Using my US iPhone 3Gs in Egypt

[kahmed]

I have a iPhone 3gs I purchases in the United States and active on AT&T. I will be going to Egypt next month for a week. I have researched and apparently the GPS will not work in Egypt. But what do I need to do so I can use my phone/data in Egypt? I understand Vodafone supports the iPhone but do I need to unlock it still?

If i purchase a Vodafone simcard in Egypt will I be able to use my data there?

Does anyone know general costs for a Vodafone simcard/data plan?

Thanks for the help

 

[LVCIFER]

Yes, you will have to jailbreak and unlock it.

Do you have a NEWER 3G or the older ones?

 

[kahmed]

I'm not quite sure, I purchased in it November 2009. How can I verify?

If I unlock it for the trip, when I return can I 're-lock' it, or.. return it to its original status.

 

[LVCIFER]

You can, but it most likely won't make a difference. In order to "re-lock" it, you just simply restore your iPhone.

 

[kahmed]

Thanks LVCIFER.


I currently have version 3.1.2 (7D11)


OK. So I have been scoping out the Jailbreak FAQs, from what I understand all I am needing to do is unlock my phone so I can use GSM services in Egypt. Also, the listed Unlock/Jailbreak guides do not work for 3Gs. Can anyone suggest a 3Gs guide, I am looking for a simple unlock so I can use it while in Egypt yet I want to restore my phone when I get back. Thanks.

 

[Alli]

Blackra1n does work for the 3GS on 3.1.2. The unlock is inside and quite simple. You may not even want to restore when you get home.

 

[longshadows]

I have a similar situation. My iPhone is jailbroken with blackra1n (but I'm not sure about the unlock status). I will be traveling to France soon and would like to buy a pre-paid SIM from a French provider when I get there and use it there. Is there any way I can verify if my phone is truly unlocked, short of actually obtaining another carrier's SIM and putting it into the iPhone, before I leave?

I'd be interested in hearing the experiences of others who have unlocked their 3Gs iPhones and used another carrier on their travels. How does the data plan work with pre paid accounts in other countries?

Thanks!

 

[LVCIFER]

What's your baseband and OS ("operating system")?

 

[longshadows]

Forgive me for not knowing exactly how to respond, but maybe I'll hit something right here:

iPhone 3Gs
Version 3.1.2 (7D11)
Firmware: 05.11.07

This may not answer the question. So, please let me know.

Thank you.

Michael

 

[LVCIFER]

Okay, here is an old cut and copy guide on how to jailbreak and unlock the iPhone 3G running 3.1.2.

You're lucky, you can still unlock. Here you go:

JAILBREAK/UNLOCK IPHONE 3G*

Go to blackra1n.com and download blackra1n..

IF YOU JUST NEED TO UNLOCK AND ARE ALREADY JAILBROKEN, do this:

1) Open Cydia.*
2) Go to Manage.*
3) Go to Sources.*
4) Tap EDIT.
5) Tap ADD.*
6) Type "http://www.blackra1n.com"*
7) Tap OK.*
8) Go back to Manage/Sources, tap on the blackra1n source, and look for "sn0w".*
9) Install it.*
10) Reboot your iPhone

IF YOU HAVE NOT JAILBROKEN YET, open up blackra1n on your PC, and then click "Make it rain" and jailbreak your phone. This will also 'hacktivate' your phone with your alternate SIM card. *(Note: follow directions at the end of this post to fix Push Notifications, YouTube and Wi?Fi for hacktivated iPhones). *

YOU MAY NEED TO ATTEMPT THIS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT TO WORK CORRECTLY. Sometimes there are minor errors. Let it do it's thing. It is okay and even somewhat expected.*

Once blackra1n.app is installed to your springboard (a/k/a iPhone home screen), choose to install "sn0w"( a/k/a blacksn0w) from your iPhone. Once again, make sure it that you connect to Wi?Fi first. It will be the only way you can install Cydia/Rock if you're not on AT&T.*

1) Open up the "blackra1n.app" on your iPhone. *
2) Tap on "sn0w" until a green check mark appears next to it.*
3) Tap "install".*
4) Watch for the splash screen telling you that it was successful.
5) Turn your iPhone off.*
6) Insert your new SIM card.*
7) Turn the iPhone back on. **

After installing sn0w, install Cydia.*

1) Open up the "blackra1n.app" on your iPhone. *
2) Tap on "Cydia" until a green check mark appears next to it.*
3) Tap "install".*

Cydia will ask you questions, and to update. Select "Graphical User", and "Update All". Let it restart and reboot. Once it does it's thing... **

-OPTIONAL-
If you have data or MMS problems with ANY carrier, you may want to google or wikipedia "iPhone APN Settings" to find a way to fix those issues. However, if the plan for the cell carrier SIM card you've inserted does not include data, then your Internet/e-Mail/maps/gps etc won't work. You will have to add data/MMS to that SIM cards plan for them to officially work.*

Voil?. You're updated, jailbroken, and unlocked on 3.1.2.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
For some, the new blackra1n HACKTIVATED jailbreak was causing problems with Wi-Fi, YouTube, and Push Notifications. Here is a quick guide on how to fix these problems.

Wi?Fi
1. Go to Settings>General>Reset>Reset Network Settings, then click "OK"
2. Reboot your iPhone, when it comes back on Wi?Fi should be fixed, but next time you reboot you have to do this again.*

YouTube and Push Notifications FIX for "hacktivated" iPhones.*

1. Open Cydia
2. Search for "Push Doctor" or "Push Doc", and tap on the first result
3. Install then confirm
4. Reboot your iPhone.

 

[longshadows]

Thank you for this excellent and detailed explanation.

I have been jailbroken for several months, but I don't recall if I ran sn0w to unlock the phone afterwards.

1) Is there any way to tell (short of inserting a non-AT&T SIM) if my iPhone 3G is indeed unlocked?

2) Can it do any damage to run sn0w a 2nd time?

Thanks again!

Michael

 

[MobileMania]

Normally when your traveling and going to other countries and you wish to use your phone you do have to do some unlocking.

 

[jdavis530]

Blackra1n does work for the 3GS on 3.1.2. The unlock is inside and quite simple. You may not even want to restore when you get home.

I bet they wont once they get home and have used a jailbroken phone for a while.