They also explained the message from earlier today. Interestingly, the unlock is not only able to unlock the latest firmware build, but requires it to work.

From their Blog:
“Now to explain the above screenshot. The soft unlock has undergone many changes in the last two days. The most significant one: the soft unlock will now be only for baseband 02.28.00 (the most recent baseband). Yes we’ve been advising everyone to avoid updating their basebands, and in general that will always be the best policy. Not every baseband version is guaranteed to have a hole through which we can inject the unlock.”

Make sure to read the Cydia site completely before trying the unlock. There’s been a few glitches and you’ll need to pay careful attention to the unlock procedure.

1. iPhone Software Unlock GUI released!
2. Free iPhone Unlock Software Released
3. Full software unlock of 1.1.2 released

According to the BTA website, the contest, the British Technology Awards, was designed to celebrate everything techie in Britain, and is voted on by citizens of the country.

BTA announced all the winners on their site: http://www.britishtechnologyawards.co.uk/BTA_winners/122312/and_the_winners_are.html?sr=hotnews

1. iPhone 4 Wins Best Mobile Device Award in Mobile World Congress 2011
2. iPhone video conferencing hack wins C-4 developer award
3. UK votes the Apple iPhone 3G Gadget of the Year 2008

This marks a huge business move for the product, as this will allow those who might not set out to shop for an iPhone to learn about them, and potentially allow great expansion of their existing userbase.

According to company announcements, prices will retail at about the same level as existing stores, however: 8GB and 16GB for $199 and $299 respectively.

1. Apple stores now reportedly selling iPhones with no contract
2. Apple selling remaining old iPhone 16GB models at $149
3. Wal-Mart confirms iPhone availability starting Sunday

Bharti Airtel partnered with another company – VISA, so that the consumers can have a hassle-free financing option. However, this is only available for cardholders of VISA under several banks such as ICICCI bank, Citibank, SBI Cards, as well as HDFC bank.

According to Sanjay Gupta, the Chief Marketing Officer of Bharti Airtel’s Mobile Services, their partnership with VISA may now give customers a new opportunity especially if they are in dire need of the second generation iPhone from Apple Inc. Through the use of the EMI options, they may now purchase the 3G iPhone conveniently, easily, and affordably. Moreover, because of the EMI options, Sanjay Gupta also said that it would help them widen the market of the 3G iPhone in India.

The card holders of VISA from the mentioned banks who would like to purchase the 3G iPhone using the EMI options may visit any of the Airtel Relationship Centers so that they can get more details about Airtel’s new options.

For more information, you may visit www.airtel.in/iphone3g.

1. India to welcome 3G iPhone this month
2. Apple Inc. offer advice for those who will purchase the 3G iPhone on July 11
3. USAA to offer iPhone remote check deposits

Pay & Go customers can now enjoy the iPhone 3G without a monthly contract. The new iPhone 3G 8GB for Pay & Go will be available for £349.99 and the 16GB version for £399.99.

This also includes unlimited browsing and Wi-Fi for the first 12 months after you activate your iPhone 3G*. At the end of the 12 months you can continue to receive unlimited browsing and Wi-Fi for just £10 per month. We’ll notify you before the end of the 12 month period by text and you can easily unsubscribe if you choose to do so.

It will be available to buy from 16th September in O2 stores, The Carphone Warehouse and Apple stores.

Please note visual voicemail and call merging are not available with Pay & Go. You’ll also need to change your data settings to use services such as Mobile Internet. Take a look at the activation tab on this page for more information.

*Unlimited data and Wi-Fi applies to use in the UK only, subject to excessive usage policy. Unlimited Wi-Fi is available at any of the Wi-Fi hotspots from our partners The Cloud or BT Openzone. Terms apply.

1. iPhone UK Launch just hours away
2. AT&T MicroCell will offer unlimited $20/mo calling soon
3. Canadian iPhone with cheap data plan

Now you could buy a case for it but not being a fan of cases adding extra bulk to the phone and making it less useable by having to open it up every time you want to use it my iPhone I was looking for something else. That’s when I came across the invisibleSHIELD for the iPhone 3G and after seeing the video below I just had to get one.

