iPhone unbricking now available from IPhoneSimFree

Hacked your iPhone did ya? Now, after the 1.1.1 update, you're looking at a non-functioning paperweight? Well, we've got good news for you just as long as you're willing to pay. Not only does the 1.1.1 iPhoneSimFree unlock released earlier unlock 1.1.1 iPhones, it also unbricks any iPhone including those unlocked by the Dev Team's anySim or iUnlock software. However, that requires registering your IMEI with IPSF resellers which requires cash in hand. About $100 beans but that's a lot cheaper than a new handset, eh?

[Johny @ Oct 11th 2007 5:37AM]

now who's honestly dumb enough to pay for this?!
I hope everyone learned from the past events that it's only a matter of time till a free version is available from our trusted hackers ;)

[kludge @ Oct 11th 2007 6:12AM]

Make a bet, how long the free version will be released?

A. less than 1 week

B. 1 - 2 weeks

C. 1 month

D. more than 1 month

E. Never

[Johny @ Oct 11th 2007 6:11AM]

I'd probably say A, less than a week :)

[EatingPie @ Oct 11th 2007 11:41AM]

Not here to badmouth the awesome work by the hackers, but I'm all for truth in advertising.

The free AnySim and iUnlock hack is what left iPhones bricked at 1.1.1, while iPhoneSimFree did not. So you did get SOMETHING more for your $100.00 in the first place.

That said, I hope a free unbrick is coming soon... and... more important to me... an Installer.app updated for 1.1.1!

SummerBoard FTW!

-Pie

[Matthew C @ Oct 12th 2007 11:45PM]

B. 1-2 weeks. By then another unbricking program will be available for free, so this will be useless.

[Shaka @ Oct 11th 2007 6:24AM]

I find it intriguing that the as the Dev Team unleashes the new Jailbreak, SimFree comes riding in to save the day.

[rock99rock @ Oct 11th 2007 9:03AM]

Well thats easy! Simfree is obviously owned by apple. This is how they will make all their money back from the credits to the early adopters :)

[EatingPie @ Oct 11th 2007 11:37AM]

According to ars, the SIMFree guys needed the Jailbreak to get their things to work. Hence it coming on the heels of the Jailbreak.

-Pie

[Dan F @ Oct 11th 2007 6:26AM]

so after paying them for unlocking your phone...now we must pay them to fix what their software has done...and then purchase another version of an unlocking software from them?

[Cameron @ Oct 11th 2007 7:46AM]

iPhoneSimFree never bricked anyone's phone. They're actually fixing the corruption in the NVRAM caused by the free unlock anySim or iUnlock. Different software. Different results if you upgrade to 1.1.1.

[Nick @ Oct 11th 2007 9:18AM]

iPhonSimFree's software didn't do anything except for work as how they said it would. Dont blame the 3rd party software for Apple patching up security holes. Apples update bricked your device.. not your unlock software.

It is going to become an inevitable recurring problem. The hacks find security holes to exploit to get their software on the device.. and Apple is just patching up the holes that the exploits use because eventually not all the exploits will be as good natured as the ones that exist now. Just wait till one of these scam artist companies from the virgin islands use an exploit to lock you out of your phone and continuously have your phone call their speciall 900 number.

[Charlie @ Oct 11th 2007 7:02AM]

I am certain that before the week is over WE WILL have a free solution from the Dev Team... Cheers,

[Glenn Gore @ Oct 11th 2007 7:09AM]

I'll be darned, these people happily paid $599 for the phone, happily paid $100 for the original hack, and now will happily pay ANOTHER $100 to bring their phone back from the dead???? They now will have paid almost half the price of the phone AGAIN to fix problems THEY caused themselves.

Wow, I am in the WRONG business! This will go on forever, and is the perfect evidence that these people are poor little rich kids that are only spending Daddy's money. I have one word to say........SUCKERS!!!!!!!

[Jojo @ Oct 11th 2007 10:07AM]

The new Unlock is free for old customers, you silly goose.

