Can you use an iphone as an iTouch?

[Julia M]

I gave ds an IOU for an iTouch for Xmas. My plan was to buy one one Craigslist after Xmas, when I figured people would be selling stuff,s ince they got new for Xmas.

DH's brother offered us a 3g iPhone, but we both have one. I was wondering if I could use the iphone as an iTouch? We just wouldn't activate the phone?

Julia

 

[WDWBarb]

I gave ds an IOU for an iTouch for Xmas. My plan was to buy one one Craigslist after Xmas, when I figured people would be selling stuff,s ince they got new for Xmas.

DH's brother offered us a 3g iPhone, but we both have one. I was wondering if I could use the iphone as an iTouch? We just wouldn't activate the phone?

Julia

I believe the answer is no - a deactivated iPhone is a brick. . At least, that's what I've experienced.

 

[beaucoup]

And I thought the answer was yes. You just end up using the wifi part.

No phone & no 3G usuage.

I could swear I've seen people say this many times on the internet. It ends up being a glorified iPod Touch because it has a nicer camera than the newest iTouch. And old iTouches don't even have cameras.

I'm sure if you google it, you'll find your answer.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090429223114AA4yFp0

 

[diznygirl]

My kids are using our old iPhones. No cellular. They use the wifi at home and play tons of apps. If it's a "brick" it's a very entertaining brick!

 

[beaucoup]

My kids are using our old iPhones. No cellular. They use the wifi at home and play tons of apps. If it's a "brick" it's a very entertaining brick!

 

[mjantz]

When we were overseas we couldn't use our iPhones as phones so we used them as iPod Touches. Worked just fine. It was just in airplane mode. You might need to put it in airplane mode to keep the phone part from givng you trouble.

 

[diznygirl]

When we were overseas we couldn't use our iPhones as phones so we used them as iPod Touches. Worked just fine. It was just in airplane mode. You might need to put it in airplane mode to keep the phone part from givng you trouble.

Nope, don't need to keep it in airplane mode.

EDIT: Oops - apparently some recommend keeping it in airplane mode - I don't understand the thinking - it has no cellular so it's not going to ring. ???

 

[RadioNate]

My kids use them all the time. One gets an annoying "waiting for activation" message but it can be cleared easily.

 

[NotUrsula]

The "brick" situation happens if a phone has never been associated with a service plan at all. They don't work initially until they are activated, and with the contract situation being what it is, you have to have it on a contract at some point for that to happen. However, if you just let the contract expire or replace the phone with another, the wifi and internal features will normally still work.

 

[emma'smom]

I gave my dd my old iphone when I upgraded and it works fine as an iTouch. I can add music, videos, and apps to it just as before and it works fine in wifi zones.

 

[OK!]

Yep, it's no problem to use one as an iPod Touch. That's what I did with my 3GS for a couple of weeks after I got my iPhone 4 (before I sold the 3GS). It'll just say "No Service" up at the top where the carrier info normally goes. It will still work on wifi without being activated, as well.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

yes I still have my old iPhone (original), after I dumped AT&T I just put it in airplane mode and use it as an iPod. It syncs, and it even works on wifi.

I have heard you dont even need a sim card if it's a jailbroken iPhone.

 

[OK!]

yes I still have my old iPhone (original), after I dumped AT&T I just put it in airplane mode and use it as an iPod. It syncs, and it even works on wifi.

I have heard you dont even need a sim card if it's a jailbroken iPhone.

If you're going to use the jailbroken iPhone as a phone, you definitely need the SIM card (I've jailbroken my last 2 iPhones). If you're just using it as an iPod Touch, it'd probably still be necessary to have one to avoid the annoying "insert SIM" messages (or whatever may pop up. I've never unlocked my phones, so I've never had occasion to remove the SIM cards at all, like to swap them out for those of a different carrier.)

 

[JVelasquez]

I just upgraded to the iPhone 4 and gave my DS my 3G... He can still play all the games and listen to music. I can download more games and songs on it when it's on wifi which it is at home. Let me just say that I only did this yesterday and he like this more than anything he got for xmas (including his new DSi) I've never heard 'thank you mommy!' so many times for the same thing!

 

[bean bunny]

We gave one of our old iphones (3g) to a family member and he uses it every day with no problem as an itouch. I also use one of the old ones as an itouch for listening to podcasts, etc. when I'm running so I don't have to worry about breaking my new one

 

[SookieStackhouse]

If you're going to use the jailbroken iPhone as a phone, you definitely need the SIM card (I've jailbroken my last 2 iPhones). If you're just using it as an iPod Touch, it'd probably still be necessary to have one to avoid the annoying "insert SIM" messages (or whatever may pop up. I've never unlocked my phones, so I've never had occasion to remove the SIM cards at all, like to swap them out for those of a different carrier.)

Right, you would need the card if you are going to use it as a phone, but if you want it as an iPod there is a workaround by jailbreaking the phone.