Aral Balkan

OK, so I finally got round to unlocking my iPhone and it's running like a charm on T-Mobile UK. I think the problem I was having before was the WiFi network at the hotel blocking SSH/SFTP traffic (this stopped me from copying over the unlocking app to the phone.)

I opted to use the commercial iphone SimFree solution which I got from iphoneunlocked. Another retailer's site has good instructions for using Simfree on OS X.

If you're looking to unlock the phone for free, check out these instructions from PC World that Niqui told me about.

Comments

• One word of caution, at the UK launch this week Jobs did say that Apple are committed to locking the phones down. So be careful about firmware updates and keep a spare phone on hand in case you get caught out. The interesting question is now that O2 have been confirmed as the UK carrier, will US sourced phone accept an O2 sim without question. I'm guessing not as the revenue sharing wouldn't happen. I'm still torn over the iPhone, I desperately want one but part of me thinks I'd be happy with an iPod Touch. I will be interested to see how you and Niqui get on with yours. - Neil.

  by Neil Ford on 2007-09-20 19:24:11

• Thanks for the links! I asked Niqui via Twitter but she never answer me :( I'll wait till November for my iPhone (date of launching in France)... but if SOMEONE can pick up one for me from Boston will be GREAT ;o)

  by aSH on 2007-09-20 19:56:32

• hi i realy want to get a iphone, but i am on a 18th month contract wth tmobile, however my update is in november,but i do not understand how i will b able to go about getting a iphone on tmobile? can i buy one and get in unlocked and then tell tmobile?or do i wait and see if ne comes out on tmobile? or do i leave tmobile and get a o2 contract? help help help.....

  by anthony on 2007-09-21 00:54:04

• How does the data work on T-Mobile, any EDGE reception? Does the web'n'walk plan work with it do you know?

  by Mike Conjoice on 2007-09-21 13:18:12

• In Germany, I guess, the unlocking is not going to be worth. Fortunately, T-Mobile is going to be the carrier here, they are the number one already. Plus, the iPhone will come with unlimited internet, unfortunately no other carrier is offering something like that in Germany. So better stay with T-Mobile or change to it.

  by Alexis Brion on 2007-09-21 14:41:07

• More on Apple's policy on unlocking: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7011772.stm - Neil.

  by Neil Ford on 2007-09-26 09:45:19

• Yeah Apple, "continuously delight" us with new features by not crippling the phones and locking us in to a single operator. Oh well, I've disabled the auto update in iTunes until the hacks catch up.

  by Aral on 2007-09-26 21:33:00

• @Mike: Edge doesn't work on T-Mobile UK -- at least that's what I was told when I rung them up and the phone appears to see an Edge signal but cannot connect to it. So you're stuck with wifi for data.

  by Aral on 2007-09-26 21:34:18

• I have my iPhone on t-mobile in the UK and it's ok at the min but edge don't work on it witch is a bit of a let down or well what can you do LOL. I called them they said they dont have edge in the UK :-( dut my iphone picks it uk but wont conect lol

  by aaron on 2007-10-05 08:33:16

• i have just got EDGE working on mt T-MOBILE sim in the UK it's not that fast and dont know it i will be covered by the £7.50 i pay for web n walk but will find out and keep you all updated if and 1 wants the settings look at this site http://home2.btconnect.com/Taniwha/gprs.html

  by aaron on 2007-10-05 17:37:53

• Hey Aaron, Damn, I didn't know you could do that. Thanks, man! Works like a charm -- so it's just like GPRS! Now it's going to be interesting to see if my unlimited data plan covers it. Going to write up a blog post about it now! :)

  by Aral on 2007-10-05 22:26:13

• [...] Aaron, in the comments to my Unlocking the iPhone for T-Mobile UK pointed me to Ross Barkman’s GPRS Info Page with a note that he got his iPhone to connect via EDGE by using the settings on that page. Lo and behold, it doth truly worketh! [...]

  by Using Edge on T-Mobile UK with the iPhone at Aral Balkan on 2007-10-05 22:38:01

• it's ok man from what my mate said should be covered but will just have 2 wait till my bill come's in lol. i would call and ask them but they always seem to be a bit stuppid lol. and the youtube is not to bad over the EDGE to all in all am happy with it now :) do you know how to move the icons on the screen so they can go in a better order???

  by aaron on 2007-10-06 07:57:18

• @aaron - I'd tried using those same settings from Ross Barkers GPRS page, but can't get it to work. I've seen different passwords (pass or wap) but neither works. I'm getting the E Edge symbol too. I had heard/thought that the iPhone on T-Mobile UK would just "revert" to using GPRS, or have I got that wrong? anyone else had troubles with GPRS but now got it working on T-UK? i'm desperate here, i've got used to web'n'walk everywhere, i now get cravings when out & about without email!!! :)

  by grayskull on 2007-10-10 08:23:25

• ooops, figured it ou, dofus. i had general.t-mobile.co.uk drop the .co and put, correctly general.t-mobile.uk and it works, just as its written. Pity I cant read properly!!! :) whoo hoooo

  by grayskull on 2007-10-10 08:26:40

• I've got my iphone working with EDGE on T-mobile UK and all is fine. I also have webnwalk and so far it all seems to be covered, I've been checking my bill online and I see the data amounts and don't see a charge next to them..soooooo.

  by Darran on 2007-10-16 09:03:28

• @grayskull think it dose use GPRS i talked to t-mobile and they said its covered on what u pay for web n walk its just slower. it's nice to have for when am at work only thing is it can be slow :( but or well :P

  by aaron on 2007-10-17 19:12:11

• as per carls request, i have exactly the same problem. my phone works normally, safari works but i dont get an edge icon or have the option under networks. my youtube does not load and just says "needs cellular data or wifi" and it wont play any other videos from any other websites. (i believe flash does not work anyway) any clues???