[Dauphin @ Oct 11th 2007 7:38AM]

Now what i really want to know is if or when are we going to look for a solution to get the new upgrades for people that like me have iPhones 1.0.2 hacked unbricked and running the 3rd party apps, i mean have you guys forgotten that you told us not to update untill there was a solution found?? well... now you seem to be focusing on just jailbraking and unlocking virgin phones running 1.1.1 or unbricking the iBricks... but what of us+???? we are waiting too...

[cmk1523 @ Oct 11th 2007 8:51AM]

In regards to Dauphin...

Precisely!

and I would vote B, 1-2 weeks.

[Philpo @ Oct 11th 2007 8:59AM]

Er, why don't you just update to 1.1.1 which I'm sure will be available and then use the new method? Have I missed something?

[Scott Grizzle @ Oct 11th 2007 9:00AM]

Considering 99.9% of the iphone users (realistically) have unhacked, normal iphones, I don't get why 99% of the iphone stories are about unlocking. I wonder if I offer up an "unlocked" pb&j sandwich for $100, will people buy it. If they eat that one, I can offer them a new unlock for only another $100.

[Ali K @ Oct 12th 2007 2:16PM]

99.9% of iPhones might be unhacked, but 90% of this website's target audience (gadget fans and technology literates) are people who use some 3rd party apps or/and an unlocking solution on their iPhone...
Actually, I know some people who have become a regular reader just to follow up on iPhone's tricks and hacks.

[huh @ Oct 11th 2007 9:00AM]

I'm so glad Apple users are now able to tap into the excitment of virus-antivirus-antiantivirus game that Windows users have been so thrilled to experience. That it's with Apple itself, and they're playing for basic freedom to use their device is typical of the Class of the Apple universe.

[Dauphin @ Oct 11th 2007 9:04AM]

why would we brick the phones on porpuse??? i was offered a safe solution, i live i belgium and i do not have an active ATT account to re activate the phone and to be honest i'm not all that good with hacks and stuff i can run my computer and do my stuff but honestly you guys... the main thing here was DO NOT UPDATE untill WE come up with a SAFE solution... and now you seem to have forgoten all about the people that had 1.0.2 HACKED and running 3rd party apps.... so what is going to happen with us? are really going to have to brick the phones in order to upgrade??? that doesn't sound right

[breal @ Oct 11th 2007 10:52AM]

good thing T-Mobile USA does not allow calls to 900 #'s ;)

[Rob @ Oct 11th 2007 9:21AM]

This is getting ridiculous. Are iPhone users really that low in common sense? How can you pay $400-600 for a phone, then another $100 every month or so, so you can use your phone with another carrier. This is beyond loyalty to a product or company. This is plain and simple stupidity.

But, I guess I'm not one of the privilege ones.

[kludge @ Oct 11th 2007 9:52AM]

Because most iPhone fanboys are iDiots!

[Raymond @ Oct 11th 2007 9:40AM]

Can I pay using my $100 Apple store credit?

[rob @ Oct 11th 2007 10:20AM]

I used it and it unbricked my phone. YEA Thanks guys

[Benny Nelson @ Oct 11th 2007 2:49PM]

As many have said, you don't need to pay another 100 dollars (actually 60 at most places). Anyone who used this hack in the first place did not have their phones bricked. It was the people who used the open source application that got the bricked iphones.

I am tempted to use this, since they seem to have a solution that doesn't mess up things that apple updates in the firmware. Unless apple intentionally did this since most people used the iphone dev team unlock.

I also wouldn't be surprised if the iphone dev team fixes this and does it the right way this time.

[Chris Wanja @ Oct 11th 2007 3:21PM]

So you are saying all we have to do is update our phones and it works?? I tend to think that is incorrect. No one on any web "magazine" (Engadget and Gizmodo) have been able to help this question.

