German iPhones Unlocked via iTunes

[Cody Overcash]

So we all know that the factory unlocked iPhone was coming, but we didn't know how it would get here.

Would it be straight out of the box unlocked? The answer is no. When someone in Germany buys an unlocked iPhone the IMEI is first send straight to Apple. It takes Apple about 24 hours to update their database.

At that point you just plug your iPhone into itunes and it is unlocked within seconds. This shows that iTunes is in fact capable of unlocking the iPhone. Will this system be hacked creating a whole new kind of unlock? We'll see . . .

via macrumors

[MOEPLO]

hopefully. matter fact with these modders and "hackers" ill be waiting

[joshysquashy]

Why are they unlocking phones in this manner? I don't think it will make it harder to hack - as you can just make an iPhone look like its been unlocked by iTunes, so why aren't they unlocked out of the box?

I'm sure theres a good reason, I just don't see it.

[mofolo]

They'll probably release some sort of Itunes emulator, that tells itunes that your IMEI needs to be unlocked.

I hope it comes out soon!

[bluenwhite]

iTunes reads the IMEI and sends it to Apple to identify if the iphone to be unlocked... It should be easy if we can read the traffic (if its not encrypted ofcourse) and generate it via a proxy (or packet injection) to tell iTunes that this iphone needs to be unlocked.

Many methods for unlocking the iphone will be in the way hopefully...

[alexblanchard2]

Why are they unlocking phones in this manner? I don't think it will make it harder to hack - as you can just make an iPhone look like its been unlocked by iTunes, so why aren't they unlocked out of the box?

I'm sure theres a good reason, I just don't see it.

The most likely reason is that buyers for these phones are few and far between - shops arn't going to want to stock many for obvious reasons.

The most likely hack will be to redirect the server request to one that a hacker has set-up - this is very like IPSF - only with iTunes doing its work instead of a native app.

[iBwizzle]

Now they wanna began to unlock the iPhone legally. How will this affect AT&T as the main service provider? iF all plays out well iWanna ditch my 2yr. agreement and hop on the prepaid data plan and get an separate unlimited callin' service provider.

-sent from my iPhone
_______________________________
1.1.2 Jailbroken and pimped the hell out!!!
iHeart MMi *<||:0)

[joshysquashy]

The most likely reason is that buyers for these phones are few and far between - shops arn't going to want to stock many for obvious reasons.

The most likely hack will be to redirect the server request to one that a hacker has set-up - this is very like IPSF - only with iTunes doing its work instead of a native app.

or to copy the unlock files across after ssh access (like we do with lockdownd to bypass activation), assuming the files aren't tied to the specific handset.

the great thing is that updating won't brick the iphone, and hopefully won't even lock it!

[whisky96]

any idea how exactly the unlock via iTunes work?

- do i need to be in the country with the iTunes Store, or i need just iTunes?

- will the unlocked phone than work on any (worldwide) network, or just any german network?

thanx for the answers, i'm planning to purchase some pieces as a X-mas gift for my top customers and need to know if it will seamlessly work (as I don't want to put them into the stress with jailbreaking and unlocking)

[yowiphone]

well if its unlocked then it will work with any network worldwide.

[joshysquashy]

any idea how exactly the unlock via iTunes work?

- do i need to be in the country with the iTunes Store, or i need just iTunes?

- will the unlocked phone than work on any (worldwide) network, or just any german network?

thanx for the answers, i'm planning to purchase some pieces as a X-mas gift for my top customers and need to know if it will seamlessly work (as I don't want to put them into the stress with jailbreaking and unlocking)

You need to buy a German iPhone (the unlocked version). Apple will then take note of the IMEI number of that phone (unique identifier).

When the user comes to connect it to iTunes, it will recognise it and unlock it. It will work on any GSM network (all Europe, some America etc).

You can connect it in any country, you can use it in any country, any GSM network.

Very generous present! (You realise they cost 2x the amount unlocked!)

[Nili1968]

They are not unlocked right out the box. T-Mobile has no unlocked phones and i got the locked one unlocked via itunes
NJ

[whisky96]

thanx for the answers...

so i can activate the iphones via iTunes even if there's not iTunes Store in my country, right?

[mjmills]

so do we need to all start donating to some pool so a genius can buy and unlock one and look at whats going on?

[Syal]

I don't think this will make freeing iphones easier.

My guess it's that itunes just acts as conduit. It gives apple's server the phone IMEI, the server checks, and provides the specific freeing code for that phone, and Itunes just uses the code to free the phone.

That would mean that everything remains server sided and that freeing codes are IMEI specific... :-(

That's my guess, anyway, I might be wrong.

[ryfx]

omg, that would be so nice!

[tdefriez]

Surely this is just how IPSF works (ignore the issues due to 'corrupt' basebands) - you tell them your IMEI, you then contact their server which issues 'a unlock code' to your phone - once dsone the phone is unlocked (and appears to be with all current firmware releases. The issue with IPSF has been the activation of the phone after the upgrade which has had to wait for the hacker to workout a jailbreak so the required activation files can be worked around.
So all I see here is at iTunes communicates your IMEI to 'Apple/Vendor' server (which it does anyway now with unactivated phones), if this is seen as one which must be unlocked the appropriate unlock code is sent to the phone at the same time as the activation files are written - this is no different to how most unlocks work - the unlock code is either sent directly to the phone or entered via a special key combination (seen it done both ways with the phones I've had). This unlock process is probable a one off (only need at activation), sent once then the system does not check your phone again unless you need to re-activate it.
Only potential problem I see here is that the vendor/Apple could use this to relock any illegally locked phones (currently IMEI is only sent on activation)

[pingwhen]

I know they read everything here and I'm sure they are all ready on it I don't think we will ever have a permnant unlock apple is smart and will foil us for a while till there is another loophole found

[acaijr73]

its all good that everybody is lookn to try and find an easier unlock method but i have a question:

If a person buys an unlocked iPhone and itunes does the unlocking would a person be able to jailbreak and add 3rd party apps with no problem?? Seeing as the phone is gonna be in contact with the servers when your either updating or syncing and how does this affect our iphones, that wasnt unlocked by apple, in the future?

[jonnyraincloud]

hah, they wouldnt dare
itunes will never get to the point where it just bricks phones at will.
thats ultra bad for business, and apple doesnt need any more bad publicity.

the itunes unlock could prove useful,
but 1500 dollars is alot of money to find out if itll work or not.

anyone have the numbers on how many unlocked iphones are selling? (legally)