  by lee on 2008-10-24 10:08:33

• Hi, HELP! I've managed to successfully hack my iphone (bought in US last weekend) this morning using..... http://www.modmyifone.com/wiki/index.php/Jailbreak_the_iPhone_1.1.1_out_of_the_box which was brilliant! Easy to follow with fully illustrated instructions. Uses something called Jailbreak to unlock the phone and something called anySIM to unlock the sim. I have zero technical knowledge and succeeded first time. You don't even have to plug the iphone into a computer, you just need a wi fi connection. But, I happen to be using 02, and as I said everything works fine apart from the internet. Does anyone know how I can get it working, or if I can at all? I can use wi fi no problem but not internet direct, it says "Could not activate edge" and "Safari can't open the page because it can't find the server. If anyone has any ideas it would be much appreciated. Kind regards, Andrew

  by Andrew on 2007-11-12 20:42:55

• Hi! I would really appreciate any help as this is driving me insane I want to point out that web and youtube access works fine when connected via WLAN etc I use to have a Blackberry Pearl with T-Mobile, they have removed Blackberry Services and Web n Walk. I cannot access the web when using any apn username/password combinations (found on the web). I get the following error: Safari cannot open the web page because it can't find the server.I use to get "Could not activate EDGE you are not subscribed to EDGE" when Blackberry services were running on the account. I've tried to use a 02 Pay and Go SIM and that simply returns a Safari Error something about nsurlerrordomain=1005

  by Imran Mohammed on 2007-11-05 07:54:48

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  by kishan nunkoo on 2008-10-16 17:39:29

• Wold this method work on unlocking an iPhone UK to T-Mobile UK?

  by Nck on 2007-11-21 19:42:27

• Aral, do you have the edge icon coming up. I've used the settings you mention and I still have the solid blue GPRS icon showing. Cheers Sat

  by Sat on 2008-01-23 00:02:43

• nice very nice so now i can use it in any another GSM service provider thanks

  by jbr on 2008-07-07 00:41:02

• should i have something in the VPN SETTINGS ? I TURNED IT ON AND IT NEEDS LOTS OF INFO NO IDEA WHAT TO ADD , LEFT BLANK IT JUST TURNS ITSELF OFF,

  by lee on 2008-02-23 14:34:57

• so web n walk works then? i think a swift trip to the apple store is in order

  by David on 2008-03-10 14:06:52

• Just a quick question Is there a distinct possibility that if you purchased an iPhone locked to T-Mobile off eBay Germany, for example, would that simply mean slotting in your T-Mobile SIM Card into the iPhone or is there other implications of this? (For example YouTube not working, email or internet facilities not working etc) The appeal of the iPhone is there however the one barrier is indeed the fact that O2 secured itself as the lone carrier of the iPhone (honestly i wouldn't trust them to provide me with 2 slices of toast let alone provide my telephony services) If push comes to shove i'll even purchase an iPhone 2G however i am curious about the EDGE coverage in the UK on the T-Mobile network - i've already called up T-Mobile regarding EDGE coverage and they say its few and far between, how good is your coverage?

  by Paul Giannandrea on 2008-07-15 14:13:34

• hi, i have same kind of problems, t mobile web and walk i have the solid blue gprs icon not edge, wi fi does not work either as all the options are locked and require passwords, ive tried setting/general/network/edge/ and put in the general.t-mobile.uk etc with all the combinations i can find on the web and still nothing any help anyone. ?

  by lee on 2008-02-23 14:31:11

• i recently bought an unlocked iphone. im using a tmobile sim and everything works ie safari, youtube itunes, apart from the phone itself, i cant call or send txts, when i try and call my phone it says the mobile u are trying to call is switched off, any advice?

  by steve on 2008-04-13 13:56:57

• Im really happy with my 3G iPhone. Unfortunately the DEVteam does not have a software unlock available. After trying and testing many things i finally found a working / reliable unlock. Everything works perfectly, 3G data, Incoming/outgoing calls & SMS, youtube, maps, locate me, and no loss when switching cell towers . Im definately happy with my 3G! http://www.iphone-sim-unlock.com/3G.html is what did it for me.

  by Pascal on 2008-09-22 19:14:40

• I have a german contract iphone which I have unlocked so I can use my t- mobile contract in the uK. Trouble is it won't work on 3G. When I set it to 3G and try to browse it says cannot find the server. I have to use the data setting. I am using webandwalk. Is there any way of getting 3G? Do I have to use the vpn setting. Anyone help

  by david on 2008-09-28 13:19:26

• Hi, Do you have to have a 3G iphone for edge on t-mobile UK? I have a 2G iphone unlocked to T-Mobile UK, but dont see an EDGE option in settings/general/network? is this a 3G specific thing? Also ALL internet works fine (maps safari etc) but not youtube. It brings up the searches fine, but will not play (gives error "YouTube requires a cellular data or wifi connection) I do have webNwalk activated. Any ideas? Carl

  by Carl Young on 2008-10-03 13:13:20

• nice blog!

  by pichiboochi on 2009-06-17 02:24:13

• u can see on top carl and lee and now me have smae problem. i have 2G unlock iphone. when i try to open youtube in safari doesnt open. when i try to open with youtube icon it ask for wifi or edge connection. i can connect with wifi youtube video work. but i tried ur setting general.t-mobile.uk t-mobile in edge doesnt work. t-mobile gave me general.t-mobile.uk user - user password - pass. it also not work. why i cant connect to youtube over t mobile internet.

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