Can a 1.1.1 iPhone be software-unlocked?

January 24, 2008 12:16 PM

Can my iPhone, which was jailbroken and AnySim-unlocked with firmware 1.0.2, be made to function, jailbroken and unlocked, with any later version of the firmware?

Back around October, I got an iPhone with firmware 1.0.2 installed, used iNdependence to jailbreak it, installed apptapp (installer.app) and installed & ran the graphical AnySim app to unlock the phone for use with the Rogers network in Canada.

Since then, everything has worked fine and I suppose I don't really need to fiddle with things any further. But I'd like to take advantage of a few of the firmware 1.1.1 upgrades, and I notice that more and more 3rd-party apps available are requiring 1.1.1.

I know there is at least one "revirginizer" tool available, but despite my best Googling and scouring of the major gadget blogs, I can't seem to figure out if there's a software unlock for 1.1.1

So my question boils down to thusly:

1) Can a version 1.1.1 be software-unlocked to work with providers other than AT&T? (I won't be using any sim card/hardware hacks)
2) What's the best way to get a hacked-up 1.0.2 iphone upgraded to 1.1.1, given that I won't be activating it through iTunes/AT&T?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you can share; I realize that the answer to my questions are already out there somewhere, but I'll really appreciate a cohesive, single-voice answer that isn't obfuscated by hacker-speak or shoddy blog journalism.

posted by chudmonkey to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)

Looks like this dude is going to do it...
posted by bkeene12 at 12:29 PM on January 24, 2008

Whoops. Or maybe not... read the link to the bottom
posted by bkeene12 at 12:31 PM on January 24, 2008

iNdependence will walk you through upgrading to and jailbreaking 1.1.1. Did you find that too confusing the last time you used it?
posted by scottreynen at 1:02 PM on January 24, 2008

Best answer: I unlocked my phone as of 1.1.1 with these instructions. There appear to be 'revirginizing' instructions included as well.
posted by Malor at 1:18 PM on January 24, 2008

I unlocked my 1.1.1 phone at jailbreakme.com. Purely software, plus some quick reflexes.
posted by phearlez at 2:17 PM on January 24, 2008

FYI, they just released an upgrade to 1.1.3 if you have a 1.1.1 jailbroken iPhone.
posted by blue_beetle at 2:41 PM on January 24, 2008

Thanks, b_b, I was just coming back to post that. I'm doing it right now, and I'll report back on how well it works.
posted by Malor at 2:59 PM on January 24, 2008

My first attempt threw a 'script execution error'; the phone seems to work, but I don't trust it, so so I'm wiping/reloading with 1.1.1 and then retrying the 1.1.3 upgrade.
posted by Malor at 4:18 PM on January 24, 2008

I was able to upgrade to 1.1.3 (unlocked) with no problems from 1.1.1 (unlocked, upgraded from 1.0.2) via the iBricker method, just make sure you have the latest version of Cygwin installed on your PC.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:14 PM on January 24, 2008

nevermind, the 1.1.3 bricked my phone after a couple of reboots, and I had to revert to 1.1.1.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:35 PM on January 24, 2008

After returning to 1.1.1, jailbreaking, adding installer.app and the bsd base utilities, it appears to have worked. (I do have Cygwin installed; I don't know whether or not that matters, but I presume it does.) I've rebooted several times and, so far, things are still working.

The map triangulation thing doesn't seem to work, however, where the community sources had a very nice locator that was accurate within about an eighth of a mile. I may fall back to 1.1.1, depending on how things go.
posted by Malor at 3:48 AM on January 25, 2008