Now, we have some news that will really excite those that have been holding off on the iPhone 4S because they rely on an unlock. According to a tweet from Musclenerd on Twitter, the Dev Team is working hard on a “very promising” unlock for the 4S.

Crazy Thanksgiving weekend!  Very promising 4S unlock (twitpic.com/7kku4t) is in the works (Not i4, just 4S..that’s crazy part)

Along with the tweet he released this picture:

Up until now there has been no way for users to unlock their iPhone 4S, so this is great news for anyone that relies on an outside carrier. Stay tuned for more info on the release as Musclenerd reveals more on Twitter!

Unlocking a device means that you are be able to activate it on other wireless carriers outside of the one you purchased the phone from. Initially, unlocking the iPhone required complexed baseband tweaking, but now it could be as easy as following these steps…

OSXDaily claims that several users have reported success with this unlock method, but it does warn readers to follow the guide at their own risk. We haven’t been able to confirm its safety or success either, so we are going to issue the same warning.

This tutorial describes how to unlock an AT&T iPhone 4S to work on T-Mobile’s network, so results with other carriers may vary. Obviously you’ll need a GSM iPhone 4S, and both an AT&T and T-Mobile SIM card (or one from a compatible GSM carrier).

“Step 1. Insert your AT&T SIM card. Dial 611 for customer service, and once it starts ringing, hang up.

 Step 2. Turn on your iPhone’s Airplane mode, take out the AT&T SIM card, and replace it with a T-Mobile SIM.

 Step 3. Make sure Wi-Fi is off, and clear any remembered networks to ensure it doesn’t auto-connect later.

 Step 4. Turn off Airplane mode. The handset will search for a network, and the Activation Required screen will popup.

 Step 5. Once you notice the device has found an EDGE network (E symbol), wait about 30 seconds and turn off the phone.

 Step 6. Power the handset back on, and you should see the same Activation Required screen.

 Step 7. Once you notice you have 1 bar of signal, tap on the Use Cellular Connection option. Then eject the SIM card.

 Step 8. The Activation Required screen should pop up again. Re-insert the T-Mobile SIM card, and you should be unlocked.”

 

It’s worth noting that some users had to repeat this process multiple times for it to work. We’ll keep you updated on our findings once we can test this out for ourselves.

With Apple already selling unlocked handsets on other countries, this is bringing the United States into line with everyone else. But if you’ve been waiting for the chance to buy an iPhone 4S without a 2-year contract, well, now you can!

All three capacities are available, along with both white and black models…

There is a price to pay for not being tied to a contract, and that’s a significant upfront cost. On Apple.com right now, the unlocked 16GB iPhone 4S will set you back $649. 32GB models weigh in at $749, with $849 required to pick up the top 64GB varient.

Apple also notes that the unlocked handsets will not work with CDMA carriers, meaning Sprint and Verizon in the United States.

“The unlocked iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a contract commitment. You can activate and use it on the supported GSM wireless network of your choice, such as AT&T in the United States.* The unlocked iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S will not work with CDMA-based carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.”

If unlocked is your preferred route, you’ll also need to wait 1-2 weeks for delivery, according to the Apple Store.

Not only iOS 5.0.1 may patch exploits that could potentially allow for an untethered jailbreak, but there is also currently no way to downgrade from iOS 5.0.1 for the time being…

So you’ve been warned!