unlocked or locked??

[4gifone]

hello new to the site, new to iphones, whats the popular or better iphone to have, a unlocked one or locked? it seems from posts i been reading that unlocked/jailbroken phones are better to have for apps and all but i just bought a 4g unlocked iphone, and i was told not to ever do any updating if asked cause the phone will lock?? is there a way around this, like i have installer with a few things in there id like to access from the previous owner but i cant cause its asking me to update first and im afraid the phone will get bricked, how do you work around this with a unlocked phone?? thanks for any help you can give!!

[psylichon]

Well to avoid confusion, you should realize that unlocking and jailbreaking are two things.

Jailbreaking is a very simple process. It allows you to install third-party applications on the phone, as well as file management and other customizations.

Unlocking allows you to use the phone with a network other than AT&T (or other Apple affiliates overseas). It is also relatively easier to do, but runs a slightly higher risk of bricking your phone.

There are ways to safely restore a locked phone to factory conditions, but I'll now leave it to those on the board who actually have an unlocked phone. I'm just jailbroken.

[jslappa]

What's asking you to update first? When you touch the Installer.app? Is iTunes asking you to update when you connect to the computer?

If it's installer, update as directed, you won't lose your apps.

If it's iTunes, say no for now. After you say no the window disappears. Make sure you click on the box to manually add/remove songs and enable disc use. Otherwise you will lose anything left on the iPhone when you got it. You are correct in that you should not update your iPhone when iTunes asks you to. Get yourself some munchies and a big drink and have a look around this sight. You will find a great deal of knowlege here. In addition, you will find what works and what doesn't by other people's trials and errors. This board is very helpful, but if you ask questions that have been answered many times you will most likely get slammed. If you are lucky they might throw you some links.

Oh yeah, welcome!

[4gifone]

well from what i know from the previous owner its just unlocked not sure about jailbroke, i thought they were the same, but yes i have a installer button, if i touch it it opens and theres like 5-6 programs in there that i cant use unless i update first, now the previous owner said if you update you run the chance of it getting locked?? i also herd the same about syncing up with itunes will do the same, ive read on here and other forums that guys have had unlocked phones and hit the update button and it bricked the phone? now att told me the only way to restore it back to strictly att is get a new sim card cause im not using the one that came with the iphone new??, then update/sync it while in itunes and it will restore it, this the only way? id like to restore it back to att only but without getting a new sim if i dont have to, i mean i would like to keep it like it is unlocked but i dont like how theres chances the phone can get bricked like it is

[4gifone]

its 1.1.3 version

[4gifone]

because when I called apple directly they said since the phone is unlocked 2 things will LOck it, any kind of update or syncing wit iTunes so I'm assuming updating in installer will lock it also?