Getting the iPhone ready to sell

[RandomAlec]

Ok, this is probably my second or third thread I have ever created here on EiC, if any, so please don't flame me. I just want to make this easy for myself as I want to make sure I do everything correctly and effectively.

Basically, I need help on how exactly to do a couple of things to get my iPhone fresh and ready for someone on Ebay to become its new owner. :D

1. How to unlock it (and how exactly does the new owner go about activating with another comapny, do they just call the carrier?)

2. How to completely erase everything on the iPhone (a simple restore through iTunes should work, correct?)

3. Would it be better to wait until I have the new iPhone in my hands to easily (I'm assuming) transfer contacts and info just by switching sim cards, or will it also be possible to do it using iTunes as well?

Thanks and sorry if I have wasted anyone's time. :foot:

[patrickj]

1. How to unlock = there are several very easy methods around for this by now. ZiPhone (Mac and Windows versions) and Pwnage Tool (for Mac) / WinPwn (for Windows) are probably the most popular right now. Google those and see which you want to go with, then search for instructions here and elsewhere. Both are *very* simple to use though.

2. There is no known / confirmed by Apple method for doing this right now. The web has been full of stories this week about how doing a restore does not fully and securely wipe personal data from the iPhone - some data is recoverable *if* a new owner uses specialist forensic tools to do so.

3. It is probably easier not to mess with swapping SIM cards - if you sync contacts etc. via iTunes and know that they exist on your computer, then just let iTunes sync them onto your new phone when you get it ...

[RandomAlec]

1. How to unlock = there are several very easy methods around for this by now. ZiPhone (Mac and Windows versions) and Pwnage Tool (for Mac) / WinPwn (for Windows) are probably the most popular right now. Google those and see which you want to go with, then search for instructions here and elsewhere. Both are *very* simple to use though.

2. There is no known / confirmed by Apple method for doing this right now. The web has been full of stories this week about how doing a restore does not fully and securely wipe personal data from the iPhone - some data is recoverable *if* a new owner uses specialist forensic tools to do so.

3. It is probably easier not to mess with swapping SIM cards - if you sync contacts etc. via iTunes and know that they exist on your computer, then just let iTunes sync them onto your new phone when you get it ...

Ah, thanks for the help, I had just read about the wiping of the iPhone and people being able to still access info just before creating this thread, but I need to find a way to clean it out, I guess I'll use that playlist trick I read about, although not very detailed.

Thanks for the help. :2cool: