Unlock your 3G iPhone in a few button presses

by Stevie Smith - Jan 2 2009, 13:15

Thanks to the efforts of the Dev Team and its new “yellowsn0w” hack, disgruntled 3G iPhone owners looking to break free of carrier exclusivity are now only a few button presses away from blessed freedom.

Specifically, the persistent Dev Team folk have unveiled a brand new jailbreak tool that will leave the iconic smartphone handset open to any mobile phone operator while also preserving the iPhone’s compatibility with third-party applications – and no extensive hack knowledge is required.

While every hack comes complete with the potential risk of bricking (essentially killing the host handset), the Dev Team has a strong track record in these matters and the “yellowsn0w” tool employs a pleasingly simple process. So easy, according to The Washington Post, that “even a cat could unlock an iPhone at this point.”

Anyone currently lumbered with trepidation should be aware that unlocking the iPhone is as easy as ensuring the latest 2.2 firmware is present, before then downloading the Quickpwn jailbreak application and hooking the iPhone to a PC via USB. Then, all that’s needed is the selection of 2.2 from Quickpwn’s firmware listings, and the installation of either Cydia or Installer in order to access yellowsn0w.

Of course, there are one or two more directions to follow, but the process remains a long way from difficult and is only likely to confuse those using the Internet for the very first time.

A full step-by-step guide for the installation of yellowsn0w can be found by clicking here.

Once users have unlocked their handsets, keeping them unlocked is also simple. This largely involves the avoidance of subsequent Apple firmware updates until the diligent hacking community releases compatible workarounds designed to once again perform an unlock.

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