unlock/Apple-iPhone-3G-phone

#5 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:29 pm

you can get iphone unlocked thru the shops for free... will look it back up. posted it to fb while back.. cant remember the exact details..

Aladinsaneuk · #6 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 12:43 am

If the contract is up, orange should unlOck it for the price of a phone call

HowardQ · #7 Post by **HowardQ** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:09 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:If the contract is up, orange should unlOck it for the price of a phone call

Tried that, they will do it for £20 but it takes about 30 days.
They then send a text which will unlock it.
Problem is it means Jo stopping using her new phone at around that time, (will be difficult as she seems more permanently attached to the new Galaxy than the original iPhone) and going back to the iPhone 3G until the text is through.

HowardQ · #8 Post by **HowardQ** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:15 pm

flatlander wrote:there are ostensibly 2 levels of unlock on an iPhone the one they charge 25 quid for which will probably get overwritten by the first time you update it and the more expensive one which is more stable and costs up to 100 quid. There is also jailbreaking which unlocks the phone from apple approved software and I cant really see the point of personally unless you want hookey software. Most iphones in the UK generally come unlocked depending on who had them so I would try the other sim first. The O2 shop may eb able to help

I had heard some similar stories, one reason why I posted this up. The Jailbreaking fix worries me for the reasons you state.
Have tried my 02 card, but does not work, (thought it would, as all original iPhones were 02)

Dalemac · #9 Post by **Dalemac** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:57 pm

HowardQ wrote:permanently attached to the new Galaxy than the original iPhone[/size]

I'm not surprised. Its about a million times better than the iphone.

#10 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:04 pm

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/unlock- ... -49304213/

i believe other networks do the same

flatlander · #11 Post by **flatlander** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:19 pm

good luck with that

You still have to honmour the minimum contract term when you do it so if you can be bothered to invest the time you could use 2 different phones to take advantage of the different plans.
Unlocking as I understand it is basically entering or removing the phone from the database aligning it to that provider.

Again and certainly for business phones there are two types of unlock semi permanant -relies on you not updating the software as it overwrites the unlock sometimes

permenant costs more but survives updates

#12 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:22 pm

It's still his daughter's phone, sounds like its under contract or has met the criteria to be unlocked for free..?

HowardQ · #13 Post by **HowardQ** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:27 pm

Kwackerz wrote:It's still his daughter's phone, sounds like its under contract or has met the criteria to be unlocked for free..?

Joanne had the phone on an Orange contract, which she has just upgraded to the Galaxy.
I plan to change it to O2 Pay as you Go, (don't have my personal phone on contract, as I have a works mobile on Vodafone).
O2 work abroad, (off to Andalucia again shortly), and have a bolt on that lets you have occasional internet when you need it.
Won't be using the internet option too much as only I will only use it outside work hours and we already have a PC, a wireless laptop and a wireless Netbook available at home for the three of us!

flatlander · #14 Post by **flatlander** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:44 pm

Ifi is great on t'he iPhone disposa viber And whatsapp for free calls across wifi way better than skype

Aladinsaneuk · #15 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:28 am

with respect to orange - but they are taking the piss

iirc I had something similar with my old iPhone on o2

phone call - rang them up, said i had upgraded and wanted my old phone unlocking and making it sim free.

gave then the IMEI number and phone was unlocked there and then - no charge

I also think that Apple would not be amused by orange's stance on it....

I would be tempted to ask your daughter to take it in to an orange store.... and kick off