Well, this might be an exciting and interesting news for those users who are still using a locked HTC phone and are afraid of unlocking it by using unofficial tools, but this will see a direct path of trash bin/recycle bin on the computers/news readers of those users who have already unlocked their devices while using some third party bootloader unlocking tools.

The official bootloader unlocking will be a web based tool. After creating an online account using a vailid e-mail, you will have to enter the device identifier token into Web Tool. After few minutes you will receive a unique unlock for your android phone in your main inbox.

Since our last update, many of you have asked how the bootloader unlocking process will actually work, and in particular why HTC’s most recently released devices still have a locked bootloader. Rest assured we’re making progress toward our goal to roll out the first software updates in August to support unlocking for the global HTC Sensation, followed soon by the HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile and the HTC EVO 3D on Sprint. Because unlocking the bootloader provides extensive control over the device and modifications may cause operation, security and experience issues, new devices will continue to ship locked but will support user-initiated unlocking using a new Web-based tool.

So how will this work? The Web tool, which will launch this month, requires that you register an account with a valid e-mail address and accept legal disclaimers that unlocking may void all or parts of your warranty. Then plug in your phone to a computer with the Android SDK loaded to retrieve a device identifier token, which you can then enter into the Web tool to receive a unique unlock key via e-mail. Finally, apply the key to your device and unlocking will be initiated on your phone.

We’re excited to bring bootloader unlocking to developers and enthusiasts, and we feel this new Web tool will meet your needs and continue to provide customers with the best experience. Thanks to the community for supporting these efforts!

While you wait for official release, the unofficial developer community has already provided the said tool in its fashion which can be downloaded from this website.

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Jailbreak and Unlock Community.

However, these officially unlocked GSM iPhone 4 don’t come cheap. A 16GB one will cost you $649 and a 32GB one will cost you $749.

Officially unlocked iPhones have not been available in the US, however Apple has been selling them in countries such as Canada and the UK. Those who wanted unlocked iPhones in the US would then have to restore to software based unlocks for which jailbreaking your iPhone is a pre-requisite. Some people have paid hundreds of dollars to get their iPhones unlocked via software, now the availability of official unlocked GSM iPhone 4 means that people won’t have to pay extra just to get their iPhone unlocked.

Unlocked iPhone 4 is particularly for those people who travel a lot and have to change SIMs whenever they visit different countries around the world. Now an iPhone locked to AT&T or Verizon Wireless won’t work, but an official unlocked GSM iPhone 4 would work on GSM networks around the world, without any glitches.

In case you’re wondering whether the micro-SIM of your 3G iPad will work on this iPhone 4, you’re wrong as the micro-SIM if the 3G iPad and the iPhone 4 are not interchangeable.

Keeping in mind the fact that the next generation iPhone is releasing soon, would you prefer buying an officially unlocked iPhone 4 at this point in time? Let us know your thoughts, in the comments below.

Ultrasnow 1.2.3 works on these basebands (01.59.00, 04.26.08, 05.11.07, 05.12.01, 05.13.04, 06.15.00) . The basebands which are still locked include 02.10.04, 03.10.01, 04.10.01, 05.14.02, 05.15.04.

Please read the following two points before updating your device to iOS 4.3.3 and applying Ultrasn0w unlock:

1. ultrasn0w unlockers must stay away from redsn0w!  Use only a custom IPSW to update to 4.3.3, to avoid updating your baseband. There are plenty of tutorials for both redsn0w and PwnageTool at sites like shoutpedia.  Or feel free to ask away in our comments section below.
2. ultrasn0w has been updated to v1.2.3 to be compatible with iOS 4.3.3 and earlier (the ultrasn0w update does not include any new baseband support!). Please reboot your iPhone using the normal “slide to power off” swipe after installing ultrasn0w 1.2.3.

For complete step by step guide to unlock iOS 4.3.3 with Ultrasnow 1.2.3 head over to this post.

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from iPhone Dev Team.

