Unlocking an Orange UK iPhone 3GS (from another country)

Note: I have heard from many people that iPhones in the UK, though locked, activate with SIM cards from any UK provider. There is also speculation that these phones lock to the provider whose SIM was used to activate them. Unverified information. :)

If you have a phone that was bought from Orange (or from the Apple Store UK, for Orange) you can request Orange to unlock anytime if you have a contract SIM or anytime after three months of use for a Pay-as-you-go SIM.

If you are based out of the UK, got your phone from a grey market and were lucky enough that it turned out to be an Orange UK phone, you can do the following:

1) Buy an Orange PAYG SIM card on eBay.co.uk and have it shipped to you.

2) Register the SIM online on Orange's website. Use the correct iPhone IMEI when asked. Enter a valid UK address that you can remember later.

3) Activate your iPhone with this SIM if it isn't already activated (you can activate before registering as well)

4) Once you register the SIM it will become active within 24 hours. Note that you will be on International Roaming. If the SIM doesn't seem to be active even after 24 hours (you still get No Service on iPhone) then just put the SIM in another unlocked phone and it will have service. Put it back in the iPhone then.

5) When you register your SIM you are told you will receive a 4-digit secret identification code. If you do not receive this SMS you can always call up Orange Services and ask for this code (they might ask your address/postcode to confirm).

6) Set up your account on Orange UK website. You will need the 4-digit secret code to have full account access.

7) Top up some money. 10 pounds or 20. You do not need to top up every month, unless you want the animal benefits that come with the SIM. It's only useful for UK subscribers.

8) After 3 months call up Orange and ask for unlock. They will ask all sorts of information to verify your identity. They will ask your 4-digit code. Your postcode and address. If everything is right, your IMEI. You will need to allow them to deduct 20 pounds as an unlock fee.

9) Orange claims it takes 14 days to get your unlock code, but it's hardly over 3 days. That's the time it takes an Orange employee to forward your request. Once it reaches Apple the unlock is instant.