iPhone as a Widescreen iPod + Wifi without Contract?

[MacRumors]

TUAW essentially describes how to unlock an iPhone for use as a Widescreen iPod + Wifi -- without a contract, and a $49.98 one time fee.

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.

[pavelbure]

$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi.

[arn]

Originally Posted by pavelbure

$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi.

Low storage perhaps, but I'd say it's a pretty damn fine ipod.

arn

[dmw007]

Originally Posted by arn

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.

[arn]

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

[AJ Muni]

Originally Posted by arn

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

Exactly. I saw the iPhone today in person for the first time, and my god that device is unreal. I knew it was a great device, and it was going to blow me away..but it really exceeded my expectations when I saw it. I would be tempted for this, but then again I read somewhere that future software updates on the iPhone would be able to shut this "hack" down. I guess I'll just wait for the new ipod this fall. I would be floored if apple hasn't unleashed anything new by the end of this year. Especially with Mr. Jobs going on record stating that an ipod running os x is in the works, and everytime apple has these "buy a mac, get a free ipod" deal, they always release something new. Patience is a virtue my fellow MR'ers.

[bluebomberman]

Originally Posted by arn

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

At the same time, whoever pulls out a phone-less iPhone's going to look like a complete dork.

[1984]

Originally Posted by arn

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

Why not just wait a few months for the touchscreen iPods to appear? Steve Jobs already let it slip they are working on iPods running OS X.

[Mr Fusion]

Originally Posted by arn

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet.

I would want more memory for videos for that kind of dough. The iPod equivalent will be worth the wait.

[rockosmodurnlif]

Originally Posted by arn

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

Gee, there must be more suckers born per minute these days ...

Originally Posted by SiliconAddict

Umm who cares? Its not like they are going to lock you up. And since they don't know who you are without it its not going to hit your credit rating.

You must still believe in the anonymity of the internet. Guess you've never heard of IP addresses being logged. It's not like it's fraud or anything to willfully use a social security number that isn't yours just so can listen to music, read email and watch youtube videos. Oh, and use a fancy schmancy virtual (ooooo!) keyboard.

Originally Posted by SiliconAddict

But I thought it was, assuming you drink the Koolaid, an internet communicator first and foremost.

Because it's called the iInternetCommunicator.

Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer

So, if you cancel your AT&T plan, aren't you like, able to install any other SIM-card and make use of the phone anyway?

In Europe, the customer by law has to have the option to unlock the phone for free after one year of usage, or for a fee within a year of usage, to allow the customer to take it's phone to other operators.

I can't imagine the iPhone not having such option, or bringing it to Europe would be illegal.

Most interesting post in this thread. If the carriers in Europe can't guarantee users switching and staying, then there is almost no reason to bend over and accept Apple demands. AT&T can't guarantee it either but it sounds like they have a better chance in the states than a European carrier does. But all that is just pure speculation.

Speaking of speculation, I have changed my mind. I think Apple should release two new iPods, one with wi-fi, one without, and charge a premium of the wi-fi enabled iPods. If I could, I would.

[caccamolle]

Originally Posted by arn

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

yes right - it's a timing thing. Those features will be incorporated in the new iPods anyway. There are a lot of willing for whome $650 is nothing, but they are not all stupid

Now, as to my situation, I don't know: the iPhone addition to my current contract (cingular/att) would at $20 to my plan, which I hardly feel is a killer given that currently I have no data plan whatosever.

[Porchland]

Originally Posted by arn

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

Or, you know, wait three months until Apple comes out with the new iPod.

My guess: You lose the phone capability but pick up a bigger HD, better battery life and (wild guess/fingers crossed) an iTunes Store app that will allow you to buy tracks over WiFi and sync them back to your main iTunes database.

40GB/$299 and 100GB/$399.

[Rocketman]

Originally Posted by arn

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

Here in southern California of all places there are pockets where AT&T service sucks. People in that situation might have a strong incentive to do these tricks to activate the iPhone but cancel service.

I have not yet heard of a specific VoIP thing for iPhone but it cannot be far away.

Rocketman

[mrrory]

Originally Posted by arn

The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

Absolutely!!

I found this the other day when I was looking through the AT&T contract info on their website: http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/ar...hone-terms.jsp

Service may be cancelled after 14 days but within 30 days and early termination fee will be waived, but equipment may not be returned.

