Readers share their iPhone unlocking experiences

Damian Koh | Sep 21, 2007

What's the one thing that US and Europe have which Asia doesn't? No prizes for guessing, duh. And you think we're going to let it go just like that. Since our appeal in the last newsletter asking readers to write in about their iPhone unlocking experiences, we've received a handful of interesting responses. Here's what some of them have to say. Pictures included.

"I imported one since many weeks ago from the US and explored every feature this product has. I completed unlocking by soft mode without opening up the phone as what the kids have done overseas. The phone has an IMEI code in the baseband that's attached to a removable AT&T 3G SIM card. After which, using simple steps of flashing the firmware followed by activation, it is ready to use on all SingTel and StarHub GSM cards.

Most of our cards are V2 3G, having Ki values of higher encryptions allowing higher contacts. That is why using a silvercard to make-believe would not work for our country. To duplicate cards is against legislations and covered under restricted policies exclusive to our service provider."

YouTube is finally working on the iPhone. An interesting aspect of the iPhone is that the applications are massively modular. I did put up an "Ant" that looks so realistic 'crawling' all over under the glass. Fascinating, indeed!"
--Dave Tan, Singapore

"I am using my iPhone on Airtel in India and everything including GPRS is working except for YouTube."
--Sanjeev Baboota, India

"It's unlocked using the GeoHot method of opening up the case and short-circuiting the A17 and 1.8v battery in order to pump in the patched firmware. Check out my blog at http://techwonders.blogspot.com.

I have done a further four more iPhones using the different software methods as well and all have proved to be genuine and successful. However, I did have a problem with StarHub SIM. I have three identical StarHub SIMs: One works as in call/sms in/out; the second one cannot call/sms in/out even though the signal was shown as StarHub; the last one simply said No Service. It's strange, isn't it?

The feeling is great at the thought that I might be the only person in Singapore to do a hardware unlock on the iPhone.

It's quite scary to think of it actually. The toughest part was to open the case of the iPhone. Then, the A17 printed track was so tiny that a magnifying glass didn't help much (the A17 printed track is as tiny as the tip of a small sewing needle). The rest of the steps didn't trouble me.

Prior to this, the only way to unlock the iPhone was using SIM Cloning (not proven in Singapore) and TurboSIM (problematic if you go into area where there is no service). More importantly, both of them will set you back by S$200.

Well, you can now unlock the iPhone using the free software method. I did it for a friend and it is working on his StarHub network. :)"
--Pete, Singapore

"I actually managed to unlock it through some guides seen on the Net and some computer flicking of the procedures which the guides never mentioned in detail. This is also the reason why most people never manage to unlock it despite following the instructions seen online. There're some tricks in the steps. But likewise in one of my iPhones, YouTube is not working because I never managed to fiqure it out."
--Reader

"I've spent hours trying to unlock my iPhone and finally got it working yesterday on StarHub. It can send, receive both calls and SMS. It works with both a prepaid and normal SIM cards."
--Reader

Filed under: Mobile Phones
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PCB

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PCB says...
I am using iPhone unlocked with cellone SIM. Can anyone guide me to setup Youtube, Maps route and WAP settings
User CellOne

Sep 30, 2007 14:49

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agameer

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agameer says...
currently am singapore, how to buy an iphone. please any body guide me.

Oct 03, 2007 23:04

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saleemiphone

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saleemiphone says...
I have iphone, recently i got it. It is working fine with Airtel. Could somebody help me how to setup EDGE, wifi, map and youTube

Thank you
saleem

Mar 10, 2008 21:38

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