iPhone 2.1 firmware for iPhone 2G working in India without unlock [Breaking News]
[UPDATE]: This was happening as Apple did not upgrade the baseband in 2.1, 2.2 or 2.2.1. So, if you update from an unlocked 2.0 to these versions, your iPhone will remain unlocked. If you are upgrading from previous versions (1.1.x), please follow woikr’s guide to upgrade and unlock using QuickPwn.
We have reasons to believe that the iPhone 2.1 firmware on an iPhone 2G does not need unlocking to work with the Airtel (and Vodafone) network in India. As a matter of fact, if you have a 2G device in India, you can reap in most of the benefits of a legal user (sans the warranty). We have verified that this is working with iPhone 2Gs here at woikr.
Note: If you have an iPhone 2G with < 2.0.2 firmware, it is recommended that you upgrade to 2.0.2 first. Our very handy guide to upgrade can be found here.
So, what do you need to do? The process described below will not erase any data (Contacts, Settings etc.) from your iPhone 2G. If you had jailbroken your iPhone and installed any apps from Cydia, they will be deleted. All your apps purchased from the App Store and their settings will be preserved.
- Download firmware 2.1 for iPhone 2G.
- Download and install iTunes 8.
- Connect your iPhone 2G to your computer. Once it is detected in iTunes, Hold Shift and click on the Update button under the Summary tab in iTunes:
- In the dialog box that pops up, browse and select the iPhone 2.1 firmware file you downloaded above:
- iTunes will start updating the firmware of your iPhone 2G:
- Once the update is complete, your phone will restart. iTunes will also display a message:
- After the phone restarts, it will be unlocked and activated to work with Airtel and Vodafone. Moreover, you will be able to (hopefully) upgrade it to the next version without loosing any data:
- If you want to jailbreak your iPhone, follow the steps here starting from step 3.
FAQs:
Q. 2.1 firmware works with iPhone 3G in the same way. What’s the big deal?
A. It is actually a big deal. Firmwares for iPhone 2G and 3G are different. iPhone 2G was never officially launched in India. All the iPhone 2Gs here were bought in the US and unlocked using old unlocking methods and ziphone. There is no reason for Apple to release a firmware for 2G which works with Airtel or any other carrier in India.
Q. Hmm. Understood. What does this mean for us – iPhone 2G users in India?
A. If we assume that this was an intentional move on Apple’s part, this is great news for all iPhone 2G users in India. They can finally set themselves free from the hassle of upgrading and restoring every time a new firmware is released. However, there is a pretty good chance that this was a slip.
Q. Does this mean that if I bring an iPhone 3G from the US, it will work with Airtel in India?
A. Probably not. As mentioned above, firmwares for 2G and 3G are different. They will probably have that lock in place for handsets sold in the US. Also, unlike iPhone 2G, it is not possible to just buy and bring an iPhone 3G from US to India as it needs to be bought with a 2 year service agreement with AT&T. However, if you bump into anyone traveling to India from US with an iPhone 3G, do give it a try and let us know the outcome in comments.
Q. What does this mean for Airtel?
A. More embarrassment. For a company which makes idiotic bizarre claims, this will come as more LOL.
Psst: I heard that Airtel is offering free 500 MB of data usage over EDGE with every iPhone 3G. Will that plan work with this?
A. NO. You will have to purchase a separate data plan for this.
UPDATE:
We’ve recently tested that this work with Vodafone in India too. Wonder if this will work with International carriers!
Twitter
Setu.. pls reply dude!!!!! i posted b4 bt u dint replied although i was tracking dis page since months.. cn u mail me if possible…i updated my 1.1.4 to 2.0.2 using quickpwn n it worked fyn.. den upgraded to 2.1 according to dis page n u.. it got updated bt it was locked.. although it was showing d network bars of vodafoneIN bt only emergency calls.. den waa d heck.. i again restored to 2.1 thru i tunes n quickpwnd n unlocked it.. cn u help????? y it was nt workin after dis update of urs???? to 2.1..
thnx in advance
Setu.. pls reply dude!!!!! i posted b4 bt u dint replied although i was tracking dis page since months.. cn u mail me if possible…i updated my 1.1.4 to 2.0.2 using quickpwn n it worked fyn.. den upgraded to 2.1 according to dis page n u.. it got updated bt it was locked.. although it was showing d network bars of vodafoneIN bt only emergency calls.. den waa d heck.. i again restored to 2.1 thru i tunes n quickpwnd n unlocked it.. cn u help????? y it was nt workin after dis update of urs???? to 2.1..
thnx in advance
@Shashank -
Your phone is unlocked. Its just not activated. You can do a full restore to 2.2.1 and use Quickpwn to unlock, activate and jailbreak.
