iPhone 3G UnlockedFor whatever good it does U.S iPhone users.. ( old news - 01:38PM Tuesday Dec 16 2008) tags: business · wireless · alternativesJust in time for the holidays, the iPhone Dev team (who got Linux running on the iPhone) have unlocked the iPhone 3G, announcing they'll be releasing the hack on New Year's Eve. In other words, assuming you've got a jail broken iPhone, and 2.11.07 baseband or earlier, you'll soon be getting a "user-friendly application" that should allow you to use the iPhone on GSM carriers other than those with exclusive deals with Apple (Mobistar, Rogers, AT&T). From the announcement: •The target release date for the unlock is New Year's Eve 2008.
•This unlock method is available to iPhone 3Gs that have 2.11.07 baseband or earlier, we did warn you.
•The unlock requires a jailbroken 3G iPhone. It'll be installable via Cydia and so it doesn't matter if you have a Mac or PC.
•We'll stream a live demo of the unlock before Christmas The news of the unlock is only really exciting for overseas users or frequent travelers who find themselves with a multitude of GSM carrier options. Here in the States, your only GSM alternative to AT&T would be T-Mobile. However, you'd only be able to use T-Mobile's slower EDGE speeds (up to 200kbps if you're lucky), since their 3G GSM/HSDPA network is operating on a non-standard frequency band. So while the gadget blogs are pretty excited about this, the U.S. impact of this latest unlocking is, oh, not at all interesting in any way.
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bobjohnson
Premium
join:2007-02-03
Titusville, FL |  Don't you lose functionality...
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DrModem
Premium
join:2006-10-19
USA
1 edit | Re: Don't you lose functionality... Edit: nvm | |
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Pirate515
Premium
join:2001-01-22
Brooklyn, NY
| said by bobjohnson  :On different wireless carriers... They seem to go through a lot of trouble to jailbreak the iPhones when it seems that on other networks the phone works differently? The only thing you will be missing is Visual Voice Mail. Aside from that, everything else works the same way.
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Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies...
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| bnceo
join:2007-10-11
West Orange, NJ
| Isn't there only 2 GSM providers? I mean, if you don't like AT&T, you really only have T-Mobile as your GSM choice. And last time I checked, they weren't that great anyways. I know jailbroken is fine outside the US, but what purpose does it serve here in the US besides getting apps that aren't in the app store? | |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
2 edits | Jail Breaking is not synonymous with unlocking...
You can jail break the phone to get alternative apps. But you're right, unlocking is less sexy for U.S. users... | |
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wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·BroadVoice
| Re: Isn't there only 2 GSM providers? said by Karl Bode :Jail Breaking is not synonymous with unlocking... You can jail break the phone to get alternative apps. But you're right, unlocking is less sexy for U.S. users... Not to mention that Tmo and ATT offer 3G on different frequencies here in the US. For this reason, even if you unlock the iphone for use on Tmo it will only get GSM/EDGE for data. To be honest if you are deadset on using an iphone on Tmo, you might as well save some money and buy an unlocked 2G version.
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| | | decifal
join:2007-03-10
Bon Aqua, TN
| said by Karl Bode :Jail Breaking is not synonymous with unlocking... You can jail break the phone to get alternative apps. But you're right, unlocking is less sexy for U.S. users... That's pretty much applies to alotta things here in the US.. We have the most advanced nerfed technology anywhere.. We want to be better, but not really per say.. | |
| | | thevorpal
join:2007-11-16
Alexandria, VA
| said by Karl Bode :Jail Breaking is not synonymous with unlocking... You can jail break the phone to get alternative apps. But you're right, unlocking is less sexy for U.S. users... That's exactly why I wasn't concerned when I upgraded to 2.2 I knew that I would be limited in my ability to unlock the iPhone, but I really didn't see it as all that big of a loss since I live in the US, and my next move is to a major metropolitan area.
Unlocking just wasn't that big of a feature to me. I'll likely hold off on the next baseband update just to be safe, but I'm not in any hurry to unlock, (I may not ever). | |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Don't forget, T-Mobile's 3G network isn't spectrum compatible with iPhone.
iPhone = 3G 850/1900/2100 (international 2100 aka 1900/2100)
T-Mobile 3G = AWS spec = 1700/2100 3G | |
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whfsdude
Premium
join:2003-04-05
Washington, DC | Kind of Inaccurate It doesn't actually matter what the size of T-Mobile USA's 3G footprint is as the phone won't actually work with it.
