A Vietnamese cellphone store is claiming to have carried out a hardware unlock of the iPhone 3G by physically altering the handset's circuit-boards.  The full details of the hack are not clear, but the below image claims to demonstrate the unlocked iPhone 3G using a local, Vietnamese SIM to successfully place a call.

The site also shows Google Maps being accessed over WiFi.  According to our tipster, the process is not a SIM unlock.  As with the original iPhone, the new 3G version is not invulnerable to unlocks.  However the Dev Team are hoping to enable it without users needing to crack open the casing and get busy with soldering irons.

[Thanks Nam!]