We will also be publishing an article to upgrade and unlock to the latest firmware 3.0 using redsnOw soon.
Hey Setu I have a 2g ph with os 2.1 and would like to upgrade it to os 3.1.2…How do I go abt doin it myself …Pls help… Thanx
dude.. i did dat.. i m already on 2.2.1.. by quickpwn.. bt i needed d iphone to work on vodafone with unlocking n jailbreaking as its on dis page…
dude.. i did dat.. i m already on 2.2.1.. by quickpwn.. bt i needed d iphone to work on vodafone with unlocking n jailbreaking as its on dis page… n den gradually upgrade officially to 2.2 n den 2.2.1 n den 3.0.. OFFICIALLY..
Step by step guide to upgrade and unlock your iPhone 2G to firmware 3.0 using redsn0w: http://woikr.com/featured/how-to-upgrade-and-unlock-your-iphone-2g-using-redsnow/
dude!!! i m on redsn0w only.. b4 u posted it.. bt i want to legalize my iphone.. so dat i don hav to crack it everytime on every updation..
hi i updated my 2g to 3.0 but im not eble to see edge icon in network settings can u plz help me with this??
@woikr team
Could you please help on the question
how can i connect Iphone 2g FW 2.2 to sony erricssion bluetooth HBH PV 702 handsfree?
is there any workaround? any software upgrades/hack?
Thanks
@Kuldeep,
The iPhone supported(s) bluetooth headset profiles right from the beginning (the 1Generation models did too). You can use any Bluetooth 2.0 compatible headset.
Follow this guide.
http://smartphones.about.com/od/howtoguides/ss/how_to_connect_bluetooth_headset_iphone.htm
~Swaroop | woikr Team
Can someone help me with using Vodafone mobile connect/EDGE or GPRS on my iphone, I am using 3.0 on iphone 2g.
Thanks in Advance
@Rahul,
Please refer to this comment – http://woikr.com/apple/iphone-21-firmware-for-iphone-2g-working-with-airtel-without-unlock/#comment-236
The EDGE configuration hasn’t changed since ages.
~Swaroop | woikr Team
@Swaroop
i guess you didnt understand my question. my headset it Sony HBH-PV702
how can i check whether it is version 2?
if not how can i make it compatible with iphone 2g
@swaroop
after search i found HBH-PV702 is version BT 1.2.
now could you please help me to understand, can we do some backward compatibility by software changes in IPHONE 2g FW 2.2 to accept BT v1.2 ?
Thanks in advance swaroop.
@Kuldeep,
iPhone should in theory support any bluetooth headset profiles upto 2.0. (The Apple BT headset(now discontinued) was profile 1.5). You should check with the support website for the model you’re trying for.
Is the BT headset is discoverable at all ?
Not sure if it helps but i’ve been using a Jabra BT5020 Headset without any problems with my iPhone 2G. But its of Headset profile 2.0.
~Swaroop | woikrTeam
i want to buy apple iphone 2g. but i want at a lowest price so from where i can either in india or out from india?
i want to buy apple iphone 2g. but i want at a lowest price so from where i can buy it either in india or out from india?
apple iPhone 3g work in India or not i bought in Saudi Arabia
iPhone 2g 0s 3.1.2 its working in India pls tell me….
Hi, first I want to thank the Dev-Team for their great job !! I live in Japan and use the Softbank carrier. My I-Phone is the 32GS with 3.1.2 and unlocked and jailbroken with Blackrain and Blacksnow (Windows). Problem is, for the 3rd time in a few months, my phone suddenly stops working. It suddenly freezes and if you restart it then the only thing you see is the white apple mark with the phone that for hours tries to restart itself (and it won’t). Until now I had no problem, I just restored it and then I just had to jailbreak and unlock it again….If I try to RESTORE it now I have only 2 choices from I-Tunes : (1) restore and UPDATE (which automatically updates to 3.1.3 doh) or (2) cancel (which of course means you keep your broken I-Phone) Can somebody give me a good advise on what to do please ?? I’m quite desperate…
hi there,
i have a 2 g unlocked iphone with 1.1.4 software(the first one that came with my phone 2 yrs back). i wanted to ask as to how can i upgrade my software to 3.1..the latest one?? ipresently dont have an airtel connection. i beleive the phone gets locked on the upgrade and needs to be jailbroken again. is it possible that i upgrade my software with a prepaid airtel connection???