Unlocking iPhone 3GS for TMOBILE

By peterish
in Hardware Hangout

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peterish

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Just bought a 2nd hand iPhone 3GS hoping to use it with my T-mobile sim card. I believe the phone is running 4.0.2 (how exactly do I check the firmware without a SIM card in the phone)? I've searched the web and there doesn't seem to be any software for unlocking this particular firmware version? Please help, thanks!

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peterish

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Nop, there's no way to unlock 4.0.2.

Yea. I've been trying to downgrade to 3.1.3 but getting "Error 3194" in iTunes...searched the web and there's no solution to that error either.

I'm just about to throw in the towel and wait for someone to release a 4.0.2 unlock; when will that be?

Grand Master

presence06

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Um, I'm not sure I know it was a few weeks after iOS 4 was released they had a JB and Unlock. So with 4.0.2 released a few weeks ago, I'd say soon? I'm not sure. Should also read up on the new Patents that Apple is trying to get for JB phones. Just keep checking that site for updates, I can't imagine it would be much longer. All the instructions are on the site too, so it's easy to follow.

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peterish

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Um, I'm not sure I know it was a few weeks after iOS 4 was released they had a JB and Unlock. So with 4.0.2 released a few weeks ago, I'd say soon? I'm not sure. Should also read up on the new Patents that Apple is trying to get for JB phones. Just keep checking that site for updates, I can't imagine it would be much longer. All the instructions are on the site too, so it's easy to follow.

Thanks. I also want to make sure that it really is running 4.0.2, how do I check that without a SIM card in the phone? There's a "secret code" (#3001#1234...or something) that I tried but didn't work?

Grand Master

presence06

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Thanks. I also want to make sure that it really is running 4.0.2, how do I check that without a SIM card in the phone? There's a "secret code" (#3001#1234...or something) that I tried but didn't work?

Did you do the update already through iTunes? If you have it should still allow you to access the phone with the T-Mobile SIM. If nothing else plug the phone into your computer and open iTunes. It should show you in the Info tab of your phone. Under Version it should say which version you are currently running.

Grand Master

presence06

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You'll need a AT&T sim card to activate it though. As the jailbreaks all seem to not activate only jailbreak.

Yea, I used my ATT Sim, even if the SIM Isn't active it will still activate the phone. But for some reason when I did it, It wouldn't activate when the phone was plugged in, after I unplugged it it would activate? But yea you will need an ATT Sim then you can put the Tmo SIM in after it's activated.

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peterish

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I will be able to jailbreak & unlock a 4.0.2 iphone with no SIM card in it, right?... Programs like jailbreakme all require that the phone is operational and can install software, but obviously that's not possible with no SIM card...

Grand Master

presence06

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Well if the phone is/was already activated just put your SIM in and run thru the JB process and then once that's done then do the Unlock. From what I've heard you do need the phone activated before doing the JB or it will fudge up. But at the same time, like I said, the phone wouldn't activate for me while plugged in even with a ATT SIM in. Unlock can be done/should be done over wifi not over Carrier Network.

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witalit

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People seem to get confused about something. Jailbreaking and unlocking are NOT the same thing, and are pretty much unrelated.

I wouldn't say unrelated.. you need to Jailbreak the iPhone to be able to perform a sim unlock. I understand people get the two things confused a little sometimes but they are both important in the unlock procedure.

@OP: If you didn't update to 4.0.2 you would of been fine :wacko:

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