Do you want an iPhone but are stuck on Tmobile or another cell phone provider that doesn’t have iPhones? Or did you find a great deal on an iPhone 4 and want to use it with your current provider who doesn’t support the older devices? Maybe you already have an iPhone 4 and are going out of the country or switching cell phone providers. There are many reasons to jailbreak iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 iOS 4.3.5. Here are some good tips on how to have it done.
Why Jailbreak your iPhone 3GS / 4?
When you are buying an iPhone, you are purchasing a wonderful device that gives you the opportunity to do many things such as call your friends, play games, listen to music, use a gps etc. However, you are limited to those apps and songs that Apple has approved to use on your device. You are also limited to a cell phone provider and where you can use your cell phone. By jailbreaking your phone you can edit almost any aspect of your phone and customize it to fit you personally.
What Can You Do with a Jailbroken Device?
Basically the world is your oyster. You can download apps from any provider (also called third party apps). You can use your phone as a storage device similar to a small external hard drive or USB flash drive. You can watch videos in any format without converting them to Apple format. You can also customize your iOS 4.3.5 anyway you like. Free ringtones, music and other things are also more widely available.
Where Can You Have Your iPhone 3GS or 4 Jailbroken?
There are many ways and many places to jailbreak your iPhone 4. Whether you want to do it yourself, or have someone else do it is up to you. While there are many very comprehensive and easy to understand tutorials online, if you are unsure of your technology skills, you may want to have someone else do it for you.
Mall Kiosks
An iPhone Jailbreak 4.3.5
There are many kiosks at the mall that will jailbreak your iPhone 3Gfor a small fee. Some of these kiosks will advertise this service, while others will not as jailbreaking is still frowned upon in general. If you do not know where to look specifically, go to your local mall and find a phone kiosk (those stands usually in the middle of the hallway). You will be looking for a kiosk that sells all sorts of phones, providers, contracts, and accessories (so not a T-Mobile or Verizon specific kiosk).
Ask if they can jailbreak your cell phone or if they know who can do it. Unless this is their first day working, they will usually be able to point you in the right direction. Fees for jailbreaking an iPhone 3G can vary dramatically so it is important that you find out how many kiosks in the mall are willing to perform the service so you get the best deal.
Software/Hardware
There are many different kinds of software or hardware that can unlock your iPhone 4 iOS 4.3.5. You should be careful about hardware specifically. If the hardware is loaded directly onto your phone, not only can you mess up the data currently loaded on the device but you can also void your warranty which makes things very tricky later down the road. If this does not concern you, by all means go ahead and use it. If you are looking for something that is a little more stable, there is a variety of software available that is legal to use and have a high rate of success. To find the right one, you will have to do a lot of research as some software is costly and have ended up being complete scams.
Web Sites
If you are the type of person that likes to fiddle and tinker and do everything yourself, unlocking your iPhone 3G by yourself is not unreasonable. There are many free tutorials online that will walk you through your jailbreak step by step. Some of the tutorials will provide pictures and videos, but many will not and will expect a basic understanding of technology before proceeding. This is not to scare anyone off, just to make them aware that technological keywords or phrases may be used. So for those who are unfamiliar with technology, this may not be your best choice, although for those who are, you will find jailbreaking to be easy and quick. You will also be able to modify your phone in ways that others may not be able to.
Video Instructions
If you go onto websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, you will find loads and loads of video instructions detailing how to jailbreak your iPhone 3G. These guides are more easily understood by many people as they both show and tell you how to jailbreak your device. The key here is to watch several of them (4-10) so you have a comprehensive understanding. Many videos will explain different aspects, or you may find a video that explains things more clearly for you. What is most important when jailbreaking iOS 4.3.5 on your iPhone 3G yourself is that you understand what you are doing.
A Friend
I think almost everyone knows someone, or knows someone who knows someone, who jailbreaks iPhones for fun. If you are older, your grandkids are a great bet. If you are lucky they will jailbreak your phone for free, but you may want to throw in a little cash just because they are providing you with a service.
Bottom Line
If you decide to jailbreak your iPhone 4 you will have a device that is more personalized and probably more valuable to you than a phone that has all of the limitations on it that Apple has designed. If you are uncomfortable with technology, you should have someone else jailbreak your iPhone 3GS for you. However, jailbreaking an iPhone 3G is not difficult and will open up a wide array of options for you to use.
Whether you are sick of using apple apps, itunes, or formatting your videos, or even of your current cell phone provider, jailbreaking an iPhone 3G can offer a whole new world of possibilities. If you want to maximize the use of your iPhone 3G, find the jailbreaking option that works best for you.