Welcome the to the EmiratesMac Forum!
Firstly, we're very glad you're here, we hope you find the help you need, and maybe learn a few other tips as well. But there are a lot of people who come here looking for help, and chances are your problem has probably already been asked, and solved, already. So please have a look through this FAQ before posting.
If you have any general questions about your iPhone's features please check Apple's iPhone User Guide.
For a beginner's guide to jailbreaking, unlocking, entering DFU and Restore Mode, and iPhone terminology please have a look at the excellent iSeminar guide created by secretmrx over at the hackint0sh forums.
Definitions
A factory unlocked iPhone is sold without any restrictions on the network that it can operate on.
A factory locked, or carrier locked, or sim locked iPhone is typically sold by a carrier as part of a contract bundle at a reduced price. A carrier sim locked iPhone cannot be used on another network without being unlocked. In order to use a carrier locked iPhone on another network a user needs to first jailbreak it and then unlock it.
A jailbroken iPhone is one that has been hacked to allow software that has not been approved by Apple to run on it. Jailbreaking does this by hacking the iPhone's firmware, and bypassing Apple's official distribution mechanism, the App Store. Once jailbroken, iPhone users are able to download many applications previously unavailable through the App Store via unofficial installers such as Cydia and Icy. Jailbreaking is different from unlocking, which is the process by which a mobile device is made compatible with telephone networks it was not specifically licensed to be used with. In order to unlock an iPhone you first need to jailbreak it.
The baseband is the nickname given to the part of the iPhone that handles phone calls and the cellular data connection. It is the 'phone' part of your iPhone. When a software update is released and presented to you within iTunes the baseband is sometimes updated (to fix bugs or add new features).
The firmware is the part of the iPhone that interfaces between the software and the hardware. Sometimes Apple will update the firmware as part of a software update.
A custom carrier settings file, or .ipcc file, is a tiny update file that is sent from your cellular carrier to your iPhone, either by MMS, or through iTunes, which can enable additional functionality by installing network specific settings, such as Data, MMS, and Visual Voicemail APN's, carrier logos and voicemail numbers. .mobileconfig files are often used by businesses who need to control and configure iPhone access on their networks. Some websites have created online versions of .mobileconfig file generators, which have been used to enable some disabled features on iPhones. .mobileconfig files are different from .ipcc files, and do not allow as much configuration.
Buying an iPhone
Unfortunately for buyers in the UAE and in many other countries, there are many merchants selling carrier-locked iPhones, which have been jailbroken and unlocked.
While these iPhones may be cheaper, there are two problems with buying them:
1. Apple software updates and restores cause them to lock again when you attempt to reactivate them in iTunes.
2. The non-Apple authorised software used to jailbreak and unlock these phones can make the phone less stable.
Unfortunately it's impossible to tell whether an iPhone factory unlocked or jailbreak unlocked without doing a Restore and Activation in iTunes, but usually, a carrier locked iPhone that has been jailbroken to unlock it has one or two extra Apps installed:
If you are buying an iPhone you should always switch it on before you buy it, and look for either of those two apps. If you see either of them you should assume that the iPhone is carrier-locked, even if the seller tells you it is not. It means that the iPhone has already been plugged into a Mac or PC, and extra, non-Apple authorized software has been installed on it - possibly to unlock it. Unfortunately, even if an iPhone is carrier locked, and has been unlocked by the seller, Cydia and Icy might not be installed. In this case you will probably only find out the next time you Restore and Activate your iPhone in iTunes, and your iPhone becomes locked. If this happens, you should either try to receive a replacement or refund from the seller, or visit the Dev-Team blog and download the latest Jailbreak to unlock it again. Because of all these carrier-locked iPhones being sold in the UAE, you should always be cautious when buying an iPhone.
To ensure you are buying a factory unlocked iPhone you should:
1. Buy from a reputable dealer with a guarantee or a warrantee.
2. Always switch on your iPhone before buying it and look for the Cydia or Icy application. If you see it, you should assume the iPhone is carrier locked. 3. If you are uncertain, the best way to be check is to ask the merchant to plug the iPhone into a computer and do a complete Restore and Activation in iTunes in front of you.
iPhone FAQ I've just bought my brand new factory unlocked iPhone. I heard I need to unlock it and jailbreak it. How do I do this?
Firstly, ask yourself if you really need to jailbreak your iPhone. Most people who buy a factory unlocked iPhone will never need to jailbreak. Remember that while jailbreaking can add some great new features to your iPhone, running software that hasn't been authorized by apple can also cause it to become unstable and cause unwanted behavior. If this happens you might have trouble sending or receiving calls, and might have to restore it from a backup in iTunes to fix it. If you still want to Jailbreak, head over to the Dev-Team blog for the latest Jailbreaking software.
