iPhone as a Widescreen iPod + Wifi without Contract? [Updated]
The first step involves faking bad credit by typing in "999-99-9999" as your Social Security number during activation to trigger the GoPhone/"Pick Your Plan" option which allows for contractless pre-pay plans. The cheapest version of "Pick Your Plan" is $49.98 (rate plans).
Then, according to TUAW simply taking out your SIM card allows you iPhone to continue to function as an iPod + Wifi device without any further hassle.
Removed SIM entirely. It complains but works at 6G WiFi iPod. Tried placing call. "No SIM card installed". Failed. Connected to iTunes. Synced without any problems I could detect. WiFi fine.
Presumably, you could then cancel your $49.98 month-to-month and use the iPhone as a Widescreen iPod + Wifi device. This theory has not entirely been tested, so proceed at your own risk.
Update: Alex King posts in his blog that he has done this... though he simply canceled his contract and didn't bother with the whole Pick Your Plan mess:
I canceled the AT&T service for my iPhone as planned and the iPhone seems to work just fine as a wifi-only device. Excellent!
I reset the iPhone, synced, etc. and it still works without service. No guarantees that it will continue to work, but for now it looks like Ive got the video iPod and iPhone test device I was hoping for.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi. :eek:
Low storage perhaps, but I'd say it's a pretty damn fine ipod.
arn
$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi. :eek:
I agree. Whats the point? Just go buy an iPod.
$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi. :eek:
ahh but, It really is a great ipod, I wouldn't have bought it at 600 for the 8gb just as an ipod + internet device. but at 450 yes I probably would.
Low storage perhaps, but I'd say it's a pretty damn fine ipod.
I would have to agree, it might not hold a million songs, but it has a ton of features that no iPod has had before. :) :apple:
arn
$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi. :eek:
Remember that the TCO of iPhone is at least (cheapest rate plan) $2,100 over two years. A discount of $1,500 for not being able to use AT&T's craptacular wireless service -- which is virtually unusable where I live for much of the year -- is a fantastic deal.
I would have to agree, it might not hold a million songs, but it has a ton of features that no iPod has had before. :) :apple:
Feature number one: $350 more than an iPod with less storage.
wifi phone for the world and ipod.
I wonder if the near-future ipod widescreen touchable will have some sort of wifi built in to share songs kind of like how the zune did it (please dont shoot me for wondering if a zune feature would be included in a future ipod release!!)?
:)
[ Read All Comments ]
Analytics firm Chitika today released a report showing that by its metrics iOS has now surpassed OS X in overall web traffic share in the United States. Chitika's methodology involves an analysis...
One of the most frequent reasons for an iPhone to go on a trip to the Apple Store's Genius Bar is because of water damage. Typically, a water damaged iPhone can be replaced for a flat $199...
TheVerge's Joshua Topolsky summarizes the iPad 3 casing findings reported earlier today, but also adds his own sources regarding some details of the iPad 3.
Image from RepairLabs
As...
Last July, Apple discontinued the white MacBook from its consumer lineup, pushing consumers toward the company's popular MacBook Air line or the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The company didn't kill...
Popular iPhone Twitter client Tweetbot has finally arrived on the iPad, with a user interface instantly familiar to any current Tweetbot user. Designed for the Twitter power-user, Tweetbot packs a...
