Here, for your edification and educational pleasure, is a super-simple way to upgrade your first-generation iPhone to an unlocked version of the 3.1.2 software – you get all of the goodies that come with version 3 and a phone that is still free and 100% untethered. Amen, brother.

Before we go on, however, a couple of things that you absolutely must be aware of:

THING 1: This only works for first- and second-generation phones. I’m still working on the 3GS firmware, but am at the mercy of friends and contacts for testing so it isn’t quite ready for prime time yet. It’s close, though, and I will have a link to it shortly. Until then, you just have to cool your jets. Patience, kids.

THING 2: Once you unlock or activate your phone in this manner, you should never ever ever do an automatic update to any subsequent version via iTunes. Always use the files that are provided here. Period.

THING 3: You no longer have to put your phone in DFU mode. Just plug in your phone and do a “local restore” (instruction on that are below) and select the firmware file that you download from this page.

Onward …

Step 1: Download the appropriate unlocked firmware file here. The FULL INSTALL files include Cydia and Icy, and the full spread of packages for each. First-generation phones are ones that communicate on “EDGE” and don’t do 3G. Second-generation phones communicate on 3G, but do not have the compass or the video camera. The BASIC INSTALL files do not include these extras, and are essentially exactly what you would get through a “legit” update via iTunes. TIP: If you don’t know what Icy and Cydia are, you should probably take the BASIC INSTALL.

First-generation iPhone, FULL INSTALL

First-generation iPhone, BASIC INSTALL

Second-generation iPhone, FULL INSTALL - FILE TEMPORARILY REMOVED DUE TO EMAIL ISSUES

Second-generation iPhone, BASIC INSTALL - FILE TEMPORARILY REMOVED DUE TO EMAIL ISSUES

Whichever file you choose, you must “download” this file by either right-clicking (Windoze users) or control-clicking (Apple users) the link above and saving or downloading the file from the resultant pop-up menu. Do not just click on the link – especially if you are using a Windoze browser – as your system will helpfully fuck up the file while it downloads. Once you have the file, put it somewhere convenient so that you can easily find it when the time comes. The desktop would be ideal.

Step 2: Sync your iPhone with iTunes. This will make sure you have a backup of all of your crap, because we are wiping your phone about 2 steps further on.

Step 3: With your iPhone plugged in, start up iTunes. Say no to any messages that might come up offering to check for new software. Once you are in iTunes proper, go to the “summary” tab of your iPhone and you will see a button labelled “Restore”. Hold down the OPTION key (for you Mac types) or the SHIFT key (for you Windoze types) and click on the Restore button. You must be holding the key down when you click! This will start a restore, but not from the Apple servers – it will ask you for the location of your own restore file. When it does, just point it to the convenient IPSW file you saved in step 1.

Step 5: Sit back. iTunes will restore the software to the phone, and eventually reboot it. When the phone comes back to life, it will automatically make the necessary changes to the bootloader and the baseband. Leave your phone plugged in, watch, but don’t touch. You definitely want to let this finish on it’s own. At some point iTunes will toss up an error box saying that it can no longer communicate with your phone – do not panic, just say “okay”. When it is done messing around, the phone will either restart on it’s own or ask you to do so. Either way, when your phone restarts you are free and clear – running version 3.1.2 and totally unlocked. ‘Grats.

Step 6: Sync your phone with iTunes one more time. This will bring all of your crap and settings back, and you are ready to rock.

That’s it. Finis. Easiest unlock ever. Also, if you have a need to connect to your Cisco VPN and can’t figure out how to get your credentials to work, you might find this post to be somewhat helpful. Get clicking, and have fun!