Timeline

August

 * August 18 -- The dev team releases QuickPwn, a 2.x pwnage/ramdisk combination exploit that allows jailbreaking without needing to create custom IPSWs.

July

 * July 22 -- TA_Mobile hardware dumps the 3G baseband (bootloader 5.8 & FW 1.45.00) by desoldering the NOR.
 * July 19 -- The dev team releases PwnageTool 2.0, jailbreaking and unlocking the 2.0 software on the iPhone 2G and jailbreaking the 2.0 software on the iPhone 3G.
 * July 11 -- iPhone 3G is released.

June

 * June 9 - iPhone 3G is announced at WWDC '08.

April

 * April 3 -- Dev team releases PwnageTool 1.0, making use of the ramdisk exploit, to write to the kernel, to write to the NOR.

March

 * March 12 -- Dev team releases dual-boot jailbreak method, only to be silently fixed in 2.0.
 * March 4 -- George Zhu (n000b) releases ILiberty / ILiberty%2B.

February

 * February 11 -- Zibri releases ZiPhone, the first all-in-one unlock, activate, jailbreak solution.
 * February 8 -- geohot releases software unlock for 4.6, Apple states 25% of phones were never activated with AT&T.

January

 * January 28 -- Dev team releases soft upgrade jailbreak for 1.1.3.
 * January 18 -- Dev team posts YouTube video of a jailbroken 1.1.3, which was made possible by the dual boot jailbreak from bgm.

November

 * November 15 -- New baseband bootloader (4.6) comes out, new iPhones can't be unlocked.
 * November 2 -- Jailbreakme is released, bringing jailbreaking to the mainstream iPhone user.

October

 * October 23 -- iPhone-Elite Team releases the Virginizer.

September

 * September 11 -- The dev team releases iUnlock, first free software unlock.
 * September 10 -- IPSF releases first paid software unlock.

August

 * August 23 -- geohot and team release hardware unlock method.
 * August 21 -- Installer.app is released, first GUI apps are distributed.

July

 * July 23 -- First phones are used with other carriers by means of SIM hacks.
 * July 20 -- nightwatch adapts a toolchain to the iPhone. The first apps are compiled.
 * July 9 -- The dev team releases a jailbreak method. The first use of this is ringtones.
 * July 3 -- DVD Jon first cracks activation. People can use the apps on the phone without a subscription.

June

 * June 29 -- iPhone is released. World's most hyped consumer product.