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iphone 3g unlocking

Looks like iPhones in Australia can be carrier unlocked, or software unlocked. This method applies to a Vodafone iPhone 3G sold preunlocked.

Check the status of phone using the Vodafone IMEI checker:
https://unlock.vodafone.com.au/voila/handsetunlock/self-service.html?method=selectService

If the phone has been carrier unlocked, the page will show instructions on how to unlock it. Basically the phone needs to be connected to iTunes, and a restore and update is performed.

On first connect, iTunes may prompt to register (associate with apple ID/register details). You should be able to cancel the registration. It may help to disconnect and reconnect the phone if the 'cancel' or 'register later' button does not work.

Latest update is ~200mb. Once the update is applied, iTunes will apply the update to the phone and verify the update. A status bar should also appear on the phone to indicate progress.

On my first restore attempt - the restore failed with an unspecified error. Unplugging and replugging in the iPhone brought it into recovery mode. Another restore attempt was successful.

On successful restore, iTunes should display a message to say it has been successfully unlocked. Mine looked like this: