$500 Worth Paperweight, My iPhone.
So couple of days back I bought myself a gift and I was super duper thrilled to say the least. Four reasons made this particular purchase a soulful experience for me:
1. The Gift - I bought myself the iPhone and acquiring a “must-have-gadget” in any electronic geek’s “must-have-before-I-die” list is a good enough reason in itself to call for celebrations.
2. The Buying Process – Took me eight freaking days to win this baby and that too without exceeding my budget on eBay. I paid around $500 with FedEx delivery to NYC.
3. The Money - 100% payment made from my own hard-earned money. And my blog made a good contribution towards it. A proud moment, indeed.
4. The Birthday – The intention was to gift the iPhone to myself on the 6th and make most of the notion, “who needs love, men & sex when there’s an iPhone”.
However as it happens at times “even best laid plans fail” and unfortunately, my perfectly knitted iPlan came crashing down today early morning.
The story goes somewhat like this…
I bought an 8 GB iPhone from a seller based in Oregon, USA. The guy has more than 200 positive feedbacks and so the purchase, according to me was safe and reliable. And as I had thought, the transaction went ahead pretty smoothly. The delivery was made to NYC within 4 days at my best friend’s residence - this is my usual delivery mode for eBay purchases. I buy things online, get it delivered to NYC and she gets the stuff with her during her India visits.
So as I mentioned above, everything looked all hunky-dory; she got the iPhone perfectly packed. Even though she didn’t want to (ruin the packaging), on my insistence she opened the box and in her very words, my baby looked all “bright and shiny”.
The only issue - my baby was as good as dead.
By dead I mean, while bidding I failed to notice that the iPhone I was bidding for, was a locked version when an un-locked is what I actually intended to buy. Now when I look back at it, it’s no wonder I was able to buy it within my allocated budget. To make matters worse, the seller at his end had upgraded the iPhone’s firmware from 1.1.1 to 1.1.2 (which he clearly stated in the listing).
Now the issue here is (and this I found out via Google power); apparently mighty Apple has blocked sales of iPhones with older firmware and is shipping out only the ones installed with enhanced sim-locking features aka. Firmware 1.1.2. As of now, iPhones with pre-installed firmware 1.1.2 cannot be un-locked. But there are rumours of a hack but it’s still in testing stages.
Thankfully though God has shown some mercy on this poor soul - in order to get iPhones, which have been manually upgraded to firmware 1.1.2, to work on other networks they have to be downgraded to firmware 1.1.1. Though this my friends, looks to be a tedious process…definitely not something which can be handled by us, the ordinary folks. However on eBay there are many claiming to provide you a solution for this firmware problem @ a mere cost of $20. But since this experience has already left a bad taste in my mouth, I am pretty weary of using the above so-called ‘easy option’.
It’s so darn amusing na? My best friend will get the iPhone with her on the 3rd from US. I will have it in my hand on the 6th of December i.e. my birthday but after so much excitement, invested time and money, in its present state it can only be used as a paperweight, one very expensive paperweight.
And so my iPhone dream yet remains to be fulfilled. Re-playing this experience (for my blog) an old Hindi phrase perfectly recites my agony, “Haat ko laga par muha ko na aaya”.
Ps – If any of yous out there know of an experienced phone hacker, iPhone in particular and who happens to be Mumbai based, kindly do let me know. In return, I shall send out “your” choice of flavoured cake to which-ever corner of the world “you” reside in. Ayee Shapat!
We all have a right to express our views. In many instances; it will be against ours and in some; with us. To hear them out is 'decency' but to let them get to you is 'weakness'. 
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Comments
43 comments | Leave your comment
Nov 29th, 2007 at 11:45 am | #
Aah, finally something on your blog which I can comment on without sounding absolutely stupid.
Fear not, there are ways to get your iPhone unlocked. Yes, the fact that the dude you got it from upgraded to 1.1.2 hampers you a long way. Two of my friends have got unlocked iPhones and it was fairly simple procedure. But they were on older versions.
We have a locked 1.1.2 version iPhone with us right now and are just in the process of hacking it. We think it’s possible at least engadget says so, but I can’t confirm.
Will be able to help you out one way or another soon. And if not a phone, you can at least use it as an iPod touch, this much I guarantee.
Nov 29th, 2007 at 12:12 pm | #
Saakhi: Sid is correct; there is a hack. Also note, no one will LEGALLY sell you an ‘unlocked’ iPhone; they are all sold in a locked state.
The only way to unlock an iPhone is to use a hack that Apple doesn’t support. Hacks are available for 1.1.2, but once you use the hack, you will not be able to apply any further patches, etc., from Apple (in fact, if you accidentally do so, you will indeed end up with a $500 paperweight.
I am sure you will people in Mumbai who can apply the hack for you.
Nov 29th, 2007 at 12:25 pm | #
Hi Sakshiben… there are ways to get this done. When you do get the beauty in your hands, let me know if you need assistance. I’ve seen this being done… it’s tedious, but not impossible. And as Sid says, worst case, you have an iPod Touch!
Nov 29th, 2007 at 1:04 pm | #
Reminded me of Crime Master Gogo - from that momentous movie - Andaz apna apna - “Haath ko aaya, muh nah lagaya.”
Also - if your phone is not bricked yet, you could try out the simple http://jailbreakme.com
And - here
Nov 29th, 2007 at 1:52 pm | #
Honey, don’t know anything about iPhones (except that they’re bloody sexy) but I know everything’s going to be alright!
Hugs xoxo
Nov 29th, 2007 at 2:02 pm | #
Hey Saks,
If I didn’t get it wrong, what you have is a locked iPhone which was a locked 1.1.1 at first, then upgraded to 1.1.2 and is still locked. So this means it has never been unlocked and hence is far from bricking.
Ofcourse it can be unlocked. Its pretty tedious actually. But can be done.
You’ll have to go from 1.1.2 –> 1.1.1 –> 1.0.1 –> 1.1.1 and then Unlock it.
Do no goto the link jailbreakme and unlock it. Unlocking on 1.1.2 is buggy anyway.
Btw, factory manufactured 1.1.2 cannot be unlocked as of now.
Nov 29th, 2007 at 2:13 pm | #
Yes, it was kind-off a relief when I was re-confirmed by seller that he had manually upgraded the iPhone to 1.1.2 version. Or else I would have been seriously screwed.
Thank you all for your mails and comments - this is the very reason why I love blogging. Help is always just a post away.
My plan of action as soon I get the iPhone (i.e. on 3rd) I will be passing it on to a hacker friend @ Microsoft, who will be doing the do for me. And hopefully that will put an end to my worries. But as they say, “seeing is believing” and so, till it’s not done I am sure to have some sleepless nights.
Wish me luck.
Nov 29th, 2007 at 2:15 pm | #
I wonder why u didnt go to Chor Bazaar and pick up and iPhone from there. They are unlocked anyways, and probably you might got it cheaper too
Nov 29th, 2007 at 2:21 pm | #
Bahhahhaha… Someone at Microsoft helping is doing something on a rival company’s product.
You don’t get to see something like this everyday, do you ?
Nov 29th, 2007 at 2:23 pm | #
Supremus - From what I have heard, an 8GB iPhone costs around 25 grand in Mumbai. So buying from US turned out cheaper, plus there is this security factor as well though its more of a mental satisfaction than anything else.
Preshit - This is what “Friendship” is all about.
Nov 29th, 2007 at 2:27 pm | #
the last thing you want is an iBrick. but a simpler option would have been to get an SBI card and they offer a hacked unlocked iPhone for around 25G.
PS: even that isn’t apple supported…
Nov 29th, 2007 at 2:36 pm | #
Maxdavinci - Ya I was scared of that. And I re-confirmed from the seller whether my piece had been previously unlocked. According to him (thankfully) it is a virgin phone, so I guess I am safe.
As for the SBI card, I also heard ICICI Bank was offering the same deal however they took it off after few days. Quite shocking that they guys got away with it, when the phone hasn’t been officially released as yet.
