After my previous post about jailbreaking an iPhone, I would like to point out the difference between jailbreaking and unlocking to those who are unsure about the whole procedure.

Jailbreaking

The iPhone and iPod touch hack that allow users to gain access to the entire Unix filesystem. In Unix terms, this refers to changing the root of the directory tree to /. [via]

Jailbreaking allows you to install custom apps onto your iPhone as well as get some extra functionality out of it. It’s a quick process made easy by using QuickPwn. It’s not a risk free procedure, but it’s pretty straight forward and quite easy to get done.

Unlocking

Unlocking lets you place calls with any GSM carrier by inserting different Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) into the phone. Normally these SIMs from unapproved carriers won’t work. [via]

This is similar to how when buying a phone on prepaid, you are only able to use it on the network offering the deal. This is to ensure the network will receive revenue in the form of airtime and be able to offset the cost of the handset against this. As with jailbreaking, there are some GUI tools to help you through the process as well as a risk you might damage your phone.

An interesting fact I learnt today from a friend who recently got an iPhone

South African iPhones are default unlocked and so no firmware will ever lock it

He also tested this with the latest firmware and got confirmation from a developer of a jailbreaking app. This means that all we have to do is jailbreak the phone and we will have the full potential available to us.

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