Several sites claim permanent iPhone unlock solution without jailbreak

By on Apr 12, 2011 at 9:43 AM
mobile April 12, 2011

There has been a lot of chatter recently about a new permanent unlock solution for the Apple iPhone 4 and other iPhone models. It works pretty much like any other standard cell phone unlocking service — you pay a fee and send over your IMEI, and a code is then generated that you input into your device. However, with Apple, things don’t quite work that way. The unlocking is done directly through iTunes, and while we’re not sure how third parties are adding IMEIs to Apple’s system, we have confirmed first-hand that the service does work flawlessly. Of note: just as someone can add an IMEI to the database to whitelist your iPhone, it can also be removed just as easily, which will then re-lock your iPhone as soon as it’s connected to iTunes. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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  • Anonymous

    Very cool, but for $180? That’s kinda steep. Might as well pony up the cash for a factory unlocked unit if you’re just gonna buy one outright. However I’m sure the prices will drop as more places are able to perform this unlock service. At any rate it is a step in the right direction and I’m glad to see it happening!

    • http://twitter.com/imhike London Snoward

      $180 if you compared them to Factory unlocked iPhones vs. locked iPhones… the difference is around $300-$400…

  • Wirelessmodz

    so what advantage does this have over the other unlock ? i dont think i would pay that kind of money . plus you still would want cydia to get the goodies apple keeps from you in there walled garden

    • OBJ_me

      The advantage is that it is an unmodified stock baseband with an “official” unlock. The benefit to this is you don’t need to use ultrasn0w to unlock or pwnage tool/tiny umbrella(i4)/etc to keep you baseband from updating when you move to a newer firmware. Also people seem to think that it’s good thing to remain on a 4-revisions-old baseband to keep that ultrasn0w unlock. That doesn’t happen without consequence, with each new baseband you get a variety of bug fixes for things like security, battery life, data compression, tower selection, etc. Which generally improve the user experience or the burden suffered by the network. Also with things like ultrasn0w you are prone to bugs that will affect battery life and push(though that has now been remedied with SAM)

      While it is very possible for Apple to reverse this unlock by changing the WildCard token(possibly the NCK written to seczone though there hasn’t been a seczone update to date). A good way to avoid this is to activate and backup with SAM(available in Cydia, google for the repo) and always build a custom FW with pwnage tool to keep the token that was present during the unlock as Apple changes the WildCard Token with each update. If you take the above precautions you /should/ be unlocked for life.

  • http://twitter.com/DavidThande David Thande

    BGR can someone do a an article regarding the Gevey Unlock? It’s been a month and it’s everywhere; no solid proof it works or doesn’t work

    • Andme

      Did the Gevey unlock last night on my wife’s iPhone 4 (4.2.1 bb 3.10.01). Works like a charm now!

  • Fondel Myjunk

    Several sites claim BGR sucks.

    • WTF

      Several sites are right.

      • Sucka

        Then why the fuck are you here?

      • Bullyboyb

        Just to get you upset. And stop the fuckery.

      • Roguefromnyc

        Cause we can. The same reason u do things u shouldnt in life. And please don’t tell me ur perfect.

  • Anonymous

    If it does work, I’m sure it’s only weeks away from not working.

  • henderson101

    Interesting – though it costs $0.00 (well, £0.00) to do this in the UK for O2, so I’d say it is a little bit steep to ask for $180.

  • henderson101

    @Wirelessmodz this is an carrier unlock, not a jailbreak. This allows one to use any GSM sim, no matter who the provider is. It “factory unlocks” the phone. Jailbreak is still possible. The “software unlocks” only last whilst the software “works” – so if you change your firmware to a non jailbreakable firmware, you can’t use any sim except those that the phone is locked to. Factory unlock can’t be undone without Apple revoking the unlock and the phone being completely restored (if at all..)

    • Wirelessmodz

      i know what a unlock is and a jailbreak . im saying i wouldnt give them 180 bucks .

  • http://profiles.google.com/jrtimberlake J Timberlake

    Trying to get Negri Electronics shut down there BG?????? Loser.

  • Jeff

    Normally the official unlock through iTunes is done with the serial number of the iPhone not the IMEI. I’m wondering why they need the IMEI then ?

  • beastly

    This is about to become completely irrelevant in the US if the AT&T/T-Mobile acquisition is approved.

    • Ff

      Not if you’re moving overseas

      • Anonymous

        …Or if you want to travel and use your phone on the local carrier while your abroad.

  • http://twitter.com/shrimphack3r Diego Vargas

    so who here has the money for that eh?

  • Tmallone68

    I 100% guarantee Apple will move very quickly to get to the bottom of this and stop it. I would also image whoever it is that has access to their database will also find themselves in deep water and the phone’s they unlocked will be relocked the next time the phone is synced.

  • Mindless

    It seems it’s gone for the moment…

    Quote:

    I have decided to suspend the sales of the iPhone unlocking service until further notice

    If you have already paid I will be taking care of refunds today

    Until the turnaround time from the source improves I cannot comfortably offer this service

    I do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused but I can only continue to offer unlocking services that I can stand behind 100%. While this service does indeed work ( I used this service to unlock my own iPhone 4 ) I just want to make sure that it makes sense for me to offer it and that I can meet or exceed customer expectations for a service that is this expensive

  • steve chobbs

    have u guys been living under a rock??? separate people been offering factory unlock for any iPhone..any baseband/ modem for over 1 year and unblocking blacklisted IMEIs for lost/stolen/ cancelled contract to work in UK without taking abroad..handsets..it’s not a ‘GUY’ lol

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