Nov 29th, 2007 at 3:43 pm | #
Hey Sakshi!
Congrats on getting the iphone. I wish you good luck in getting it unlocked.
Nov 29th, 2007 at 3:56 pm | #
Actually jailbreakme does not unlock your iPhone.
What it does is allows you to make your iPhone open to other apps, and then you can download anySIM and voila - you have your iPhone running on other networks.
But then if a friend is doing it - best way to go, unless you have a nerdish side and want to experiment!
Nov 29th, 2007 at 5:17 pm | #
Hope things work out fine with your friend at Microsoft!
All the best!
Nov 29th, 2007 at 5:46 pm | #
Wow an iPhone. 25 grand in Mumbai is not bad, considering my friend bought it for 40 something.
Anyway, wish you all the best.
Nov 29th, 2007 at 8:01 pm | #
I think i can walk you out of this problem… i just found myself in a similar situation… accidentally updated my phone to 1.1.2 and successfully brought it back to 1.1.1 . what a relief…
Nov 30th, 2007 at 4:30 am | #
In the meantime get yourself a life size Steve Jobs dummy (ask any Apple fanboy, they usually have a spare) and go to work on it with a nailgun. Tell him he’s the biggest dork on the planet for making something so cool and then LOCKING it!
Nov 30th, 2007 at 5:57 am | #
Mayank - Thanks.
Goyal - I know. But the main objective as of now is to get work with other networks and later on I can think of installing different 3 party softwares. And no, I don’t think I am ready to gamble with $500 for any sort of experiments.
Sameer - Thank you.
Gaurav - Yup, I know a couple of people too who paid really huge amount for iPhone. Thanks, anyways.
DS - Now be kind enough to mail me and thereby SHOW me the way.
M - Tell me about it, such a bloody crime.
Nov 30th, 2007 at 6:07 am | #
Check the link I emailed you.
Nov 30th, 2007 at 7:06 am | #
Hi sakshi ,
My friend got his iphone unlocked from a shop in Heera Panna (thats near Haji ali) Mumbai , donno about the ipone’s version and haan it costed him 2000 rs for it.
Nov 30th, 2007 at 4:08 pm | #
I must admit, I was slowly moving into Apple cynicism, and your iPhone experience has only confirmed that. Maybe a pair of shoes for your b’day? so much more worth the effort!
Dec 1st, 2007 at 7:14 pm | #
Unrelated to the iphone blog, Steve Jobs must be mighty proud..of someone..
Just wondering why the “what is your family income” survey on this site has dollar figures, perhaps P.Chidambram and Y.V. Reddy are telling you guys something that they haven’t quite shared with the rest of us.
I’m sure you guys’ll do better than my 31 on the how Indian are you quiz.
Dec 2nd, 2007 at 6:59 am | #
I have heard from a lot of people, that Heera Panna is selling a lot of iPhones which are unlocked. and if you have a locked one, they’d unlock it for you for a grand or so.. You might wanna try!
Dec 2nd, 2007 at 7:02 am | #
Unlocking an iPhone is as simple as a few clicks now, with the GUI unlocker AnySIM. Why would anyone ( who knows about it ) pay a grand
Dec 3rd, 2007 at 7:23 am | #
Jaishree - Pair of shoes for birthday?? Na( saal bhar jute hi padenge)…Moi having a gut-feeling that the iPhone will be totally worth it.
Ajay - Yup, I have heard the same.
Preshit - I know. But it’s got to do more with mental peace; getting it done from somebody with experience is a better option than experimenting yourself.
Dec 3rd, 2007 at 4:18 pm | #
If none of the above works, put it back on ebay, and go for a Nokia
Dec 3rd, 2007 at 7:56 pm | #
The iPhone 1.1.2 can certainly be unlocked. There are loads of iPhone importers in Mumbai who are sitting with heavy stock … the unlocker will be out in not more than a week more …
Instead of trying untested and risky unlock methods … better wait … there has never been a device locked such that it cannot be hacked … And for something like the iPhone, hacks sure come quick… (the best i had to wait was 6 months to get my PSP fixed after it bricked during a software update, however you are lucky, iPhone is hot stuff…)
Dec 4th, 2007 at 12:02 am | #
Keep an eye on The Unofficial Apple Weblog. If there is a happening in the iPhone universe, they will print it.
