How to Do It: Unlock an iPhone

Got an iPhone and want to be able to use it overseas or on a network other than ATTs? Using free, open-source software, you can unlock your iPhone in about an hour. Doing so will enable you to use it on many networks around the worldthough not all of them. There are plenty of online ...

Got an iPhone and want to be able to use it overseas or on a network other than ATTs? Using free, open-source software, you can unlock your iPhone in about an hour. Doing so will enable you to use it on many networks around the worldthough not all of them.

Got an iPhone and want to be able to use it overseas or on a network other than ATTs? Using free, open-source software, you can unlock your iPhone in about an hour. Doing so will enable you to use it on many networks around the worldthough not all of them.

There are plenty of online resources to guide you through the process step-by-step. For most procedures, youll need your iPhone, the data cable, and a Wi-Fi connection. Of course, if you plan to use your iPhone on a network other than ATTs, youll need a new SIM card as well.

Once youve got all that, check out one of these online tutorials, all of which explain the process in plain English:

How to Unlock an iPhone, by Cyrus Farivar in MacWorldHow to Unlock the iPhone to use any SIM, Hackthatphone.com
iPhone SIM free: mini-tutorial (pdf)

Be aware that many people who have tried to unlock their iPhones have reported damaging them. For the less technically inclined, or those fearful of doing the procedure incorrectly, a number of services are available online. Expect to pay $30 or more to have one of these services unlock your phone for you. But remember, anytime you are hacking a piece of technology, you do so at your own risk!

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