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8:25 pm
November 29, 2009
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Looking at buying a used iphone (3gs) which is unlocked. Will be using it on Speakout. It was previously locked to bell.
Can you let me know if there are some things I should consider before buying?
The phone has 6 months of warranty left. I know if you unlock it it voids the warranty. Will apple be able to prove this?
9:29 pm
March 10, 2010
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3GS is a great phone. I'd be interested in knowing what firmware it is running. 4.1 or below is good, 4.2 isn't optimal. The only downside of having an unlocked iPhone is that you have to be up on jailbreak news. When you plug in to itunes, you can't just click "upgrade" when it tells you to, else you could end up with a phone that can no longer be unlocked. It happens all the time. If you are not a techie person, you should probably just wait for a Rogers branded phone.
As far as the warranty goes, you can always just to a restore and the device will be back to an unjailbroken speck. Apple would be none the wiser.
8:59 pm
November 29, 2009
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andreww said:
I'd be interested in knowing what firmware it is running. 4.1 or below is good, 4.2 isn't optimal.
The only downside of having an unlocked iPhone is that you have to be up on jailbreak news. When you plug in to itunes, you can't just click "upgrade" when it tells you to, else you could end up with a phone that can no longer be unlocked. It happens all the time..
Thanks for your help. Could you let me know why 4.2 is not optimal?
So I wouldn't be able to unlock it again if I hit "upgrade" or is it just a matter of having to go through the whole process again? Thanks again.
1:19 am
March 10, 2010
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The only jailbreak that exists for 4.2 right now is a "tethered" jailbreak. What this means is that if your battery goes dead, or if you need to reboot your phone, you will need to attach it to a computer and reapply the jailbreak. Not a good way to set up a device that is away from your computer most of the time. Even the jailbreak team is recommending staying at 4.1.
8:26 am
December 27, 2011
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We've inherited a 3gs. Our benefactor believes the phone is and always has been unlocked. Is there a way of turning on the phone and confirming that? Its battery is definitely old, it discharges with the unit turned off much faster than our old Ipod Touch 2. Any recommendations for replacing the battery? Our benefactor recommended a local shop, not Apple. The 3gs is obviously way out of warranty. We have an existing speakout account in one of the hmm throwaway phones that 7-11 sells. I believe that the 3gs takes a smaller SIM card than the Nokia 1610 or whatever it is. From an annual topup deal we have an unused SIM card of the correct size. I didn't find any instructions about this in the FAQ, and maybe it's too easy to worry about. What's the better option in porting our account to a smaller SIM card: hobby knife the existing card, or with speakout's cooperation port it to the unused micro SIM card? Sorry for all the questions, I like to get my ducks in a row. After all, our account and phone works well enough right now. Don't want to take any irreversible steps.
10:35 am
April 22, 2009
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A 3GS uses a regular SIM card, no cutting needed. There is not real easy way to find if a phone is unlocked until you put a SIM in and it either works or it is locked.
I cannot recommend a local shop because I am not in your area, but they tend to offer a better price to replace a battery than apple. Get a price quote first.
9:22 am
October 7, 2011
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For battery replacement check KIJIJI in your area.
For example to replace a battery in a Gen4 iPod is about $ 40.00. A woman in the east end of Toronto does it.
2:57 pm
December 27, 2011
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Thanks, bridonca, that was perfect. Using an unwound paper clip and firm pressure, I removed the existing SIM card, which was branded Rogers. Inserting the speakout card worked pretty much seamlessly. I still don't know if the 3gs is locked, because Rogers does not block speakout. If that iPhone is not on its last legs, it must be "almost". Thanks for all the help.