It is very important that you restore to custom iOS 4.3.2 while preserving the baseband so that you don’t loose the unlock ability. For this purpose you can use either Sn0wbreeze 2.6 (Windows only) or PwnageTool 4.3.2 (Mac Only) which not only preserves the baseband but also provides untethered jailbreak during building a custom iOS 4.3.2 iPSW file.

After restoring to custom iOS 4.3.2, use the following step by step guide to unlock your device.

Please note:

• Ultrasn0w works for basebands (01.59.00 / 04.26.08 / 05.11.07 / 05.12.01 / 05.13.04 / 06.15.00)
• Ultrasn0w is NOT compatible with the folllowing basebands! (02.10.04 / 03.10.01 / 04.10.01 / 05.14.02 / 05.15.04)

Step 1: Backup your device using latest version of iTunes before starting the actual process.

Step 2: Restore to custom iOS 4.3.2 cooked by either PwnageTool 4.3.2 or Sn0wbreeze 2.6 via iTunes.

Step 3: Once your device is jailbroken, connect it with internet using a WiFi connection.

Step 4: Launch Cydia from your device Springboard.

Step 5: Tap on Changes and then on “Refresh “.

Step 6: After the changes are refreshed, use the Search option and type Ultrasn0w to search and install it.

Step 7: Restart iPhone after installing Ultrasn0w and you will see the carrier name and signal bars in the top left corner.

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on iPhone Unlocking and iPhone Jailbreaking.

According to CultofMac:

CutYourSim’s contact clearly had access to that database, making that contact either an official Apple employee or, more likely, someone with access to that database in one of the United Kingdom’s five official iPhone carriers: O2, Vodafone, 3 Network, Tesco Mobile and Orange.

Today the leading and reliable sites including CutYourSIM and SuperPaddy have discontinued this service and started to refund those who couldn’t get the remote unlockings of their devices.

After performing over 400 unlocks, CutYourSIM discontinued the service stating on its blog:

Today we have decided discontinue the service we offered for remotely unlocking any iPhone.  For the customers who already paid, and received their unlocks a few days ago, they do not need to do anything because they made the cutoff for our service.  All customers who paid via PayPal or Google Checkout will be refunded.  Due to the high number of orders we had, please allow some time before receiving your cancellations/refunds.

We do plan on offering iPhone unlocking services in the near future after we send out cancellations and refunds, but the service will be different, it will be for iPhones locked to certain carriers.  Once we take care of the refunds, we will post more about this new service we are going to offer.  Please keep checking back, and follow our twitter page for the latest updates.

Even SuperPaddy has also confirmed the discontinuation of service through its twitter account:

The post from CutYouSim hints that the service may come back online soon but it doesn’t look good.

Stay tuned to this site for more information.

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest information regarding iPhone Unlocking.

There are many websites which are offering iPhone unlocking using IMEI but three sites seem to be more reliable keeping in view their decent past history and these are Negri Electronics , CutYourSim or SuperPaddy. Many users have got their iPhone 4 unlocked through these websites. One name which I am going to mention here is Nadeem Ateyeh (aka @Nadeem97) who has been involved in developing unofficial PwnageTool bundles and testing other PwnageTool based beta jailbreak tools.

IMEI unlocking is very simple. All you have to do is to send the IMEI of your device to the site which is offering IMEI unlocking. After few hours you get a confirmation message that your iPhone is ready to be unlocked and that you can activate it with iTunes. You don’t need to install any software or restore or update iOS firmware.

How to Activate iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS:

After getting the confirmation from unlocking website, follow the steps which suite your condition.

If you have restored to fresh and latest stock iOS firmware, simply connect your device with PC and launch iTunes. You will see this message shortly if the IMEI of your device has been added in the database.

“Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked.”

But in case your iPhone is already activated using the official SIM or it is hacktivated using either Snowbreeze or PwnageTool, you don’t need to restore to fresh iOS firmware. Follow these simple steps to get your iPhone activated.