TMO's 3G is AWS. That means their 3G requires 1700/2100 mhz. | |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Re: Kind of Inaccurate True, I re-worded that..... | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03 | Who cares about 3G But here in the States, your only GSM alternative to AT&T would be T-Mobile, whose 3G footprint is substantially smaller. And whose customer service and prices more than make up for it. Even if the 3G doesn't work at all. | |
| | Trollhawk
join:2005-05-28
| Re: Who cares about 3G I have an iPhone 3G, and the difference between 3G and EDGE is, perceptibly, like night and day. Imagine going back to dialup, when you're used to broadband, if that's easier for you to understand. Not only is there less bandwidth, but much more latency with EDGE, which makes Internet use unbearably slow, in comparison to 3G. It's not just Safari, either. Much of the iPhone's functionality is Internet-dependent, and 3G just makes for a much better overall experience. Oh, and even if I'm not even using the phone, I can tell when it drops to EDGE, when the EDGE frequencies start making other eletronics, nearby, make that horrible buzzing/beeping sound.
For customers who prefer to use T-Mobile, but want an iPhone, this can be good news(although, why wouldn't they already have a 1st-gen iPhone?), but don't downplay the lack 3G. | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Re: Who cares about 3G said by Trollhawk :but don't downplay the lack 3G. It's not that I don't think 3G is important, but to use your analogy, I just think it's akin to Hughesnet vs. dial-up. Sure, it may be a lot faster, but do you really want to pay that much more for such a shitty service?
said by Karl Bode in a different article :even though similar studies by firms like JD Power rank AT&T as mediocre to poor in everything from call quality to customer care Also, »blogs.zdnet.com/ITFacts/?p=14829
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YO!
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. | |
| | | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: Who cares about 3G "pay that much more"??? It doesn't cost any more. Data plans on ATT are the same whether you get 3G or edge...
That said it's amazing how people HERE of all places say "who cares about 3G"...I'm truly shocked. | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Re: Who cares about 3G said by beaups :Data plans on ATT are the same whether you get 3G or edge... I was referring to AT&T vs T-mobile, not EDGE vs 3G (as stated in my original comment that quoted Karl saying "But here in the States, your only GSM alternative to AT&T would be T-Mobile"). I have unlimited, uncapped EDGE from T-mobile for $20. It may not be the fastest, but it beats the $30 plan with caps for an iPhone. And I can tether it to a computer without any extra apps or plans. said by beaups :it's amazing how people HERE of all places say "who cares about 3G"...I'm truly shocked. The 3G footprint is small (even on AT&T). Unless you're in a major metropolitan area, you can't get it. And the whole point of a cell phone is to be able to take it anywhere. 3G isn't that great when it doesn't work in 90% of the country.
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YO!
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. | |
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58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Who cares about 3G Actually, that's not entirely true. My quad-band LG phone routinely runs 3G in places I would not expect it to, like Naples, FL or central and southeast Minnesota. AT&T seems to have 3G HSDPA operating in areas they don't necessarily issue a press release about. Maybe the band-limited iPhones can't find the right towers? I don't really care at this point.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Re: Who cares about 3G Yeah, you post those same pics every time this topic comes up. But what you always fail to mention is you're in the only area in the country with 3G coverage all around you. Take a trip to Albany or Syracuse, tell me how the 3G works along the way.
What about folks in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, New Mexico, or Arizona and Nevada sans Vegas, Reno, and Phoenix?
What about the rest of the country? Especially West of the Mississippi? How much of that map is purple? Not much at all. Sure, works great for you in Connecticut, but Connecticut only contains 1.15% of the US population. AT&T is a national provider, and should be graded as such. As far as the ENTIRE country goes, their 3g footprint sucks.
That's great that you get awesome 3G speeds on your iPhone. Just don't leave New England, even though you have a national provider.
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How many assholes do we have on this ship, anyway?
YO!
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. | |
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ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs: | Re: Who cares about 3G Nah, those are from today for you.
So how is T-Mobile's 3G foot print looking? | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Re: Who cares about 3G said by ptrowski :Nah, those are from today for you. So how is T-Mobile's 3G foot print looking? I never said it was better. said by PolarBear :said by Karl Bode :
But here in the States, your only GSM alternative to AT&T would be T-Mobile, whose 3G footprint is substantially smaller. I said it was a better alternative.said by PolarBear :And whose customer service and prices more than make up for it. Even if the 3G doesn't work at all. said by PolarBear :I just think it's akin to Hughesnet vs. dial-up. Sure, it may be a lot faster, but do you really want to pay that much more for such a shitty service?
