did I just waste $336?

I just bought a iPhone 2g 8gb that was refurbished off ebay, I am not sure what firmware is on it and its not unlocked or jailbroken, I bought it thinking it would be fairly simple to unlock and jailbreak. Now I am reading all this stuff on the forum about certain firmwares bricking the phones and no unlock for the latest firmware. When apple sends back a refurbished phone what firmware is on it and is it unlockable? And if I have an older firmware can I upgrade to the firmware that doesn't brick the phone instead of updating to the latest one where it does? Also if for some reason the newest firmware is installed on my phone is there a way I can downgrade to a firmware that lets me unlock the phone? Or did I just waste 336 dollars on a phone I cant use?

 

I think it will come with the last firmware. You will be able to unlock it most probably. No it wont brick your iphone. Yes you can upgrade to new firmware but you should always know what you are doing ( find out if it is ok for you to upgrade or should you wait a little bit before upgrading). yes you can downgrade the firmware. You can also use a sim unlock card (check my signature link).
Hope this helps.

 

Just click on Settings, General, and About. It will show you the Version right there, no need to guess. There's also no need to buy a sim card to unlock and jailbreak it. Use the Quickpwn method for free. Let me know if you need help. DO NOT upgrade to firmware 2.2.1 if you want to unlock the phone.

 

But if you are on the 2.2.1 firmware you can still unlock it but only with a sim card.

 

the above statement is not true

I have unlocked 2.2.15H11 without turbosim or gevey sim. You just need to know what you doing and need some important information about your phone before you try. Only 2.2.1 5H11, basband 2.30 with bootloader 5.9 or later is not soft unlockable. You can still soft unlock phones with 5.9 if you create firmware with pwnage tool prior to upgrading to 2.2.1. You can even downgrade an acidentally upgraded 3g as long as it has bootloader5.8 So just cuz a phone has 2.2.1 5H11 doesn't mean you need a sim card. Mine is a 3g 16gb with latest firmware and jailbroke and unlocked on T-Mobile USA.