t-zones (a.k.a. $5.99 Internet access) on the iPhone
UPDATE 3 (May 12, 2009): This tutorial and the two update links below it are outdated. Instead, setting up T-zones is now a super easy 30 second process.
UPDATE 2 (July 26, 2008): There is a much easier way to set up T-Zones now.
UPDATE: After going through my logs I’ve noticed that there are a lot of Windows users checking out this guide. So I’ve added a step 0 to help them out.
I received my iPhone on Friday and immediately went about actvating and unlocking it, and at the end of the tutorial, there’s a link to a forum discussion on getting t-zones working on your iPhone. After reading through it and placing a call to t-mobile’s customer support (great folks over there!) I finally got it working. Here are the steps needed in an easy to follow format.
I’m going to make a couple of assumptions in this tutorial.
- You have T-Mobile and t-zones
- You installed OpenSSH on your iPhone (part 3 of the unlocking process
- Your iPhone has Wi-Fi access.
0) Windows users install WinSCP If you’re running Windows, install a file transfer client to move the files between your computer and your iPhone. I recommend WinSCP. If the tutorial makes anymore mention about transferring files between computers, just use WinSCP and connect to the IP of your iPhone. Set the protocol to be SSH/SSH2.
1) Turn off Auto-Lock Go to ‘Settings’ -> ‘General’ -> ‘Auto-Lock’ and select ‘Never.’ You can turn it back on after you’re done with this, but for now disable it.
2) Enter APN, username and password Go to ‘Settings’ -> ‘General’ -> ‘Network’ -> ‘Edge.’ For the APN field enter wap.voicestream.com. Make sure the username and password fields are empty.
3) Create proxy.pac Thanks to kdub3000 for the file contents. Open TextEdit or your favorite text editor on Linux, and paste in the following code into a new document:
function FindProxyForURL(url, host)
{
if (isInNet(myIpAddress(), "10.0.0.0", "255.0.0.0"))
return "PROXY 216.155.165.50:8080";
else
return "DIRECT";
}
Save the file to your Desktop as proxy.pac. On OS X, make sure TextEdit doesn’t append a .txt extension to the file.
4) Find the IP address of your iPhone Go to ‘Settings’ -> ‘Wi-Fi’, and click on the blue dot next to the name of the network your iPhone is currently connected to (the one with the checkbox). Look at the IP address there and remember it or write it down.
5) Upload proxy.pac to the iPhone Now we need to copy proxy.pac to our iPhone’s /private/var/root/ directory. If you know how to do this using a Cyberduck or any other file transfer program, feel free to do so. Otherwise open up a terminal (OS X, go to Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal.app) and enter the following command with the ip address of your iPhone substituted for the $IPHONE_IP:
scp ~/Desktop/proxy.pac root@$IPHONE_IP:/private/var/root/
On my Wi-Fi network, my iPhone’s IP is 192.168.1.52, so I typed this command:
scp ~/Desktop/proxy.pac root@192.168.1.52:/private/var/root/
Hit ‘Enter’ and it will prompt you for your iPhone’s root password. The default is ‘dottie’, without the quotes.
6) Update preferences.plist Now we’ll copy preferences.plist to our local system for editing. It’s located at /private/var/root/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist on your iPhone. Download it to your desktop using your favorite file transfer client, or use this command:
scp root@$IPHONE_IP:/private/var/root/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist ~/Desktop/
Open up the preferences.plist file from your Desktop in your text editor, and look for the area of the file where it has the lines:
<key>DeviceName</key>
<string>ip1<string>
Note that the text inside the string tags should be ip1 (as opposed to en0, ip2 or anything else). Now add the following chunk of xml (in red) to the file in the appropriate place (thanks to syasses):
<key>Interface</key>
<dict>
<key>DeviceName</key>
<string>ip1</string>
<key>Hardware</key>
<string>com.apple.CommCenter</string>
<key>Type</key>
<string>com.apple.CommCenter</string>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>ProxyAutoConfigEnable</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>ProxyAutoConfigURLString</key>
<string>file:///private/var/root/proxy.pac</string>
</dict>
<key>com.apple.CommCenter</key>
<dict>
<key>AllowNetworkAccess</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>Available</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>Setup</key>
By adding this code to the file, you’re instructing your iPhone to use a proxy (T-Mobile’s t-zones server) for your communications over GPRS. Save the file.
