Bricked brand new iphone 3gs

[neotarum]

Hi guys and gals!

I was recommended this website by a friend when I ran into trouble with my iphone 3gs.
At the moment it seems to be bricked (As defined by me!).
It is stuck on recovery mode (asking to connect to iTunes).

Story begins with me getting pay as you go iphone 3gs to be gifted to a relative in Turkey.
Only had 2 working days left so didnt go through with the official sim unlock from o2, although I topped up with £15.
Took it with me, registered the IMEI number with my passport (so it doesn't get blocked in Turkey after a few weeks) and asked the lady there if it was possible to unlock it. She said yes, take it to technical service.
Before doing so, I realised it was not activated, so tried hactivation. installed an earlier firmware version (I think it was a custom one - 4.1) and there was no service. So took it to the shop, asked them if it was possible for them to unlock it. Reply was definitely and left it with them. When I received the phone next day (On the way to the airport) I realised something wasn't right - although they said it wasn't sim-unlocked. There was no wifi and bluetooth addresses. I thought a simple restore may be fine so took it back with me to UK, where I would update it to latest version and sim-unlock it by paying £15 to O2.
No luck! Since I enabled recovery mode, it's stuck there. Tried a few fixes but still no luck. Can't update to latest OS too. Tried custom firmwares too...always end up with and error. iOS 5 installs but fails to finalise - giving me error -1.

If anyone could help this new member, please do so.
I am not interested in jailbreaking etc, just want a phone I could use.
Thanks in advance!
Sorry if it seems like I haven't done my research, but I have asked friends and did google what I could, with no hope.
Oh, another thing...iTunes is able to recognise the phone in recovery mode and warns accordingly. However, the software version, capacity and serial numbers are missing!!! Very worrying.. (Says n/a).

Thanks again!

[iYeow]

Did you see any baseband or modem firmware on your iphone ?

[neotarum]

I think I saw 05.16.02 before. After they messed around with it, it was blank.

[iYeow]

If it is blank , then it is considered bricked.

[neotarum]

hence, no way to fix it? It's a shame as I can't take it back to the stupid shop now!

[iYeow]

Why can't you take it back ? Even if you took it back, they wouldn't admit it is their fault.

[neotarum]

(ooops)

OK, I'm a bit lost now with the posts...had it repeated but now only ooops is there..
Anyway, somehow they managed to make IMEI and ICCID number disappear!

Thanks for you help iYeow!
Best wishes

[zoolman88]

But if it's new try to restore and if u get a error a d u have a warranty u can send it into apple in dfu mode and they won't be able to restore it to and will send u a new device and pay for all shipping as well

[neotarum]

Thanks for the tip zoolman88. It is actually less than two weeks old! I still have the receipt, the problem that I can see is they will say I messed around with it and broke it. Also they somehow managed to erase all key info such as the IMEI number at the "shop"! (Didn't think that was even possible!).

[zoolman88]

there is no way they can tell because the baseband chip is fried what you do is but the device in dfu and do a restore and half way thru the restore unplug the device and send it in they wont be able to get it to restore to and will send you a new one. i have done this about 10 times it works.

[neotarum]

Sounds convincing but knowing my luck they will catch me out! Thanks for the tips!

[zoolman88]

trust me its worth a try what else u going to do the motherboard is gone. it works

[neotarum]

Thanks again! I may give it a shot tomorrow

[neotarum]

What a result! Thanks zoolman88! I was very happy with the customer service too and will be an Apple fan from now on!

[zoolman88]

Yea it works great they can't tell I know it's a gray area but not having a phone sucks. Good to here u got it swapped out