Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
SallyC
Specialist - Level 1

I have a Droid Razr on Verizon that  I'm very happy with.  But I'm using an iPod touch in my home as server for photos and other things over wifi and airplay.   I'm thinking of getting a used iPhone and using that in place of my touch and am wondering if I can activate it without a data or cellular plan - just using it over wifi.   Is that possible and, if so, how? 

Apple support says here you can do it by inserting a SIM card, connecting it to iTunes and activating it but I've heard Verizon doesn't have a SIM card for iPhones.  I'm clueless about this, as you can tell, so any instructions or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

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Re: Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
mrpearsoy
Contributor - Level 3

if you want to use the iphone in the exact same way as the ipod touch with no phone service, thenyes you can use it as such. If you want phone service on it, you will have to have a data plan irregardless of the phones age.

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Re: Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
SallyC
Specialist - Level 1

mrpearsoy wrote:

if you want to use the iphone in the exact same way as the ipod touch with no phone service, thenyes you can use it as such. If you want phone service on it, you will have to have a data plan irregardless of the phones age.

Sorry I didn't make my question very clear.  How do I go about activating the phone?  Do I need a SIM card (and where do I get it if I don't have a plan for the phone) or is there another way to activate it? 

I don't need or want the cellular or data part of it because of my Razr, but I would like to be able to use the other features over wifi.  Thanks.

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Re: Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
mdram4x4
Champion - Level 1

it wont be active

activiating implies you want phone service

you cant get phone service without a data plan

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Re: Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
mrpearsoy
Contributor - Level 3

You should be able to jus fire that puppy up without a sim card, you only need a sim if you are using voice/data, but not wifi. You can use wifi with no trouble.

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Re: Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
gina7239
Specialist - Level 2

You can't use it without a share plan or a reg data plan. When you do activate as a new line you could data share with the razor since new lines would need to be share plane. 4s or 4 you don't need a SIM card you only need a Verizon iPhone. The 5 needs a SIM card.

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Re: Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
gymcarm
Enthusiast - Level 2

If I am hearing you correctly, you want to use the iPhone only when there is WiFi available.  You do not want to make voice calls or use cellular data in any way.

If this is the case, there would be no need to "activate" the phone with a cellular carrier.  The cellular carrier (Verizon Wireless) would have no need to know you even have the device.  You wouldn't be paying them any money and would not have any type of cellular service (voice, text, or data).  What you would have is a fancy iPod with a few extra features.  You would need to authorize the iPhone to play the content that you paid for through iTunes.

I don't know anything about SIM cards and Verizon Wireless...

Re: Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
gymcarm
Enthusiast - Level 2

I found this on YouTube and it has worked so far...

http://youtu.be/vMDXbqI4iPI

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Re: Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
Not applicable

That video is stupid. You don't even need to do that. If you want to use an Iphone as an ipod touch all you have to do is TURN IT ON. At least that's the way it works with Android phones.

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Re: Activate an iPhone without data/cellular plan?
gymcarm
Enthusiast - Level 2

That might work with Androids, but we are talking about iPhones.  When you take it out of the box, it REALLY wants to be a phone.

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