Now upload the file back to your iPhone with the command:
scp ~/Desktop/preferences.plist root@$IPHONE_IP:/private/var/root/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
7) Restart the iPhone Hold down the sleep button for 3 seconds on your iPhone, and then turn it off. Turn it back on, and you should be able to access the Internet through t-zones for just $6!
I tested my GPRS speed at iphonenetworktest.com and I got 154.2 kbps.
Comments
i want one!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, I followed these instructions on my iphone. I have the unlimited T-Zones plan (5.99) and I still cannot connect to the internet via safari. Are there any settings that I need to change such as the network settings for the edge network on the preferences page? I would really appreciate the help guys.
Thanks
The only change to the EDGE settings is in step 2 where you need to make sure your APN, username and password are set.
How do I upload the .pac file to the iPhone. I am not sure if I need to connect my iPhone to my MAC and run this command. I have never done it. Please help.
I was able to complete these instructions. Safari, Weather, Stock, Map work fine (THANKS!!!) but not Youtube. Do I need to do anything extra for Youtube to work? Please let me know.
Is there is areason why you need Linux or OS X. all I have is windows! any sugestions or why it would not work if i used windows to do all the procedures?
Gang,
Glad you got it working. Just for others, to upload the .pac file, you just need to make sure that your phone is logged into the same Wi-Fi network as the computer that you created the .pac file from. Then you can run the ’scp’ command to upload the file to your iPhone.
Mike,
There’s no requirement to be running Linux or OS X for this to work. The only reason I specify them is because ’scp’ is installed by default on OS X and every linux distro I know of. If you use Windows, you just need to use an SFTP program to transfer the files back and forth. I recommend using WinSCP (www.winscp.net) for that.
Peace,
Arash
Arash,
Thanks for your response. Any idea how to get the You tube to work? It always says “You cannot cannot to Youtube”
Also, for some reason my phone is not getting into my Wi-Fi network anymore although I am able to browse with EDGE being active. Do you think the process got reset and I need it all over again?
Thanks
I was wondering, I was going to use iBrickr to access the files and upload,download from the phone. I have downloaded the files from the phone and edited them, but before I upload them with iBricker, I was wondering if it will replace the copy that is there or possibly make a second copy of the preferences file.
thanks
hey.. i have doen this exactly like it is listed but like when i go to maps weather or safari it like blacks out and goes to the homescreen.. please help.. thanks
I cannot find “System Preferences” in step 6. Any ideas? Thank you.
Gang,
Unfortunately, I can’t get Youtube working on it either, but that seems to be the only problematic application on there. If you happen to figure it out let me know, and if I find out I’ll post an update.
As for the Wi-Fi access problem, I would try to restore the iPhone and go with an original preferences.plist file and start again. A less drastic option would be to just delete the preferences.plist file and see if the iPhone recreates a default one, and then work from there.
James,
I don’t have any experience with iBrickr (no Windows box :-p ), so I’m not the best person to ask about it. Regardless, I think it would be good to make a backup copy of the file anyway.
sikhsoorma,
I’ve had safari crash on me, but never on a consistent basis as you describe. I would double check your preferences.plist to make sure you’ve closed all your tags. Worst case, a restore will probably fix the problem.
chris,
I don’t mention System Preferences anywhere. The directory path mentioned in the iPhone does contain “SystemConfiguration” though.
Best,
Arash
Arash,
I did everything you said and once I go into safari it just kicks me out to the main iphone screen. Any ideas?
sikhsoorma,
I also had the same problem like you i.e. screen blacked out whenever i accessed any of the service. I restarted the phone and didnt have the same problem. MAybe this helps.
Jared,
I haven’t encountered the black screen in Safari issue, so I’m not really sure about how it happens. I would try restarting the phone as Jaiweek recommends and do some googling around. If that doesn’t work try restoring the phone and trying again.
If anybody happens to definitively figure out why Safari sometimes crashes, let me know and I can update the post with the information (with credit of course :-) ).
