..:| applei.ph |:..

Reposting my replies from philmug:

FACTORY UNLOCKED is a misnomer. By definition, it should have been "NEVER LOCKED" iPhones since those units were actually NEVER locked, either at the factory or by Apple. Literally speaking, no iPhones are being unlocked at the factory level. Instead, unlocked iPhones simply means their serial/model number combo are NOT included in the list of serial/model numbers that are locked to a certain carrier, or CARRIER LOCKED iPhones, which is kept at the Apple servers.

Both factory unlocked and carrier locked units still need to be activated via iTunes connected to Apple's servers prior to first use. This process is what determines if the iPhone is carrier locked or not. If it's in the clean list, then it activates whatever SIM is inserted at the time of activation. If it's carrier locked, it activates too provided a correct SIM is inserted at the time of activation. There is no unlocking done at the factory at all. And there is no difference between unlocked and carrier locked units in terms of features.

In the case of carriers that offer unlocking, like in Australia, their iPhones are initially carrier locked, meaning the serial/model number combo is still in the Carrier Locked list at Apple servers. Now, if the customer wants his iPhone unlocked, usually for a fee, the only thing the carrier needs to do is send a request at Apple to remove the serial/model number from the list. Then it will now be "unlocked". From this moment on, no matter how many times you update the iPhone, it will now just activate regardless of the SIM that is inserted.

If you are not sure that the iPhone you are buying is "NEVER LOCKED", tell the seller to restore the firmware to OFW and then test your Smart or Sun SIM on it. If it activates with your SIM in it, then the iPhone is "NEVER LOCKED". Another way is by looking at the Model number as I described here

3G and 3GS unlocking is basically still the same. Before they are endorsed to you or given to you by the carrier that offers official unlocking, before it's even unsealed, it's already locked to that carrier (serial/model combo) otherwise the carrier wouldn't offer official unlocking in the first place. It will be very expensive if the carrier locking is done at the factory level.

In the case of 2G, it's easier. Since all 2G were only sold in the US, all serial/model numbers are carrier locked, to AT&T. So it was just a matter of being activated or not.

I guess it's safe to say that there should have been 3 kinds of officially called iPhone units; Never Locked, Carrier Unlocked, and Carrier Locked hehehe. Although Carrier Unlocked is basically the same as Never locked once the serial/model number is removed from the Locked list at the Apple server.

Reposting Tulisan's reply originally from this discussion thread for a more consolidated reader's reference.

Tulisan wrote:
Model number on Apple's carrier support site has been removed. However, the site I found saved a copy.

www.iphone-spare-parts.com/page/Support_Activate.htm

The model number is still pretty much the same (suffix) for all countries indicated there. But for 3GS, just replace the "MB" prefix to "MC". The numbers in the middle are obviously different from 3G and 3GS. These model numbers can easily be found at the bottom of the box and can be checked even when it's still sealed.

Just look for the country with unchecked "carrier locked" column and remember the suffix. One example is the model number (suffix) for Singapore(ZA/A) and Hong Kong (ZP/A).

If the iPhone came from Australia or New Zealand, it's better to actually check it if it's factory unlocked since they have the same suffix (X/A) in the model number. The problem with that is New Zealand sells the iPhone unlocked, while the 4 carriers in Australia sells it carrier locked. They do offer official unlocking but for a fee.

If my IPhone 3GS has the Model Number MC138LL/A, this means it was locked to carrier AT&T in the US, correct?

TechJunction wrote:
If my IPhone 3GS has the Model Number MC138LL/A, this means it was locked to carrier AT&T in the US, correct?

Yes, the Model Number (or Part Number) MC138LL/A is for a white 32GB 3GS unit locked to AT&T.

mysterio wrote:
TechJunction wrote:
If my IPhone 3GS has the Model Number MC138LL/A, this means it was locked to carrier AT&T in the US, correct?

Yes, the Model Number (or Part Number) MC138LL/A is for a white 32GB 3GS unit locked to AT&T.

MAGIC! Thanks Mysterio.

Bumping this post since there is a current rise in iPhone users accidentally upgrading to firmware 3.1.3.

If your unit is a factory unlocked unit (as you can check from the link given by m.o.r. above), or locked to a carrier that you are using, an accidental upgrade to fw3.1.3 should now do you any harm. All you need to do to is to DFU-Restore to a CFW3.1.3 (without hacktivation) and you should be back to jailbroken state again.

If your iPhone is locked to a carrier that you are not using, then your iPhone as a "phone" is pretty dim right now, but you can restore to a CFW3.1.3 (with hacktivation) and use your iPhone as an iPod Touch ("with camera!).

Again, check your unit's part number if you're not sure if its carrier locked or factory unlocked, then proceed with your next step as appropriate.

Strange, my unit is a Globe-sourced black 32GB 3GS, but the model number is MB717LL...