[youtube]bJH3xZ5ZDwE[/youtube]

The great thing about the invisibleSHIELD is it adds no bulk to the iPhone and you can still use all your accessories and docks with it on.

1. iPhone Accessories: iPhone invisibleSHIELD protector
2. Invisible Shield for iPhone Video Review
3. my iPhone wrapped up with the invisibleSHIELD’s love

Stock levels of iPhones in the UK are improving now with the Carphonewarehouse listing all stores with stock of the 8GB version and more than 300 stores with 16GB stock. They are also excepting online orders for 8GB and 16GB Black and White versions.

O2 have yet to open there online store for iPhones but again list plenty of shops with stock of iPhones.

Carphonewarehouse stores with stock can be found here.

O2 stores with stock can be found here.

1. 16GB iPhone, Sold Out in UK
2. No 16GB iPhone at the Carphonewarehouse?
3. White 16GB iPhone 3GS supplies run very low in Apple stores

According to the spokesman of SingTel, on the launch date of the 3G iPhone, customers will not be able to purchase content from the iTunes store. However, they may start buying applications on the App Store as soon as their iPhones are activated. But here’s another thing. The visual voicemail will not be offered to the 3G iPhone users in Singapore.

Singaporean customers will get the iPhone for free if they sign up to a two-year contract with SingTel which costs US$145 or S$205 every month. This plan includes 1,500 minutes of outgoing voice calls as well as a 3GB worth of data access. New subscribers can get the cheapest plan that costs S$348 for the iPhone model that has 8GB memory. On the other hand, the 16GB 3G iPhone costs s$508. But unlike the other model, the customers must sign up for a two-year contract with SingTel which requires them to pay S$56 a month if they want the 16GB 3G iPhone. The monthly fee includes 200 minutes of outgoing voice calls and 1GB worth of data.

1. Mobistar to sell 3G iPhone in Beligum on July 11
2. SingTel to distribute the iPhone 3G this year
3. SingTel slashes iPhone price plans ahead of competition

Furthermore, the lawsuit is also looking for a class-action status. This information was taken from the papers that were filed in the federal court. The complainant called the Apple Inc. smartphone the “defective iPhone 3G” all throughout her lawsuit. The complainant from Birmingham, Jessica Smith, charged Apple Inc. with implied warranty and breach of express as well as unjust enrichment. The lawsuit claimed that the advertising blitz of Apple Inc. was actually misleading.

According to the lawsuit “Defendant intended for customers to believe its statements and representation about the Defective iPhone 3Gs, and to trust that the device was twice as fast at half the price.”

The phrase “twice as fast at half the price” is still being used by Apple Inc. in their marketing. Their official website has the same headline as well.

However, Apple is still not facing the press and giving comments about the lawsuit.

1. Nokia sues Apple relating to iPhone patents/technologies
2. Another lawsuit from another frustrated iPhone customer
3. Can You take in Me Now? AT&T No Longer The Network With The Fewest Dropped Calls

Earlier this year, Vodafone had announced that they will be carrying the 3G iPhone in Turkey. However, recent announcements made by its rival also said that they too will offer the second-generation iPhone in the country. Turkcell, one of the leading GSM providers based in Turkey said that Turkish may expect the 3G iPhone from them later this year. However, they haven’t mentioned an official date that the 3G iPhone will be released but it is very unlikely that Turkcell will be joining the second phase of the 3G iPhone roll out since the worldwide expansion will happen in August 22, few days from now.

Aside from that, Turkcell has not disclosed their subscription plans. They are expected to reveal those data plans probably before the iPhone will be shipped to them. They will now become the second carrier to distribute Apple Inc.’s iPhone in Turkey.

1. SingTel to distribute the iPhone 3G this year
2. Apple reaches deal to distribute and sell the iPhone in Thailand, in talks with other carriers
3. New international iPhone data plans from AT&T