In less than two following the release of the iPhone,
hackers were finally able to crack open the carrier lock on the Apple device to
free it from its AT&T shackles. iPhoneSimfree.com made claims during
late August that its software would unlock the device
to run on any compatible GSM carrier. Those claims were verified as Engadget ran its iPhone unit on the
T-Mobile network.
After several delays, the iPhoneSimfree software is now
available for purchase. Currently, four online retailers in the world hold
licenses for the unlocking software: Wireless Imports in the US,
iPhoneWorldwideUnlock in Australia, 1digitalphone in Germany, and iPhone4arab
in Saudi Arabia. Current prices for a single unlocking process range from $50
to $100.
Although an unlocked iPhone can run on any able GSM network,
certain special features associated with the device may only be available on
AT&T’s service. For example, visual voicemail will not appear on unlocked
iPhones running on T-Mobile, as the feature is an AT&T network-specific
feature.
For further details on the software iPhone unlocking solution,
Engadget has posted an HD
video detailing the entire unlocking process from start to finish.
The iPhoneSimfree method of unlocking is completely
software-based. For those not afraid of a little wetwork, George Hotz, a 17
year old from Glen Rock, New Jersey, has discovered and documented a way to unlock the
iPhone using a mix of internal soldering and software. For Hotz’s
inventiveness and bravery, he scored three new 8GB iPhones and a Nissan 350Z.