If you have a Mac (Intel only, AFAIK) or know someone who does then you can try - This.
iPhoneAtlas, modmyifone and TUAW are the three blogs I follow for iPhone related news and hackery. They haven’t let me down yet.
If you really want to get into the nitty-gritty, here is the iPhone Dev Team’s wiki - Here. They have an IRC channel, as well, where some pretty 1337 hax0rz reside.
Dec 4th, 2007 at 4:35 am | #
Please accept our congratulations on your birthday. I am surprised that you didn’t invite us.
If you had cared to invite us to your birthday party, we might have surprised you with an iPhone and then you won’t even have to spend $500 to have that gizmo.
That is like having your cake and eating it too. But remember us during your next birthday bash.
Dec 4th, 2007 at 5:27 am | #
hahaha about the iPhone. Listen you can send it to me and I’ll happily use it in your name. I’ll name it the Sakshi iPhone and will always keep your photo as the screen saver
of course I am only offering this because I don’t want it to go to waste since you have spent the money 
Dec 5th, 2007 at 5:44 am | #
Shadows - I am hoping that things wouldn’t reach that far.
Ankur - Yup, I totally get what you mean. BTW, my PSP thankfully is safe.
Varun - Thanks a ton for these important links. Will keep a watch on them.
Indy - Dude, my birthday is tomorrow so how can I have a party before that. Ah! unnecessary rumors. (Send the iPhone and get the invite).
Vikram - Ya, you so wish.
Dec 5th, 2007 at 7:47 am | #
Great post… my iphone is on the way.. I hope I don’t get it with version 1.1.2
Dec 5th, 2007 at 10:49 am | #
Hey… it’s the 5th… so did the iPhone arrive? And is it working? And a happy birthday in advance…
(Do send cake; so what if I couldn’t help!)
Dec 5th, 2007 at 6:24 pm | #
Guess what…I have exactly the same problem, except worse. I bought my iphone already unlocked and working a treat, but I accidentally uploaded the 1.1.2 software and now its dormant. A friend of mine followed guidelines to restore it but has yet failed Help!
Dec 5th, 2007 at 7:28 pm | #
Why would you buy it on eBay and not from Apple store itself? Especially when you were going to get it delivered to NYC. What am I missing here?
And iPhone can be now unlocked safely and easily. I have one with me and it works like a charm. If I had read this post a little earlier I could have probably helped your friend unlock the iPhone as I live in NJ.
Anyway, nothing to worry. Email me if you still have issues with unlocking your iPhone.
Good luck and yes, belated happy birthday!
Dec 6th, 2007 at 5:07 pm | #
Happy Birthday !!!!!!!!
Yes, There are geeks who craks phones for you in Bangalore (National Market). I have got samsung BlackJack a kind of BlackBerry unlocked. It costed me 4000 Rs.
But its risky though go give an iPhone as iPhone works on a completey different architecture.
Try your luck,
Cheers,
M
Dec 8th, 2007 at 6:14 am | #
Deep - Good Luck !
Aditya - Thank you. And yes, got the phone…hopefully should be using it soon.
Donal - Cool. Lucky you!
JD - Apple store are selling iPhones with Firmware 1.1.2 for which there is no hack as yet. Anyways will let you know if need help. Thanks.
Madhava - Thanks. Yup, the cost is same around here.
Dec 14th, 2007 at 10:13 am | #
Get your iphone unlocked or upgrade it to the latest version
UNLOCK WITHOUT OPENING THE PHONE, SO DONT WORRY
Upgrades of iPhones and any iPhone Repairs done too
If anyones interested, please email me cuteprick@hotmail.com or call me…
Come with your iPhone & i’ll unlock it within 15mins.
CALL ME ON 9820541041
AM LOCATED IN MUMBAI
Aug 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 am | #
Howz iPhone working?
I bought one.
Its working fine at my end.
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