Step 1:

If your device is already jailbroken then skip this step, otherwise follow our step by step guide to jailbreak your iPhone 4, 3GS using Redsnow on the latest iOS 4.3.1 firmware.

Step 2:

After jailbreaking, launch Cydia. Go to “Manage” tab, tap on “Edit” on top right side and then tap on “Add” on top left side of Cydia. Add the following source: http://repo.bingner.com

Step 3:

Search for SAM using the search option and install it.

Step 4:

If you are officially activated, launch SAM from SpringBoard, go to Utilities and “De-activate iPhone”.

Step 5:

After this connect your iPhone with iTunes and let it activate using the new certs arriving to your device allowing any SIM usage.

Step 6:

If you are using hakctivated iPhone, after launching SAM go to Utilities and do a “Revert Lockdown to Stock” instead of “De-Activate iPhone”.

Connect your device with iTunes and let it activate.

Disclaimer: This guide is posted for educational purpose only. Please follow any links, sites and guides  at your own risk. We, at shoutpedia, won’t be responsible for any type of damage or fraud.

It is unclear which route they adopt but at the end they get added the IMEI number of the locked iPhone in the white-list of Apple’s database. So this is the third method which you can use to unlock your device and use SIM from any carrier. We will discuss all three methods in details after the break.

Method 1: Ultrasn0w

This is the most reliable method available for iPhone unlocking. As you know Ultrasnow working is based iPhone baseband. So far the following basebands (01.59.00 / 04.26.08 / 05.11.07 / 05.12.01 / 05.13.04 / 06.15.00) can be unlocked using Ultrasnow. It is to remind you that a jailbroken iPhone is required to install Ultrasnow on your device.

Unfortunately Ultrasn0w doesn’t support the latest basebands (02.10.04 / 03.10.01 / 04.10.01 / 05.14.02 / 05.15.04) and we still have no update when the next version of Ultrasnow will be released to unlock all above mentioned basebands.

Method 2: Gevey SIM

In this method you have to use a special SIM and call at 112 emergency number to get your phone activated, which might be illegal in some countries. Moreover it does not support all firmwares and basebands. You have to follow some troublesome steps on every reboot to get the signals of unsupported carrier. In contrast to Ultrasnow, you also have to pay few bucks to get it.

Method 3: IMEI Unlocking

iPhone unlocking by IMEI does not require a jailbroken device. Everything is done remotely as we have told you above and even iPhone Dev Team member has also confirmed these unlock offerings are legit.

This method supports all current firmwares and basebands but your device might be re-locked by Apple if you update to new version. The bad part of this technique is the price which is almost thrice as compared to Gevey SIM ranging between $150 $200.

You can try Negri Electronics (available for $175 only), CutYourSim or SuperPaddy. All of them have decent past history.

Disclaimer: We won’t be responsible for any type of damage to you or your iPhone caused by using these methods. You can avail the services from above mentioned sites at your own risk and responsibility.

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from iPhone Dev Team.

If you are still keeping the unlockable baseband preserved, you can now safely update your device to custom t iOS 4.3.1 cooked by using either Sn0wbreeze or PwnageTool and after that install Ultrasnow 1.2.1 to enjoy any network.

• Ultrasn0w 1.2.1 works for basebands (01.59.00 / 04.26.08 / 05.11.07 / 05.12.01 / 05.13.04 / 06.15.00)
• Ultrasn0w is NOT compatible with the folllowing basebands! (02.10.04 / 03.10.01 / 04.10.01 / 05.14.02 / 05.15.04)

Update #2:

We’ve pushed out the 4.3.1 compatibility fix for ultrasn0w in Cydia — it’s now at version 1.2.1.  If you’re not already at 4.3.1 and you need the unlock, please be sure you understand how to get to 4.3.1 using a custom IPSW that doesn’t update your baseband.