Just spoke to T-Mobile as I used to have the prepaid (a/k/a T-Mobile to go) account. The level 1 rep seemed familiar with how to respond to my inquiry, saying that T-Zones is free with a T-Mobile to go account, but that I’d have to pay the $5.99/monthly fee with a postpaid account. She recommended the postpaid account (duh), saying that I wouldn’t have “access to all the features” with the prepaid account. But it seems worth a try. Has anyone accomplished this yet?
i’ve been having the same issue. i didn’t change my apn settings till after i uploaded the two files, could this be the problem? i would prefer not to restore since i’ll have to restore and do everything again… any other ideas?
Arash,
I am unable to restore the preferences.plist file because there is no way I am able to access my iPhone (don’t see an IP address assigned to access the iPhone). Please advise!!
Just wanted to say thank you, it works like a charm. Every single thing I’ve tested works except YouTube, which at 150kbps I wouldn’t want to be checking out YouTube anyway. :]
Thanks again!!
david,
I’ve read anecdotal reports that changing the APN, username and password _after_ editing the preferences.plist file will undo your manual changes. Take a look to see if your changes are still there.
Gang,
Are you sure your wireless network is set up properly? Can other computers log into your wireless network? Try having your iPhone forget your wireless network. Restart the iPhone, and then log into the network again. I’ve sometimes had problems with maintaining Wi-Fi connections with iPhone and a restart does the trick. Worst case a system restore of your phone will probably do the trick. :-/
i have subscribed to tzone and i can access youtube also through it. i dont know the speed but its pretty ok..
i did everything and double and triple checked, but i get the same result as “sikhsoorma” when ever i try to go to maps, youtube, and safari, black screen and back to the homepage. let me know what i can do!
hey guys, I tried the proxy hack today following instructions to the t. Unfortunately, once I copy the files to the correct places and I restart the phone my edge settings are changed back to at&ts. If changing those settings back does in fact mess up the preferences.plist file, then I have encountered a catch 22. anybody else having this problem? I have the 5.99 tzones plan, used ssh to put the files on the phone in the appropriate directories. Thanks.
Hi, does anybody know how not to allow itunes to update my phone firmware automatically since Apple announced that it might be sending an update for the phone which might brick the unlocked phones.
works like a charm! awesomee doood!
How do you upload these commands?
scp ~/Desktop/proxy.pac root@192.168.1.52:/private/var/root/
scp ~/Desktop/preferences.plist root@$IPHONE_IP:/private/var/root/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
Thanks
Hey — I too had the ‘configure EDGE and lose Wi-Fi’ problem. (See Gang’s comment above ^^^)
I found that if I go into the EDGE settings and remove the APN, WiFi would once again work for me. Of course, I don’t have EDGE but . . .
tom
i have same problem with Gang. After editing plist and upload it to iphone, i can no longer access the wi-fi internet in my iphone. now i can’t edit it again because there’s no IP address appearing in the iphone’s network. please help!!!
I can’t get it to work. I had the total internet plan working fine. And then I switched my account to T-Zones and tried to follow these instructions which are nearly identical to the instructions on another website http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2007/09/12232/
There is a lot of stuff on my preferences.plist, so I’m not convinced I did it correctly. It’s not clear to me in these instructions if I should add or edit this red text? And if it is add or edit, does it matter where it is placed—these instructions indicate that is should be placed after the ip1 text, but that comes up twice in my preferences.plist…though I think this might be from me trying several attempts. I hear this is slower than the Total Internet Plan. How much slower? I thought the Total Internet Plan was too slow for use with safari….okay with google maps and decent with e-mail.
My question is, what am I not understanding here that is working for others but not for me?
Thanks,
Stephen
I don’t receive the “Cannot activate EDGE Network” message. The connecting spinning thing just spins and spins and I can’t connect. I tried checking the weather widget, safari and e-mail. Nada.
Agree with Stephen. I had WiFi working before I changed my total internet plan to T-zones. Any remedy for this other than complete restore?