After updating my iPhone I get the following message when I try to activate it in iTunes:
You only get this message if you have a carrier locked iPhone. Your iPhone will display the message 'No Service' and you will have to jailbreak it and then unlock it to use it. Be careful when updating your iPhone software - always check the Dev-Team blog for a jailbreak for your model of iPhone before updating.
My iPhone is carrier locked. How do I jailbreak it and unlock it?
Please download the latest jailbreak and carefully follow the instructions from the Dev-Team Blog to jailbreak and unlock your iPhone.
My iPhone is carrier locked. Can I update to a newer OS?
If you have bought a carrier locked iPhone that has been jailbroken and unlocked, you will definitely have to jailbreak and unlock it again if you ever update it. Head over to the Dev-Team Blog to download the latest jailbreaking software and follow their instructions.
I have upgraded the iPhone OS, but now it is locked, and there is no jailbreak available. Can I downgrade?
It is sometimes possible, but tricky to downgrade an iPhone. In some cases, like the new iPhone 3GS and OS 3.1, once it has been updated it is impossible to downgrade. Remember, if you own a carrier locked iPhone the golden rule is: ALWAYS WAIT FOR THE DEV-TEAM TO RELEASE A NEW JAILBREAK & UNLOCK BEFORE YOU UPDATE A CARRIER-LOCKED IPHONE.
I'm having some strange problems with my iPhone since I Jailbroke it.
Running unauthorized software on your iPhone can sometimes do some strange things. If you have a factory unlocked iPhone, you can simply do a restore in iTunes to fix any problems. This will remove the Jailbreak and all jailbreak apps you have installed.
If you havea carrier locked iPhone, then head over to the Dev-Team Blog to download the latest jailbreaking software and follow their instructions to restore it.
I can't connect to 3G or Edge on my iPhone.
This usually occurs with a newly bought carrier locked iPhone that still has the old Data APN settings for the old carrier network. The solution is to install the latest custom carrier settings file.
I am on the etisalat network and I'm unable to make (or receive) calls even though I have enough credit. When I try to call I get a 'Sorry, you do not have enough credit' error.
For some people this problem is permanent, for others it only happens sometimes. This problem occurs when you disable 3G and Edge using SBSettings from Cydia. The solution is to switch ON 3G and Edge in SBSettings. Your iPhone should then start to work normally again. If you would like to disable your data cellular connection, then the better to do this is to delete the Cellular Data APN in Settings>General>Network Settings>Cellular Data Network.
I can't find the 'Cellular Data Network' menu to edit/delete my APN settings.
Yes. In OS 3.0, Apple disabled the Cellular Data Network menu by default. It needs to be enabled by a carrier serttings update from your carrier. etisalat and du have not released an update yet, but you can enable it again with a custom carrier settings file.
I can't send or receive MMS.
Firstly, check that MMS is enabled in Settings>Messages>MMS Messaging. If you can't see that field, then you should install a custom carrier settings file to enable it. Once it has been enabled you can send an MMS by pressing the Camera icon in the Messages application. To send a contact as an MMS find it in Contacts and select Share Contact>MMS. If you continue to have problems sending MMS, then delete any .mobileconfig files you may have installed: Settings>General>Profile>(Profile Name)>Remove, and verify your MMS settings are correct under Settings>Network>Cellular Data Network>MMS. If you still can't send MMS after installing a custom carrier settings file, then you should call etisalat and check that MMS is active on your account.
What are the Data & MMS settings for etisalat and du? etisalat
Cellular Data APN: etisalat.ae
Username: <none>
Password: <none>
MMS APN: mms
Username: <none>
Password: <none>
MMSC: http://mms/servlets/mms
MMS Proxy: 10.12.0.30:8080
du
Cellular Data APN: du
Username: <none>
Password: <none>
MMS APN: du
Username: <none>
Password: <none>
MMSC: http://mms.du.ae
MMS Proxy: 10.19.18.4:9201
Where can I find the latest carrier settings update files for etisalat and du?
etisalat are sadly not very good at supporting the iPhone. While they do have a carrier settings file that is downloaded when you activate your iPhone in iTunes, it's an old one that doesn't support many of the new features released with iPhone OS 3. Please visit this thread to find out more about installing custom carrier settings files and to download the EmiratesMac custom carrier updates for etisalat and du.
Can I make/edit my own carrier settings file?
Yes. You can join our discussion here to find out how. If you make any improvements please upload them to share with others. Erodov Is a good place to start learning about carrier settings. The Hackint0sh forums are also informative.
Help! My balance keeps going down after I upgraded to OS 3.0!