This isn’t a new unlock! It’s to allow those who are already unlocked to use FW 4.3.1.  It also fixes the signal bar issue for those who aren’t using the unlock but retain an older baseband intentionally.

AFTER INSTALLING ULTRASN0W 1.2.1, PLEASE REBOOT YOUR iPHONE using the normal “slide to power off” swipe.  T-Mobile users in the USA also should disable 3G mode in Settings->General->Network.

A big thanks to @sbingner and @ronaldsb for helping with the testing of this update!

How to Install Ultrasnow 1.2.1:

Launch Cydia and after refreshing the changes, search for Ultrasn0w and install the latest version 1.2.1 of Ultrasn0w. Reboot your device after the installation completes. Now you will get the normal signals.

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from iPhone Dev Team.

It will also fix the signal bar issue which many iPhone 4 users are facing after unlocking their devices on iOS 4.3.1 using unofficial Ultrasn0w Fixer.

@MuscleNerd: 4.3.1-compat ultrasn0w update for *current unlockers* is out to external testers. Barring any hiccups, release is tonight

It is to be noted that Ultrasn0w 1.2.1 includes compatibility fix for current unlockers, for those who are still on unlockable baseband.

• Ultrasn0w 1.2.1 works for basebands (01.59.00 / 04.26.08 / 05.11.07 / 05.12.01 / 05.13.04 / 06.15.00)
• Ultrasn0w is NOT compatible with the folllowing basebands! (02.10.04 / 03.10.01 / 04.10.01 / 05.14.02 / 05.15.04)

Keep checking Cydia for Ultrasn0w update or you can follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on iPhone Unlocking and iPhone Jailbreaking.

Update: Ultrasnow 1.2.1 has been released. Read this post for details and to know how to install it.

Find more details about how and which basebands (Modem Firmware) can be unlocked on iOS 4.3.1 after the break.

• Ultrasn0w now works for basebands (01.59.00 / 04.26.08 / 05.11.07 / 05.12.01 / 05.13.04 / 06.15.00)
• Ultrasn0w is NOT compatible with the folllowing basebands! (02.10.04 / 03.10.01 / 04.10.01 / 05.14.02 / 05.15.04)

It is very important that you restore to custom iOS 4.3.1 while preserving the baseband so that you don’t loose the unlock ability. For this purpose you can user Sn0wbreeze 2.5 (Windows only) or PwnageTool 4.3 (Mac Only) which not only preserves the baseband but also provides untethered jailbreak during building a custom iOS 4.3.1.

Here is the step by step guide to unlock iOS 4.3.1 on iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS provided you are still on unlockable baseband.

Step 1: Backup your device using latest version of iTunes before starting the actual process.

Step 2: Restore to custom iOS 4.3.1 cooked by either PwnageTool 4.3 or Sn0wbreeze 2.5 via iTunes.

Step 3: Once your device is jailbroken, connect it with internet using a WiFi connection.

Step 4: Launch Cydia from your device Springboard.

Step 5: Tap on Manage and select “Sources“.

Step 6: Touch on “Edit” and then on “Add“.

Step 7: You will be prompted to add the source URL http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com(its zero in Ultrasn0w) as shown in the image below.

Step 8: After the source has been added, use the Search option and type Ultrasn0w to search and install it.

Step 9: Restart iPhone after installing Ultrasn0w. Because the current version of Ultrasn0w is still broken on iOS 4.3.1, so you have to install Ultrasn0w Fixer.

Step 10: Now add this source in the same way as you did above http://cydia.pushfix.info

Step 11: Search for Ultrasn0w Fixer using the search option.

Step 12: Tap on Ultrasn0w Fixer and press “Install” option.

After installing this fixer you will see the carrier name and signal bars in the top left corner.

This guide is posted for testing and educational purposes only. Please don’t try it if you don’t know what you are going to do. We won’t be responsible for any type of damage. [thanks @pushfix and msft.guy]

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on iPhone Unlocking and iPhone Jailbreaking.