This girl gave me her iphone 3gs... And I am trying to unlock it for Cincinnati Bell but I can't figure it out. I have read up on it a lot and I think I can do it, but my problem is that it is stuck on the plug into itunes screen because I don't have an AT&T account. All I can do is make an emergency call. Does anyone know how to fix this?!? I have tried restoring it in itunes, and have turned it on and off a bunch of times. It has this screen all the time... when it is plugged in and when it isn't. I have no clue what to do. Someone help please!

-Jenna

Use blackra1n to jailbreak it. The connect to iTunes screen you are seeing is not a problem, just ignore it.

Follow this guide: iClarified - iPhone - How to Jailbreak and Unlock Your iPhone 3G, 3GS Using BlackSn0w [Mac]

__________________
Please read the stickies and search the forum before posting!
----------
iPhone 3GS 32GB factory unlocked (3.1; Pwnagetool, Cydia, OpenSSH)
iPhone 8BG (3.1.2; Pwnagetool, Cydia, OpenSSH)

I tried that, but then you have to open cydia, right? I can't get past the plug in screen to do that.

Have you run blackra1n RC3? It should jailbreak and hacktivate which gets you past that screen.

Plug in phone, shutdown iTunes download latest blackra1n and run it.

__________________
Please read the stickies and search the forum before posting!
----------
iPhone 3GS 32GB factory unlocked (3.1; Pwnagetool, Cydia, OpenSSH)
iPhone 8BG (3.1.2; Pwnagetool, Cydia, OpenSSH)

Yes I have done that. After it reboots, it just goes back to the plug in screen.

Are you sure your friend's iPhone is running OS 3.1.2? How long ago did they purchase the iPhone?

Otherwise if they are running 3.0 or 3.0.1 use redsn0w
iClarified - iPhone - How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3G on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Windows)

If that does not work, your friend might be running OS 3.1, in that case try and get your hands on a mac and use pwnagetool to make and restore a custom ipsw. You need to do the whole process on a mac, because the pwnagetool program needs to prepare the iPhone to accept a custom ipsw. You can't just download custom ipsw someone else made from the internet and restore it. You must make your own and perform the whole process on a mac.

__________________
Please read the stickies and search the forum before posting!
----------
iPhone 3GS 32GB factory unlocked (3.1; Pwnagetool, Cydia, OpenSSH)
iPhone 8BG (3.1.2; Pwnagetool, Cydia, OpenSSH)

When I connect the phone to my computer and iTunes opens, it takes me to the page that says "Welcome to Your New iPhone" and says that I need to activate it with at&t. I have tried pushing cancel, and that just disconnects the phone. It won't let me get to the screen that has the restore and update options.

Can you get to the Settings | General | about page? If so, look for the serial # on the phone. What are the 4th and 5th digits? If they are "40" or higher, then you got a phone with the new iBoot that requires to be connected to a PC after each reboot to jailbreak. Its called "tethered Jailbreak".

Not sure if this is your issue, but it might be.

Also, why did the girl just give you a 3GS? Sounds fishy.

Your suggestion won't work. Can't get past connect to iTunes to activate screen. The real issue is knowing what OS the iPhone currently has so we can recommend the correct jailbreak tool.

Two safe options. Anything else will either not work or upgrade your baseband.

1. Get to a mac and make a pwnagetool custom ipsw for 3.1.2 with activation on. Follow instructions from pwnagetool to put iPhone into recovery mode and restore the custom firmware. This will jailbreak and hacktivate it without changing the baseband version.
2. Try and borrow a sim card for the legit carrier (must have been activated at some point) use that to get past the connect to iTunes screen so you can find out what version OS you are running.

__________________
Please read the stickies and search the forum before posting!
----------
iPhone 3GS 32GB factory unlocked (3.1; Pwnagetool, Cydia, OpenSSH)
iPhone 8BG (3.1.2; Pwnagetool, Cydia, OpenSSH)