can a brand new Verizon iPhone be used as a wifi-only device without ever having a SIM card inside?

[Applejuiced]

I used to be on my parents' plan on AT&T with unlimited data but we were maxed out at 5 lines and my two youngest siblings couldn't join their plan. Back in summer 2011, it was the last day Verizon was offering unlimited data and I knew I'd have to leave my parents' plan eventually so I switched.

I could have taken my number with me but my brother was taking over my line and he wouldn't be allowed to keep unlimited data if I ported my number to Verizon, so I got a new number when I switched. At that point I decided to use Google Voice and save $20/month on texting. Later on I was even able to save another $25 by dropping my voice plan down to just 30 minutes.

So that's how my Google Voice number became my main number.

Nice, I remember those days where we were getting extorted for ridiculous texting prices and no options.
You either paid $20 for unlimited texts or you had no texts and had to pay 20 cents for each send and received text message.
What a huge scam by Verizon and AT&T price gouging.

 

[measel]

You'd want to use Verizon SIM if the iPhone is sim-free version. It will ensure the iPhone stay unlocked. If you use ATT or whatever, it will lock the iPhone to that carrier.

 

[C DM]

You'd want to use Verizon SIM if the iPhone is sim-free version. It will ensure the iPhone stay unlocked. If you use ATT or whatever, it will lock the iPhone to that carrier.

It generally won't do that, with some minor exceptions of buying the phone from some particular resellers where the first SIM might matter.

 

[measel]

It generally won't do that, with some minor exceptions or buying the phone from some particular resellers where the first SIM might matter.

Correct. Best Buy use flex reseller policy.

 

[Applejuiced]

You'd want to use Verizon SIM if the iPhone is sim-free version. It will ensure the iPhone stay unlocked. If you use ATT or whatever, it will lock the iPhone to that carrier.

That is completely false.
Where did you get this info from?
A verizon and any verizon LTE iphone is fully unlocked and will never lock to any network.

 

[Channan]

Nice, I remember those days where we were getting extorted for ridiculous texting prices and no options.
You either paid $20 for unlimited texts or you had no texts and had to pay 20 cents for each send and received text message.
What a huge scam by Verizon and AT&T price gouging.

Yep. And it was inconvenient to use Google Voice for texting at first (no MMS or group texting) but now I get all of that and I wouldn't go back to normal texting ever again. I love that I can log into Hangouts on any device and get all of my calls and texts.

I have four phones and two tablets with their own plans (only pay for one tablet and one phone) and I can take any of those devices with me without swapping SIM cards or doing any work and still use the same phone number.

 

[measel]

That is completely false.
Where did you get this info from?
A verizon and any verizon LTE iphone is fully unlocked and will never lock to any network.

If you purchase it from Best Buy, yes. It will do that. Because of flex reseller policy. iPhones from Best Buy are sim free versions. That's why initial activation should be Verizon sim to ensure it remains unlocked.

 

[Applejuiced]

If you purchase it from Best Buy, yes. It will do that. Because of flex reseller policy. iPhones from Best Buy are sim free versions. That's why initial activation should be Verizon sim to ensure it remains unlocked.

You should note that this is a very small exception to those who purchase it on that particular retailer and not how verizon iphones behave.
Your blanket statement was inaccurate and confusing.
Not even sure why you brought up Best Buy, the buyer never mentioned he purchased from there.

 

[JulesJam]

That is completely false.
Where did you get this info from?
A verizon and any verizon LTE iphone is fully unlocked and will never lock to any network.

It's true if you buy the phones through Target, Walmart or Best Buy - they sell SIM free iPhone 7/7+ that are subject to the US Reseller Flex Policy. They will lock to whichever carrier's SIM card is in them for the initial activation and if it is a Verizon SIM, they remain unlocked.
[doublepost=1479709728][/doublepost]

You'd want to use Verizon SIM if the iPhone is sim-free version. It will ensure the iPhone stay unlocked. If you use ATT or whatever, it will lock the iPhone to that carrier.

This is true if you buy through Walmart, Target and Best Buy but not if you buy directly through Apple. This is because the Walmart, Target and Best Buy SIM free models are subject to the US Reseller Flex Policy. Those purchased directly through Apple are not.

And of course the carriers don't sell the SIM free models at all.
[doublepost=1479709951][/doublepost]

You should note that this is a very small exception to those who purchase it on that particular retailer and not how verizon iphones behave.

Only if you buy a Verizon iPhone from Verizon, a Verizon Authorized/Premium Retailer or Apple. If you buy it anywhere else, Target, Walmart or Best Buy, they don't sell Verizon iPhones. They sell SIM free iPhones subject to the US Reseller Flex Policy and will lock to whichever carrier's SIM card is used for the initial activation. So that is why you would want to use a Verizon SIM card for the initial activation. It can be an inactive Verizon SIM but it has to be a Verizon SIM.

I am not 100% sure about if you buy through Costco what you are getting, but I suspect that Costco is probably like Best Buy now and you are getting a SIM free iPhone subject to the US Reseller Flex Policy. Best Buy did not used to be like this - they used to sell true Verizon iPhones but not any more. I suspect that Costco is the same now too and probably Sam's Club, too.

I know the majority of people on macrumors buy through their carriers or through Apple, but there are still a lot of us who buy through Target, Walmart and Best Buy so IMO it is good to remind people of the issue.

 

[Applejuiced]

Oh I see.
But either way if you bought it full price and its not under contract the carrier will unlock it you just have to request an unlock.
Its just the inconvenience of having to contact AT&T, Verizon or Sprint to push the unlock through.
Or if you purchase full price unlocked mind as well get it from Apple

 

[Taisiya]

You need a SIM card to get through the activation screen. It doesn't have to be an active SIM but you will need one.

Thanks! I got the Verizon iPhone SE 64gb today and was able to activate it using a German prepaid SIM card.(that had expired for a couple of years and was just sitting in my drawer) I'm in the US, but the iPhone doesn't seem to care that it was an expired foreign SIM card. I guess it just need to see a SIM card, any SIM card.

After I got everything set up, I pulled out the German SIM card and tried other U.S. SIM cards, including T-Mobile prepaid, AT&T postpaid, Verizon prepaid, FreedomPop, as well as OneSim Card. All seemed to work fine.

 

[einmusiker]

An LTE verizon iphone can activate with any sim card.
So just put a sim inside for a minute to get passed the activation screen and then you can take the sim out and wont need it again.
Once its activated you can use it as an ipod touch if you'd like.

be careful here... https://m.reddit.com/r/VerizonUDP/c...ock_to/?utm_source=mweb_redirect&compact=true

Edit: read through the thread and see you all discussed this

 

[Shadowbech]

NVM. Was already answered.