View this article at: http://www.electronista.com/articles/07/10/11/unlock.for.iphone.111/

Thursday, Oct 11, 2007 3:30am

iPhoneSimFree offers unlock...

Users can now unlock iPhones running the latest v1.1.1 firmware, despite warnings from Apple that its v1.1.1 update would likely damage (i.e., "brick") phones that were unlocked to run on non-AT&T networks. Following the public release of the first "jail-break" hack for iPhone v1.1.1, iPhoneSimFree has released an updated version of its unlock software for v1.1.1 users that not only works with the v1.1.1 firmware but also can restore "bricked" iPhones, according to the team: "Our sincere congratulations, to the iPhone/ iTouch Dev Team for their brilliant work in finding an ingenious way to jailbreak the 1.1.1 system. This exciting news means we are now able to gladly welcome all SIMFREE unlocked phone owners to UPGRADE to 1.1.1 if they so wish."

Calling it the world's first v1.1.1 unlock solution, the team says it has tested SimFree v1.6 with phones that have the new firmware (Baseband version 04.01.13_G) with "full success," and confirmed that SimFree v1.6 download "is now capable of completely restoring/repairing software unlocked 'bricked' iPhone."

The SimFree v1.6 software is available from various resellers around the world, including the US for prices as little at $60.

Generally, users can unbrick their iPhone by downgrading the software to v1.0.2 system (as per the v1.1.1 jailbreak instructions; however, the baseband firmware will still be the newer 04.01.13_G version). Users must then (1) register the true IMEI (found engraved on the back of the iPhone) with the company's servers through one of its trusted resellers; (2) power down the iPhone and remove the sim card; (3) power up with the sim removed and install SimFree.app 1.6 (simplest method is through apptapp installer, see post below); and (4) follow a tutorial (pdf) to execute the Simfree. app.