Most of the iPhones are manufacture-locked; that means you will have to stick with whatever telecommunication carrier you were with in order to use your iPhone. Rockia lives in Canada where Fido and Rogers were the first two companies that carried iPhones.  Personally, I have been with Fido for a long time. When I got my iPhone, it was locked by Fido. I love my iPhone 3GS, but sometimes, especially when I need to go to the states, it’s not convenient for me — either I have to carry two phones, or I have to pay long-distance calling fee to Fido.

Wouldn’t it be nice if my iPhone was unlocked and I can switch different SIM cards inside? I am sure tons of people want to do the same thing too. Proof? Go to google “unlock iPhone”, you will see about 14,100,000 results will come up. Then how do we get unlocked iPhones?

0. Jailbreak the iPhone

Most of the people might have thought this post is about unlocking iPhones; however, it’s not. Jailbreaking the iPhone and then unlocking it is the most common method iPhone users use to get their iPhone support SIM cards from different carriers. However, I must say that I don’t suggest anyone try that because it will void your iPhone’s warranty; Apple is quite strict on this policy as well.

1. Buy iPhone unlocked from Apple Store or online

You could officially get unlocked iPhone from Apple stores. So far I know the Apple Stores in Hong Kong and Australia does not require contracts. While you get an iPhone from these Apple Stores, you could put SIM cards from any telecommunication carriers and it will work for you. This is the only method that Apple announced for people who want/need an unlocked iPhone. However, I must say that the price for these manufacture-unlocked iPhones are relatively high. For example, if you are going to get 16GB iPhone 3GS from Apple Store Hong Kong, it will cost you HKD 5388 (About US$700); do I really want to pay US$700 while I can get it for CAD$299 from Fido based on a 3-year contract? My answer is no.

2. Special treatment from Apple

I accidentally found this post online and I think it’s quite believable. Seems like there is some hidden ways you could submit the IMEI number to Apple and unlock any iPhone models through iTunes.

This unlock method is not open to public but it’s the best way to go. You don’t have to pay lots or worry about firmware update while you could still enjoy using different carrier SIM cards.

3. Get iPhone replaced by an unlocked one

This is the method I discovered recently. My iPhone 3GS had some battery problems after updating to firmware 3.1.3. I brought it to Apple Store and got it replaced. I don’t worry about the quality of the replacement iPhone because I got a refurbished Macbook Pro before and the quality was awesome. When I got it back, my co-working told me that my iPhone could have been unlocked already. I thought this could be possible because the Apple technician (the Apple genius) who gave me the replacement just randomly took an iPhone 3GS from a pile.  None of the boxes were labeled with Fido, Rogers or other carriers.

The iPhone 3GS replacement I got was on firmware 3.1.2 when I brought it home and then upgraded it to firmware 3.1.3. Then, I borrowed someone’s Rogers SIM card. Once I switched the SIM card, the iPhone screen showed that I must connect iPhone to iTunes in order to continue. I did and wow, iPhone is activated and “ROGERS” was shown on the top left corner as the carrier instead of my usual “FIDO”!

The iPhone I got as replacement is officially unlocked one; I didn’t spend an arm and a leg to purchase the unlocked iPhone.  I didn’t do anything illegal to jailbreak my iPhone.  Plus, I didn’t get special treatment from Apple!  But!!!  I now have an unlocked iPhone.

Special Note: If you get the replacement from your original carrier like Fido or Rogers, you will get a brand new iPhone which is also locked. Only through Apple, you could get a re-certified iPhone that’s manufacture-unlocked.

Post Note:

With this unlocked iPhone, I could carry it to the States or overseas with different SIM cards. Either you will need to pay full price for an unlocked iPhone, or you will need to get the “special edition” iPhone from Apple.The problem is, how could you convince the technician and get the iPhone replaced?

[UPDATE]: I got a feedback from my friends that I could possibly unlock my iPhone through Fido too when my iPhone 3GS contract is expired. However, this hasn’t been confirmed officially, but I will get someone to test it out.