Iphone

[DaveP]

I'm considering buying an iphone, but would like to use my existing orange sim card in the phone.

I just wondered if anybody has successfully unlocked an iphone and got an orange sim card working with it ?

cheers

[NickFitz]

I don't know what the current state of play is with regard to unlocking iPhones running on the latest version of the software, but do bear in mind that if you're looking beyond the fancy UI and accelerometer-based games, much of the network-related functionality is, as the term might imply, dependent on functionality that resides in the network (O2's network in this country).

Therefore, even if the phone works well for non-telephony applications, you won't get many of the features that make it better as a phone - "visual voicemail" and suchlike. Both ends of the connection have to support those, and of course Orange don't, as it needs expensive infrastructure, and they have no guaranteed revenue stream from providing such support.

This is the main reason for the tie-in to one operator: it costs so much to provide the network infrastructure that operators want some guarantee of exclusivity on service provision.

EDIT: Oh, and although you could transfer your number, you couldn't even use an existing O2 sim card without jailbreaking the phone and sacrificing functionality - you have to upgrade and migrate the number even if you're an existing O2 customer, for the reasons outlined above.

[portseven]

I understand the latest firmware has been jailbroken and unlocked, you need the pwanage application

You not fancy waiting for the Google Phone?

[HeliCraig]

It was my understanding, and perhaps I am wrong, that with iPhone 3G Apple had made it so it that "jail breaking" the phone does not allow an off network SIM to be used - it simply allows apps which are not available through AppStore to be loaded.

Even if you could use a third party SIM though, as alluded to, you would loose all the nice features of the iPhone.

HC.

[b0redom]

There's two different things here:

1) Jailbreaking - means that you can install non apple apps on the iPhone
2) Activation/unlocking - means you can use a non O2 SIM

What you're after is 2, and there is no easy way to do that with a 3G phone. You could use something like TurboSim which slots in the top with your Orange SIM, and fools the phone into thinking it's a legit O2 SIM or...

You could buy a 3G iPhone in a country where they'll unlock it, or have a legal obligation to unlock it, I know this is the case in Italy and Australia.

As others have mentioned, you'll loose whatever fancy features O2 provide exclusivly. I've got a 1st gen (2G) iPhone which could be unlocked, and I didn't miss visual voice mail. Although, I guess I never had it to begin with.

[scooterscot]

The ony site you'll ever need:

http://iphone.unlock.no/

There are also applications out there that make the job easy (free):

QuickPwn

PwnageTool

[b0redom]

From your site ScooterScot

"The new iPhone 3G is not possible to unlock at the moment"

Assuming the OP is going to buy new rather than off eBay. You can't get 2G iPhones any more.

[scooterscot]

Originally Posted by b0redom

"The new iPhone 3G is not possible to unlock at the moment"

It's true. Anyone who claims otherwise is telling porkies (software unlock albeit). Keep watching this site though if an unlock becomes possible it will be on here.

[b0redom]

Originally Posted by scooterscot

It's true.

Unless Apple / the carrier unlock it as is the case in Italy and Australia, and possibly other countries.

[Churchill]

Originally Posted by b0redom

Unless Apple / the carrier unlock it as is the case in Italy and Australia, and possibly other countries.

Isn't France one of those countries too?