What do hacked users, running 1.0.2, who used iPSF for 1.0.2 do about this all?! You seem to have helped all the other people figure up how to fix something they did not pay for. How about helping the ones who paid for it all. Lord

[Chris Wanja @ Oct 11th 2007 10:56AM]

So if you used IPSF to unlock your phone original with 1.0.2, do you just upgrade to 1.1.1 and not worry??

How does this work if you used the software in the past?

[Andrew @ Oct 11th 2007 11:04AM]

Rob -- good to hear it worked... did you pay $100 or $200 total for it?

See I don't even know what I unlocked mine with (but it works swimmingly!). I just followed some MacWorld article on how to, anyone else do this?

Anyway, I'm running 1.0.2 unlocked and with 3rd party apps -- but would ideally like to get to 1.1.1 unlocked with 3rd party apps... any advice guys?

[Chris Wanja @ Oct 11th 2007 11:08AM]

I would love to know how to do this just as well. Did you use IPSF to unlock your 1.0.2?

[Kosso @ Oct 11th 2007 11:31AM]

LOL. Now all you need to wait for is 'iPhoneSimFreeFREE' ? ;p

[tiggerbunty @ Oct 11th 2007 2:00PM]

Hey
have any of the users who actually had the simfree software installed upgraded ?? apparently my friend as per the simfree website intructions did it and his phone was hanging. There aren't any clear instructions given anywhere? can someone please tell me if they have ?

P.S. apple rocks and for all the losers who critisize about the product and paying money don bother reading this blog

Cheers

[Chris Wanja @ Oct 11th 2007 2:44PM]

I am dying to know the same thing. I have tried e-mailing them but never ever get anything back! I have tried posting on Gizmodo as well and well I hate their comment system.

Engadget help!

[Mike @ Oct 11th 2007 2:44PM]

IPSF - The best $60 I've spent in a long time.

[tiggerbunty @ Oct 12th 2007 1:06AM]

Exactly ..
IPSF have posted instructions for the people who bricked their iphones from anysim and iunlock so that more and more come to them. All they have said is current users can upgrade to 1.6 BUT HOW ?????
Iv been finding a lot but have not managed to get any proper instructions. and why have they even kept a section to contact them IPSF team when they dont want to reply.
Ofcourse its the best $60 dollars iv spent but now im thinkin what about me IPSF

anyway ppl please let us all know if any1 gets their hands on the instructions

cheers

[knokio @ Oct 12th 2007 2:13AM]

I upgraded to 1.6, i can see i got some new voicemails, but i cant select a carrier ATT and TMOBLE are grayed out, doesnt seem to work for me. But the app ran without any errors. am i missing something, anyone else with the same issues.....ROB?

[mick Hiley @ Oct 12th 2007 11:11AM]

I bought my iphone in Hong Kong and have no idea what method was used to unlock it and therefore whether this software will allow me to upgrade from 1.0.2 to 1.1.1.

I'm using it on Orange in the UK.

Anyone help?

[juniper22 @ Oct 12th 2007 12:52PM]

Can anyone tell me who are the "Dev Team", is Apple development team behind some hacks?, I don't get it :-(

[JRBTempe @ Oct 13th 2007 4:37PM]

I was able to use IPSF 1.6 on my 1.0.2 iPhone unlocked via iUnlock (prior to the AnySIM GUI version). At first I had the same problem as knokio where my voicemail showed as a red circle without a number but reactivating via iTunes fixed that problem (using my proper AT&T SIM). I was also able to confirm the IPSF unlock using a UMC SIM from Ukraine.

Next I tried to upgrade to 1.1.1 which took a few tries but eventually it worked. The problem is, if you change SIMs while under 1.1.1 there's no way to reactivate the phone using a non-AT&T SIM... I was able to jailbreak the phone via 1.1.1 using the Dev Team's trickery, but it's not really a very efficient solution and their 1.1.1 activation didn't seem to hold through a reboot.

Here's hoping for a new version of iNdependence shortly which will make 1.1.1 more appealing for IPSF updaters...