[amin]

Originally Posted by arn

I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

8GB and no storage card is pretty weak for video though. It shouldn't be hard for Apple to make a 100GB widescreen iPod just in time for Christmas .

[jericho53]

Originally Posted by dmw007

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.

Feature number one: $350 more than an iPod with less storage.

[glennsan]

I think the point of being able to use it for itunes and wifi without having to pay the AT&T rate is what is being missed here. I would consider it if I had wifi at my office.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by jericho53

Feature number one: $350 more than an iPod with less storage.

Don't be like a twat politician. Don't mangle word meanings to suit your arguments. It would be an iPod + PDA with the best UI and best screen put into an iPod.

Originally Posted by bluebomberman

At the same time, whoever pulls out a phone-less iPhone's going to look like a complete dork.

How is anyone going to know unless the owner point this out to them?

Originally Posted by Yankees 4 Life

it will prolly be 299 & 399 for 40g and 120g... i have a hunch because seagate made 120 portable HD's last year

That I remember, Apple's never used the largest hard drive available, their choice was usually one notch below the biggest. When the 60 Gig unit was announced, an 80 Gig was available. When the 80 Gig unit was announced, there was already a 100 Gig drive. I don't think there's enough of the biggest size available to support Apple's sales volume, even though they usually don't sell very many of the biggest ones.

[tekcor]

Originally Posted by dmw007

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.

I've been reporting bugs left and right for the iPhone. Apps are unexpectedly quitting (or what I expect is a "unexpectedly quit"), sometimes sorting is completely off, and the iPod always shuffles - regardless whether you tell it to or not. It also doesn't yet work with any FM transmitter, so I'm still using my 5G iPod in my Griffin RoadTrip until somebody creates something compatible.

My basic point is I love the device. I'm happy with the investment considering all the features, and I have internet at my fingertips everywhere I go. But as an iPod+WiFi - I'd be royally pissed off.

[tveric]

Originally Posted by arn

Low storage perhaps, but I'd say it's a pretty damn fine ipod.

arn

He didn't say it was a mediocre mp3 player, he said it makes for a mediocre ipod. By that measure (up against other ipods), yes indeed, it IS mediocre, especially considering the price.

[McBain2]

Sure. Just give out a fake SSN. That sounds like a terrific idea.

[SiliconAddict]

Originally Posted by McBain2

Sure. Just give out a fake SSN. That sounds like a terrific idea.

Umm who cares? Its not like they are going to lock you up. And since they don't know who you are without it its not going to hit your credit rating.

Originally Posted by exNavy

I think what's really being missed here is the fact that you have a $600 phone that can't make or receive calls.

But I thought it was, assuming you drink the Koolaid, an internet communicator first and foremost.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by McBain2

Sure. Just give out a fake SSN. That sounds like a terrific idea.

I don't think it is illegal, and I wouldn't call it unethical. I am more disturbed that they ask for it. Your number is not supposed to be used with anyone but the government.

Originally Posted by SiliconAddict

When and where? to date there has been NOTHING on iPods. Frankly I don't expect Apple to release a new touch iPod until next spring for fear it would eat into iPhone sales.

I don't know, I think they will have to do a meaningful update to the product line, which they've done for each of the last three winter seasons anyway. The holiday shopping time is Apple's biggest quarter for iPod sales.

Originally Posted by ezekielrage_99

All that effort and there already is an iPod out there.... I agree it seems kind of inane and redundant.

You are completely ignoring the new UI, PDA capabilities, nicer screen, nice keyboard and so on. The screen might have twice the screen area as the iPod with Video. There *might* be a 6G iPod this fall, or there might not be. We really don't know. The ability of Apple fans to predict when or if a feature hits Apple products has always been poor.

Originally Posted by Yankees 4 Life

well you might want to go look for some archos.. cuz aint no way they put a flimsy batter cover in the ipod...

Battery covers don't have to be flimsy. My Tapwave's case is pretty darn tough. But I don't think Apple will do this unless there's a customer revolt - and I don't think that is coming, unless Apple screws up something much bigger than that.

[jericho53]

Originally Posted by pavelbure

$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi.

I agree. Whats the point? Just go buy an iPod.

[flir67]

any one try getting a version of skype working that would be awesome.

wifi phone for the world and ipod.