I bought a iphone 4 on the three network that is currently pending to be unlock?

I bought a iphone 4 on the three network that is currently pending to be unlock from a friend.
will the phone just unlock by its self or will i have to plug it into iTunes?
will i need the original Sim card in the phone to do this or will any Sim card be okay?
how long should it take after the payment has been sent to the three network?
and how will i know when it ready to unlock or has been unlocked?

Not the answer buy Why?

The iPhone4 WILL be discontinued later this year, so now is or will be a bad investment as still (like All IPHONES) OVERPRICED***

Apple only ever support THE last 3 Iphones, on 12/09/2012, released IP6 drops IP 3GS

Later this year release next iphone IP6 (IP5S?) drops IP4 (so IP6, IP5, IP4S)

The IP4 despite that is still a very old device and surprisingly the first iPhone to have camera flash! 3rd 4th http://www.itproportal.com/2012/09/06/8gb-iphone-4s-version-be-introduced-iphone-5-launch/#ixzz2E

As an unsupported device it WON'T be sold by Apple, and receives no future updates, this will affect any resale price for what will be a 3 year old phone.

Some UK network are offering some deals which given the future are IMO misleading as a deal can be had by buying a newer phone which has more features than offering a phone that 3 years old.
in 2013 "downgrading" to a 2010 model.http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_4-review-490.php
Eg the more recent and "mid range" phone Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 new CPW £160.00 so warranty!

SG Ace 2 is a Dual Core/ Dual camera phone/ MICROSD EXPANSION! +32GB! CAPABLE Radio more RAM would be a much better purchase…

It appears to be buy first worry [practicalities] later!

Here's an answer we gave earlier:
Normally after officially unlocking your iPhone, you need to do the following in order to complete the unlocking process (after you have received the message that your iPhone is UNLOCKED):
You need to confirm how long it takes with the web site where the unlock was purchased. It can take anywhere from 2-21 days if it's not the AT&T network, for example.

1. Make sure that your PC or Mac is connected to the Internet
2. Have the original SIM card that the iPhone was locked to inserted into the iPhone
3. Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac using the USB cable that came with your iPhone
4. Back up your iPhone via iTunes, disconnect the USB cable
5. Swap the old SIM card with the one from another carrier
6. Connect your IPhone back to your PC or Mac
7. Wait until iTunes detects the iPhone
8. Disconnect your iPhone and reconnect it after 10 seconds
9. Your iPhone is now officially unlocked

If this doesn't work, there are additional instructions that may be found in the link below.
Take care