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iPhone Dev Team’s iPhone 3G SIM-unlock and what it means for you

December 17, 2008 by Will Park - Leave a Comment

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There’s a good deal to be said about Apple’s decision to sell, for the most part, their iconic iPhone and iPhone 3G through exclusive carrier deals. The iPhone 3G is tied to sanctioned GSM carriers in most parts of the world, usually requiring heft roaming fees to use the handset in foreign counties.

The iPhone 3G’s carrier-locked status has been cited by many as unacceptable, opting instead to buy unlocked GSM handsets that will work on any GSM network around the world. Moreover, the iPhone 3G has shunned the needs of globe-trotters seeking a global-roaming handset that is compatiblewith regional GSM networks.

With the iPhone Dev Team’s announcement that they’ve successfully unlocked the iPhone 3G’s cellular baseband radio, the iPhone 3G can now be considered a truly global handset. Granted, the iPhone Dev Team has only unlocked the older iPhone 3G baseband firmware (which is why they recommended iPhone 3G users upgrade to the latest iPhone OS firmware using their PwnageTool jailbreak utility), but an iPhone 3G unlock is still an iPhone 3G unlock.

With the iPhone 3G now expected to work with on any GSM frequency around the world, how can we expect the iPhone 3G market to react?

The iPhone 3G can be purchased in certain parts of the world with an unlocked baseband radio that allows it to surf any GSM network of choice. But, an unlocked iPhone 3G easily costs four times more than an iPhone 3G purchased with a multi-year wireless contract.

On the other hand, the iPhone 3G unlock solution from the iPhone Dev Team only works on older iPhone 3G handsets with older baseband firmwares intact. That means the iPhone 3G unlock utility will only help iPhone 3G users that are already tied to a contract.

The unlock development isn’t going to boost iPhone 3G sales all that much. The contract-averse will still be buying an unlocked iPhone 3G or other unlocked GSM handsets. Those, however, that don’t mind being tied to a contract but hate paying ridiculous international roaming fees may see the iPhone 3G’s soon-to-be unlocked status as incentive enough to buy an iPhone 3G.

In the end, the iPhone 3G unlock isn’t some sort of magnificent development that will boost iPhone 3G sales. But, the iPhone Dev Team’s unlock solution does make the iPhone 3G a bit more marketable to jetsetters. Potential iPhone 3G customers that were turned off by Apple’s insistence on locking the handset to a certain carrier might see the iPhone 3G unlock as a game-changer.

Will you be unlocking your iPhone 3G come New Year’s Eve?

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