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How many assholes do we have on this ship, anyway?
YO!
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. | |
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ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs: | Re: Who cares about 3G Please explain your definition of shitty service. Do the above speeds look shitty to you? | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Re: Who cares about 3G | 
An excerpt from my personal wireless bill |
Some people care about customer service.
As I said in an earlier post in this thread (I'm noticing I have to quote myself a lot to you):said by PolarBear :said by Karl Bode in a different article :even though similar studies by firms like JD Power rank AT&T as mediocre to poor in everything from call quality to customer care said by JD Power & Associates :Verizon Wireless ranks highest in wireless customer care performance with an index score of 103, followed by Alltel (102), T-Mobile (100) and AT&T (97). As far as national post-paid cellular providers go, AT&T's customer service is only superior to Sprint, which doesn't say much. Verizon, Alltel and T-Mobile beat them.
Some people also care about how much they pay for service.
I have four lines; two standard phones, two Blackberries. Both BBs have unlimited data. I can tether both BBs to a computer (really handy last time I moved and couldn't get residential broadband installed for two weeks). All 4 have unlimited SMS and MMS messaging. We share 3000 minutes.
As you can see from the attachments (I even bothered to shop for service from AT&T), I pay $220/mo after all taxes and fees. From AT&T, the same service on the same phones would be $320, before any taxes.
As usual, whenever a topic relating to the iPhone or it's 3G speeds come up, you fail to notice the specific topic of the thread and instead go on raving about how great the speed is. However, this thread isn't about the speed of 3G, but about the fact that the iPhone has been unlocked, and can be used on other GSM providers (in our case, T-mo). Some folks argued that T-mo has lousy 3G, and I argued that T-mo would still be a great alternative, even without 3G.
Yes ptrowski, you have the fastest cellular internet in the country. You also pay too much to a lousy provider for it. And that's not just my opinion, that's what the wireless bills and millions of customers say.
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How many assholes do we have on this ship, anyway?
YO!
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Re: Who cares about 3G said by ptrowski :Actually the thread is about you trying to downplay your lack of 3G availability. That's funny, the thread was started by Karl, not me: said by Karl Bode :Just in time for the holidays, the iPhone Dev team (who got Linux running on the iPhone) have unlocked the iPhone 3G, announcing they'll be releasing the hack on New Year's Eve. Sounds like it's about the iPhone being unlocked. As I stated before, once again you're trying to shift focus from the actual topic of the thread and make it all about your speed. Which only goes to show that the opposite could be said for you.
Even if I lived in a 3G area, I still wouldn't touch AT&T with a stick for the reasons stated in my previous response to you (you DID read that, right?) The fact that 3G isn't available in my area doesn't make any of the facts I've stated about either provider any less true or relevant.
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How many assholes do we have on this ship, anyway?
YO!
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. | |
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ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs:
·VOIPo
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·ViaTalk
1 edit | Re: Who cares about 3G said by PolarBear :said by ptrowski :Actually the thread is about you trying to downplay your lack of 3G availability. That's funny, the thread was started by Karl, not me: said by Karl Bode :Just in time for the holidays, the iPhone Dev team (who got Linux running on the iPhone) have unlocked the iPhone 3G, announcing they'll be releasing the hack on New Year's Eve. Sounds like it's about the iPhone being unlocked. As I stated before, once again you're trying to shift focus from the actual topic of the thread and make it all about your speed. Which only goes to show that the opposite could be said for you. Even if I lived in a 3G area, I still wouldn't touch AT&T with a stick for the reasons stated in my previous response to you (you DID read that, right?) The fact that 3G isn't available in my area doesn't make any of the facts I've stated about either provider any less true or relevant. I was reffering to your derailment as usual in an iPhone thread. Yes I read your reasons, good for you. How is their service shitty? By price? I pay to have good signals and 3G service. I would expect you to pay less on T-Mobile as they don't have nearly the footprint. Enjoy your "favs" while I enjoy fast speed. That's why I waited for a 3G iPhone. And it's nice, let me tell you.
JD Power has become whores for the biggest dollar. Their relevancy these days is laughable. Basically you pay them for a category or award.
Your whole intent was to talk about customer service on T-Mobile. Sounds like the shift was started by you my friend. Your subject was "Who cares about 3G" and I showed you again some examples of why people care about 3G.
