Advice on jailbreaking, unlocking iPhone 4 please

[NHL Fever]

Could somebody point me in the right direction on how to jailbreak and unlock an iPhone 4? Specifically, how do I figure out which ios version can be jailbroken, and which can be unlocked? I have hunted around online, and I can't seem to find a definitive guide for it.

I appreciate that this has probably been asked in various forms many times and answered. Hopefully many of your will appreciate that unless you start out already with an understanding of much of the terminology and and mechanisms, reading various threads is not always as helpful for noobs. Thanks in advance.

 

[emhcee]

Check this out: http://www.jailbreakmatrix.com/chart

And just in case, GSM if it's an ATT phone, CDMA if it's a Verizon/Sprint.

 

[Europa]

If you know what carrier it's locked to, you can buy a permanent unlock for it on eBay for a few dollars. It's far superior to a software unlock and it doesn't require jailbreaking.

 

[emhcee]

If you know what carrier it's locked to, you can buy a permanent unlock for it on eBay for a few dollars. It's far superior to a software unlock and it doesn't require jailbreaking.

I didn't know that. I requested and got an unlock from ATT on my old phone, but haven't tried doing so for my old VZ one yet. Buying an unlock via eBay? Interesting.

 

[Europa]

I didn't know that. I requested and got an unlock from ATT on my old phone, but haven't tried doing so for my old VZ one yet. Buying an unlock via eBay? Interesting.

Yep. It's faster and easier than going through AT&T even if you are eligible for unlocking. This method became available around August 2012. AT&T gave me the runaround so I bought one from unlock_fusion and it was unlocked and running on T-Mobile five hours later.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Factory-Unlock-Code-Service-for-AT-T-USA-apple-iphone-3-3G-3GS-4-4S-5-Permanent-/190778292888?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c6before5ba98

 

[emhcee]

Yep. It's faster and easier...

Very nice. Thanks.

 

[NHL Fever]

If you know what carrier it's locked to, you can buy a permanent unlock for it on eBay for a few dollars. It's far superior to a software unlock and it doesn't require jailbreaking.

Wow I didn't know that. My understanding was that only the carrier can perform a factory unlock.

Now that you mention permanent non-carrier unlocks are available, I wonder if I could unlock my current 4S (locked to Telus, 5.1.1, 2.0.12) instead of hunting for a 4? Is this a possibility?

Edit: Out of curiosity I called my carrier to ask if it could be unlocked. They said it will be $35. The phone is still on contract. Has something changed in the last few years where carriers are now unlocking phones still on contract?

 

[Europa]

Wow I didn't know that. My understanding was that only the carrier can perform a factory unlock.

My situation is I am Canadian, looking for an iPhone4. I have not purchased it yet, I am looking locally in classifieds so it would be a Canadian one. This means GSM version, the same as used on AT&T. This could be locked to Rogers, Fido, Telus, Bell or MTS where I live.

Do permanent unlocks through third parties exist for Canadian iPhone 4's?

Now that you mention permanent non-carrier unlocks are available, I wonder if I could unlock my current 4S (locked to Telus, 5.1.1, 2.0.12) instead of hunting for a 4? Is this a possibility?

Edit: Out of curiosity I called my carrier to ask if it could be unlocked. They said it will be $35. The phone is still on contract. Has something changed in the last few years where carriers are now unlocking phones still on contract?

1. Yes, but it costs $48. It's only $4 for an AT&T phone. So your better off going through Telus than eBay if they'll do it for you, unless they won't do it while it's still under contract. Here's a link if you go through eBay. Better this than downgrading hardware, IMO: http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=320944441999

2. Yes, AT&T has only been unlocking them for about a year, and they have to be out of contract. Some of the other carriers in the UK, Canada, etc. have been unlocking them for years and they don't all have that requirement.

 

[NHL Fever]

1. Yes, but it costs $48. It's only $4 for an AT&T phone. So your better off going through Telus than eBay if they'll do it for you, unless they won't do it while it's still under contract. http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=320944441999

2. Yes, AT&T has only been unlocking them for about a year, and they have to be out of contract. Some of the other carriers in the UK, Canada, etc. have been unlocking them for years and they don't all have that requirement.

Thanks for that info!

Any idea why Telus is so much more expensive than AT&T?

Also I'm very curious, how do third party unlockers get the codes they need?

 

[Europa]

I'm not sure. Also, I just noticed that it says local pickup. Not sure what that's about. Here's the AT&T link so you can compare the details. I'd send them an email first and ask about that. Mine was all handled over email.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=190778292888

 

[NHL Fever]

I'm not sure. Also, I just noticed that it says local pickup. Not sure what that's about. Here's the AT&T link so you can compare the details. I'd send them an email first and ask about that. Mine was all handled over email.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=190778292888

I did send them an email, but ya I their ad says $48. I guess going through Telus itself is the better deal, probably more reliable and safe as well. I did ask a random Indian Telus unlocker on ebay why it was more expensive, and his answer was

"S AT&T have lots of source but telus having only one source all over the world tats y"

Still makes one wonder who or what these 'sources' are. Do you think it's leaked codes from Apple?

 

[Europa]

No, they don't come from Apple. They are generated by the carriers. I'm not certain, but I think they probably pay staff that work at the various carriers to submit the unlocks on the side.