iPhone 4 help

Ravenpoe · Sep 12, 2014

My mom uses an iphone 4 (not 4s) that is jailbroken to allow some features that she needs, like wireless tether. She's been complaining that because it's an older version of iOS, that a lot of her apps no longer work.

Since I don't use an iPhone, I'm willing to farm this problem out. Is there any way to update an iPhone 4 to whatever the latest version of iOS available on it is, -and- keep jailbreak access?

CrimsonSoul · Sep 12, 2014

You would have to upgrade the phone and then rejailbreak it more than likely then re-download whatever apps you had on there from the jailbreak app (can't remember the name of is... Cidius?)

Ravenpoe · Sep 12, 2014

But is the latest version jailbreakable?

CrimsonSoul · Sep 12, 2014

However whatever you used to jailbreak it before probably won't work on the new version so you might want to Google how to jailbreak whatever version you're going to

PatrThom · Sep 12, 2014

@CrimsonSoul gives good advice here.
A word of warning, though. The iPhone 4 will never be able to run anything newer than iOS 7, so your app options are still going to decay rather rapidly even if you are successful in your endeavor.

--Patrick

Ravenpoe · Sep 12, 2014

stienman said:
Is switching to a service plan that allows tethering an option, or is she just trying to get free internet from an unlimited plan that doesn't include tethering? Most data limited plans should include tethering.

That would be the latter.

PatrThom · Sep 12, 2014

stienman said:
If she's on a standard unlimited wireless plan it should grandfather to the next upgrade.

Verizon and AT&T both make it exceedingly difficult (if not impossible) to retain unlimited data when upgrading to a new phone, and while Sprint still offers unlimited data, they do not allow unlimited tethering. T-Mobile is T-Mobile and do what they want (which keeps changing).

--Patrick

Ravenpoe · Sep 12, 2014

PatrThom said:
Verizon and AT&T both make it exceedingly difficult (if not impossible) to retain unlimited data when upgrading to a new phone

And herein lies the problem.

strawman · Sep 12, 2014

When I called ATT to cancel my unlimited plan, they assured me it would transfer even to their LTE network. Now this was for an iPad, so it is different, but you might call them up and say, "I need to upgrade my phone, and the only reason I'm with you is due to the unlimited plan I'm on right now. Can I transfer that to a new phone, or should I look for a new provider?"

It should work.

Shakey · Sep 13, 2014

stienman said:
When I called ATT to cancel my unlimited plan, they assured me it would transfer even to their LTE network. Now this was for an iPad, so it is different, but you might call them up and say, "I need to upgrade my phone, and the only reason I'm with you is due to the unlimited plan I'm on right now. Can I transfer that to a new phone, or should I look for a new provider?"

It should work.

How long ago was that? I'm not too familiar with AT&T, but verizon will gladly wave goodbye. They are even limiting their unlimited plans to more than about 4gb of usage. After that they are limited in their speed.

Ravenpoe · Sep 13, 2014

As a former employee of Verizon, I can tell you they hate anyone with an unlimited plan, and want nothing more than to see them go away.

strawman · Sep 13, 2014

Shakey said:
How long ago was that? I'm not too familiar with AT&T, but verizon will gladly wave goodbye. They are even limiting their unlimited plans to more than about 4gb of usage. After that they are limited in their speed.

Two months ago. My iPad generation 1 was stolen in the spring, I left data on it on the off chance find my iPhone would work, and finally called in June to cancel. They said I could get a new iPad and then call them to go through a special procedure to reconnect it to the unlimited plan as long as I didn't cancel it. So I'm now paying $30/mo for an unlimited plan I hope to use with my next iPad.

Of course if they change their mind I'll be asking for a refund all the way back to when I lost it...

Shakey · Sep 13, 2014

Ah, as long as you don't want to do a new contract you can usually keep your unlimited plan.

strawman · Sep 13, 2014

Shakey said:
Ah, as long as you don't want to do a new contract you can usually keep your unlimited plan.

Ah, that would make a difference. It may be that ravenpoe would have to get a new non contract phone to upgrade.

Still, given that the iPhone six just came out, I expect the iPhone 5 to drop in price on the used market significantly.

PatrThom · Sep 13, 2014

Yes, for the most part you can keep whatever plan you have IF you want to purchase your new phone "device-only" as they call it (because it is not an "upgrade"). That means paying the full $500-800, however, so very few do it.

--Patrick