At least you didn't turn it into another "Blackberries rule" thread....
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"So, Lone Star, now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb."
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage? »www.venganza.org | |
| | | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH
| the idea is it works in 3g in the places MOST people aremost of the time...and if you venture into, say, north dakota, then it slows way down to the speed you are stuck with every day. And why would tmobile put caps on edge? you can't download fast enough to hit a cap anyhow. | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Re: Who cares about 3G I understand that, but the reason I have a cell phone is so it works all the time, wherever I go (and I travel a lot through many of the Western states I mentioned).
I guess there just aren't any people West of the Mississippi (except for right along the Pacific Coast). | |
| | | | | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH
| Re: Who cares about 3G I am still not understanding your point. Are you telling me your tmobile phone works EVERYwhERE in the US? It doesn't. I believe AT&T's GSM network is also bigger than Tmobile's. I will dig for some coverage maps but from personal experience I can tell you TMO's coverage in rural ohio is awful. | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Re: Who cares about 3G said by beaups :I am still not understanding your point. The point of the article is that the iPhone has been unlocked, and can now be used on T-mo (at least in the US).
Some said that T-mo has worse 3G coverage that AT&T, and that the iPhone 3G won't work on T-mo 3G at all, because they use different frequencies.
And MY point is (that I thoroughly explained HERE) that even with no 3G, T-mo would be a better option.
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How many assholes do we have on this ship, anyway?
YO!
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. | |
| | | | | | | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: Who cares about 3G you did, but the other problem is that tmobile also has WORSE GSM COVERAGE that AT&T. So no matter how you look at it, it works in LESS places. | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| LMAO! That map you linked to looks to be from about 2004! Nice history lesson, though.
Maybe you should get information on T-mobile's coverage from T-mobile's webpage like I did. | |
| | | | | | | | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: Who cares about 3G lol it said 2008...they both looked kinda sparse though  | |
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heat84
join:2004-03-11
Fort Lauderdale, FL | The iPhone devs themselves unlocked it The iPhone devs themselves unlocked it (and announced it to the world)? Isn't that bad for their job security? Ok what am I missing? | |
| | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: The iPhone devs themselves unlocked it lol...the "iPhone Dev Team" is a group that calls themselves just that...they obviously are not affiliated w/Apple | |
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djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA | "iPhone Dev Team" is not an official Apple group. | |
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Wooter
@shawcable.net | Canadian Yay for Canada? | |
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cousintim
join:2004-10-10
Dallas, TX
1 edit | Re: Canadian What is "2.11.07 baseband"? Is it the same as the iPhone software version? | |
| | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: Canadian no the firmware's are expressed in 2.0/2.1/2.2/etc. the basedband was/is basically the low level modem firmware. Basically if you upgraded your iphone past 2.0 through "conventional" methods you cannot unlock. | |
| | | | Strogonowski
join:2007-08-15
Lake Zurich, IL | Re: Canadian I have 2.1 firmware on mine and modem baseband is 2.11.07. Been using iPhone 3G on T-Mobile using sim unlock card. Who needs 3G At&t network, I had to disable it to avoid dropped calls (never had a dropped call on EDGE). | |
| | | | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: Canadian my bad. 2.1 is ok. I think if you went o 2.2 is when you have problems. incidentally I have not dropped a SINGLE call since I went to 2.2 (3G on). Very pleased. | |
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jujuman
@teletech.com | iPhone 3G Unlocked Not at all interesting...!!! u greedy u !!! I live in Mexico, boy, you have no idea how much good it will be doing to a great number of users...really, u have not the slightest idea...monopoly rings a bell? | |
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MrSkoTA
@rr.com
| Unlocking the iPhone It helps those who are with local telcos who are AT&T "resellers." These local telcos which are many, share their own towers with AT&T and all of the phones and services with the exception of the iPhone. They benefit from all of the iphone 3G goodness with exception of Vis Vmail. I am one of those customers, some of my deals are better with the local telco than with AT&T. The downfall to the AT&T/local telco deal in my are is that there are no actual AT&T stores for 50 miles. No iPhones and the local telco AT&T resellers are not allowed to carry it. Now Their customers can use the iPhone for everything that it is, except visual voicemail. So for a "not so large majority," this is GREAT news. I bet there are a lot more people like this than anyone would possibly imagine. Much of North and South Carolina are like this. | |
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