Originally Posted by
roma1625
So, I'm just wondering, the people who advertise on craigslist that say they unlock iPhones, how do they do it? I called one guy and he said that it involves something physical as well as some software changes.
There are a few different ways, none of them ideal. Apple is very good at making sure that only carriers can unlock iPhones.
The most common way is to jailbreak the phone and unlock it. Jailbreaking is the process whereby you take advantage of bugs in the operating system to wrest control away from Apple. This allows you to install apps that Apple hasn't approved - including apps that can remove the SIM card lock.
Not sure what physical changes the guy you talk to had in mind -perhaps something like the Gevey SIM.
Another option for your son would be to get a cheaper Android phone. Android is functionally equivalent to iOS and you can get an Android phone for less that would do the same things that an iPhone can. Just a thought - an unlocked iPhone from Apple starts around $700 I think.