The amount of info is a bit overwhelming. Searching did not make things clear enough. Please, excuse me if this has been asked before.

Can I hacktivate a not yet activated iPhone 3G with iPhone OS 3.0 with no SIM card, so that I can eventually run software updates through iTunes safely without any chance of bricking it (other than simply going back to non-activated state and having to re-hacktivate yet once again)?

If so, how?

Here is the story:

1. A friend got a contract Softbank iPhone. He eventually cancels it, and the Softbank representative (mistakenly or not) tells him he has to give back the SIM card.
   
2. At work, he restores the iPhone and it goes back to non-activated state. Bummer. Asks for a friend's active SIM, activates, and gives the card back (his friend is not in trouble with his own iPhone's software updates, right?).
   
3. I get the iPhone. The iPhone breaks almost immediately after, and I get a new replacement iPhone 3G from Apple. It asks to activate.

I have no interest in installing unofficial apps, unlocking (for the moment) or any other hack besides activating. I just want to use it as an iPod and install Apple-approved apps. I would also prefer not to invest hours of surfing every time a new update comes out, to see if I have any chance of bricking the device.

To answer your question in #2, no. My friend w/ an AT&T SIM activated my iPhone 2G for me once while I was still on T-Mobile USA. He hasn't reported on any overages on his bill.

You will need to jailbreak in order to hacktivate. There doesn't seem to be too much interest for hacktivation only software.

Most of the time, an "update" on iTunes will not run through the activation process. Your phone will lose its jailbreak on every update, but will remain activated (from my experience). Choosing to "restore" the iPhone will run through the activation process with Softbank.

You will need redsn0w or PwnageTool to hacktivate and jailbreak your iPhone.

Follow this website for more information and software: Dev-Team Blog

Originally Posted by tubaman93

Most of the time, an "update" on iTunes will not run through the activation process. Your phone will lose its jailbreak on every update, but will remain activated (from my experience). Choosing to "restore" the iPhone will run through the activation process with Softbank.

Thanks! If I understood correctly, you mean restoring, not simply updating, will indeed revert the iPhone to non-activated status, right?

After running redsn0w, is it possible to revert the iPhone back to "virgin" state, in case I eventually need to take it to Apple for repair?

Is there any advantage to hacktivating instead of activating with someone else's iPhone Softbank SIM card (besides being able to install unofficial apps, which I am not interested in) . Or viceversa?

Considering I do no need to unlock or install non-approved apps, I'd like to keep what's left of the warranty.

> After running redsn0w, is it possible to revert the iPhone back to "virgin" state, in case I eventually need to take it to Apple for repair?

Yes, you simply option/Restore to a saved copy of FW 3.0, and your phone is virgin, but can still be hacktivated by Redsn0w again.

here are instructions on how to save a copy of FW 3.0, and Redsn0w, for future use

iClarified - iPhone - How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3G on OS 3.0 Using RedSn0w (Mac)

I do not recommend UPDATING past FW 3.0, until there is a version of Redsn0w that works with newer firmware released in the future. Or unless you want to borrow an ATT sim to activate again..