iPhone Virgin Battles Rebel SIM Questions - Help

Hi All,

I am new on this site and new to the world of iPhones. On reading certain threads it appears that I purchased the wrong phone as I have the 3G 8Gb with 2.2.1(5H11) Firmware and BB 2.30.03. The Model Number M489B seems to be different from the other iPhones in the world supplied by carriers that can be unlocked officially so I looked for solutions online.

My colleague has succesfully unlocked many 2G phones but couldn't software unlock the 3G which is when we found out about this version being a tough cookie to crack.

I purchased a piggy back SIM from 'unlockanyiphone.net' and it initially worked well.

For three days it successfully totally unlocked the 3G and I used the Vodafone work SIM I had. All emails etc were working fine and I was surfing the internet using 3G connectivity.

However - Now the SIM doesn't work. It says 'No Service' and 'No SIM Installed'. I have contacted support and they have suggested taking out the sim, putting it in another phone, making calls and then putting it back into the iPhone and switch it on. But to no avail it still doesn't work.

Has any one had the same experience and found a solution to correct the problem?

Tx
Alllen3434

Thread moved

Hi Allen,

You quite right, sadly there is no software unlock for the 3G iPhone with a BB of 2.30.03, and word on the street is that they doubt there will be either. There may however in the near future be an unlock for a later BB, maybe when OS 3.0 is released, but for now, with a software unlock there is nothing that can be done.

There is (albeit a dim one) light at the end of the tunnel, as you have tried you can have a go with a piggyback SIM solution.

These can be a bit hit and miss unfortunately, and it is rare to find one that will allow the full 100% use of the phone (despite what many claim!!!). Ignore the advertising, tell yourself that 3G will not work and you may be satisfied.

I, like you, have tried the Rebel SIM card, worked for a while, then became a pain and struggled to get a cell lock with Vodafone (in the UK), I've since given up messing about with the Rebel and gone with what appears to be the best solution so far (well, it is for me) and that is the Gevey Plus2. This has worked well so far, I've only had one time when it wouldn't for love nor money get a cell lock - All I had to do was select an operator other than the one who my contract is with, then re-select 'Automatic' and wham, got a lock again.

It has worked straight away, get good reception strength, and have all features apart from 3G (I have to leave this disabled or it will loose the cell lock).

If I were to advise though experience then the Gevey would be the way forward.... mind you, either I'm praying for a software unlock, or my contract to run out so I can swap to 02, whichever happens first is where I'm going :-)

Best of luck and hope that helps a bit!

Thanks for your reply.

I have today been messing with the phone and managed to get it to connect but as you know, only hold the connection with 3G disabled, which is a pisser as unlockanyiphone.net promise a full unlock, so to speak, solution.

I will just out of curiosity check out the gevey sim but ultimately like you are praying for a software unlock or change to O2.

Once again thanks for your reply.