What if I add the total internet plan back on?
just want to say thanks very much!!!
my iphone now can use tzones for internet connection and youtube working fine.
thanks
nick
I had the same problem with losing the WIFI but the T zones was working fine. I also was unable to connect to the phone again because I couldn’t get an IP. I reset the network settings in the settings/general/reset menu. I had to enter my WIFI password again and was able to get back on my network and then on the phone. I edited the preference plist file again and uploaded to the phone again. Everything seems to be working fine now. I switched back and forth between tzones and WIFI several times by shutting the wifi settings. I loaded a new page in each mode and they both worked fine although the tzones was slow as hell. Hope this helps -Jeff
I did all the setting, and it worked good for a about a week. On 10/9/07 it stopped working. Anybody knows why? Anybody has the same problem?
Isaac,
Try turning your phone off then back on again (I’m assuming you always leave your phone on). Periodically all internet access just stops working (Wifi and GPRS) for me, and I have to reboot.
-Arash
I’ve tried installing the proxy.pac and modifying the preferences.plist numerous times but cannot get the internet connection to work. I added t-zones to my account just recently after unlocking my phone. I have received some emails through EDGE, but cannot connect with Safari, etc. I give up.
Jay
Worked perfectly for me, thanks a lot! I’d suggest changing some of this to include accessing the iPhone with iBrickr instead of going through that whole file server roundabout you were doing. The iBrickr interface is simplified when connecting to the iPhone and is made for exactly this purpose… I used it while following your instructions and it worked like a charm.
i am having problem saving proxy.pac , its showing up as proxy.pac.txt , it shows on my file as proxy.pac but when i transfer it on ibrickr it shows proxy.pac.txt. can anyone help?
hi I was successful at the tzones hack to work about 2 weeks ago. Back then I couldnt get youtube or any IM client to work. Someone commented that they DID have youtube working is this true? If so how can I fix it? Also if no workaround is made yet couldt we find out such port youtube/AIM uses and make a proxy for it? Just an idea…
works great!
Thanks
Moclippa,
How did you download .plist from iphone to destop on pc with ibricker?
Thanks,
I did get it downloaded with ibricker. when i use safari it’s says “internal error you do not have access to the site in http://www.latimes.com” that’s with any website. on top of safari it says comverse. Wifi works fine Any help would be appreciated
thanks
This guide worked perfect for me for about a month, and then today I think I might have accidentally turned on the airplane mode when I didn’t need to. And now I can’t get the internet to work. Also the EDGE logo (the E) doesn’t come on. I can do everything else (wifi, text, make calls) but no more EDGE. Anyone know anything about that?
modified my proxy.pac and prefernces.plist (i thought i did it as described but apparently not). now my iphone will not work as it should after uploading the files. if i do a restore will it re-lock the phone to at&t?
Tried it out today!. Didnt work initially for me , and it shut off my Wifi, but you can reset the wife from setting – reset. Second time i used Winscp to create the proxy.pac and to edit preference.plist file. Now everything works fine for me. Tried switching between Wifi and Edge, works good. You tube is still a problem. All these settings were done from a windows based pc.
I followed your steps.. and it worked perfectly! Although, I can only get my speed to about 81kbps. I’m in a spot where my T-Mobile signal is at full bars w/Edge. Is there something I can do to increase my connection speed?
Thanks,
Rob
Does this method work with firmware 1.1?
Chris – try installing the “Services” program (it’s available through apptap), once it’s installed you can turn the edge off and then back on. Once you’ve done this once (if it doesn’t try rebooting your phone and toggling the edge a second time) the program may ask you to choose an edge service. Pick “tmobile tzones”, wait for the thinking icon to disappear, then go to safari and try to open google.com. No guarantees but it worked for me when I was having edge problems.
Rob,
Based on some anecdotal evidence, I think if you keep your hand away from the black base of the iPhone (presumably where the antennas are), it will improve your signal. Can anyone confirm this?
Josh,
I don’t know if this works with 1.1.1. I’m waiting for a carrier unlock from iPhone dev or iPhone elite, and once its available I’ll make a note of it here.
-Arash
I followed all of the instructions, and my iPhone is on T-Mobile’s EDGE network. However, it is very slow and never reaches its intended web destination.
Instead, I get the following message on every attempt:
“Error 502 – Bad Request
The server could not resolve your request for uri: /”
Can anyone help?
Randa
I got Tzones to work on my 1.0.2 and i recently upgraded to 1.1.1 (viginizing, Anysim 1.1 etc.) I tried getting Tzone back on, but now it doesn’t work. Any suggesions?