Try disabling Push and Fetch in Settings>Mail, Contact, Calendars. Many applications like Google Maps, and Safari also use data over your 3G connection. OS 3 allows push notifications for many third party apps - these can be disabled in Settings>Notifications. If you are finding that the data usage on your iPhone is too expensive - consider buying a 3.5G data package from etisalat or a data bundle from du.
If you prefer, you can also disable the cellular data connection completely, and only use data when your iPhone is on a wireless network. The best way to do this is to delete or edit the Cellular Data APN in Settings>General>Network Settings>Cellular Data Network.
What happened to tethering? Apple advertises it in OS 3.x, but I can't make it work!
With the release of OS 3.0 Apple enabled tethering, but it was installed disabled by default, and required a carrier settings update to enable it. etisalat does not have any problem with tethering, but it does not officially support it. On iPhone OS 3.0, the EmiratesMac custom carrier files will enable tethering. However, with OS 3.1, tethering now requires an Apple signed carrier config file, and you can no longer enable tethering simply by making your own bundle. The good news is the Dev-Team say this obstacle can probably be overcome in a future Jailbreak.
I have a first generation iPhone 2g. Does MMS, Tethering, Push and P2P sharing work?
Apple does not support MMS, Tethering, Push and P2P sharing iPhone on the first generation iPhone 2g. But the smart kids in Hackint0sh have already released a jailbreak patch to enable MMS on an iPhone 2g. There is also a jailbreak app called iModem, which enables tethering on the 2G.
I have bought a 3.5G data package from etisalat. How can I check my remaining monthly balance?
Dial *144*3# - you can save this to your phone book and add it to your Favorites menu if you want - I called it 'Data Balance'.
Can I use the iPhone with an etisalat Blackberry data plan?
No. Blackberry uses it's own email servers, and a different data APN. You can only use a Blackberry on a Blackberry data plan.
Okay, I've read through the FAQ and my question isn't already answered…
If any solutions in this FAQ haven't fixed your problem, or your problem is not covered, please try the following before posting:
If you have a factory unlocked iPhone:
1. Sync your iPhone to your computer.
2. Restore your iPhone in iTunes. When it is finished restoring you will have a virgin install. Do NOT select "Restore from Backup". Instead set up a new phone, and then set up your sync options.
3. If you haven't done so already, enable carrier testing mode in iTunes.
4. If you are using a mac, then Option-click Check for Updates in the iPhone Summary tab in iTunes. If you are using Windows, Shift-click Check for Updates. Locate the .ipcc file and select it.
5. On your iPhone immediately select Settings>General>Reset>Reset All Settings
6. Your iPhone will reboot. Please check if your problem has been resolved before continuing to jailbreak it. If it is working, consider whether jailbreaking is necessary - remember that jailbreaking is responsible for 90% of all iPhone problems.
If you have a carrier locked iPhone:
1. Sync your iPhone to your computer.
2. Check the Dev-Team blog and follow their instructions to safely jailbreak and unlock your iPhone. If the option is available, do NOT select "Restore from Backup". Instead set up a new phone, and then set up your sync options.
3. If you haven't done so already, enable carrier testing mode in iTunes.
4. If you are using a mac, then Option-click Check for Updates in the iPhone Summary tab in iTunes. If you are using Windows, Shift-click Check for Updates. Locate the .ipcc file and select it.
5. On your iPhone immediately select Settings>General>Reset>Reset All Settings
6. Your iPhone will reboot. Please check if your problem has been resolved before continuing to jailbreak it.
Thanks for taking a minute to read the FAQ before posting - happy posting, but please search the forums before creating a new thread in case someone else has already encountered the same problem. They may have solved it for you already! When you post, please be sure to specify what model iPhone you have, and whether it is carrier locked, or factory unlocked.
Hey guys , i jst jailbroke my iphone 3gs running 3.01 firmware which i bought from australia unlocked ....but everytime i try to add the source Welcome to Cydia.hackulo.us! ...i keep getting errors like (Sub-process bzip2 has returned an error)...and i need it to install 3rd party apps into my phone ...is it because i am using the wifi to try n install it and maybe the site is blocked that is why i cannot get through... does any1 know how i can fix this problem ...
please help me
"Pretty much all day today we were offline. The downtime of the main website affected Installous as well as our repo.
We apologize for the inconvenience and will be taking the proper steps to avoid it happening again.
Thanks for your understanding, folks!"
Though i already have AppSync 3.0 installed on my iPhone....
I've been getting the same error msg when Cydia is looking for updates/updating resources.....
However Hackulous has been working fine for me for the last 2-3 days....
just checked now and its working.... no errors....
iPhone FAQ - PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Originally Posted by gierran
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