Can I use my friends iPhone 3G as an iPod Touch?

[iParis]

So one of my friends got an iPhone 3G from her mom, but for some reason she doesn't like it.
It's 16GBs and she is probably going to sell it to me for $250.
But I don't have the money to pay for service, so if she cuts the service, can I use it as an iPod Touch?
I think that it will be better than a Touch since it has a camera and if I wanted to I could always activate it when I felt like it.
And is $250 a reasonable price?

 

[iblastoff]

i highly doubt your friend is going to sell it to you for 250$ especially when you have to pay a giant cancellation fee to get rid of the contract.

 

[iParis]

i highly doubt your friend is going to sell it to you for 250$ especially when you have to pay a giant cancellation fee to get rid of the contract.

Well she's going to get a new phone anyways because she hates it.
And she already agreed to sell it for $250.
Also, I don't think there will be a cancellation fee since her mom got it through her work.

 

[Cask]

Yeah if she is going to cancel the service, the lower price she should sell it for is around 500 USD for a 16 GB phone, although she could probably get around 700. If she is selling it for 250, then don't think about twice, GET IT! If it is already activated I think you could also stick any AT&T Sim Card and use it with that, as long as you don't restore it.

 

[iParis]

Yeah if she is going to cancel the service, the lower price she should sell it for is around 500 USD for a 16 GB phone, although she could probably get around 700. If she is selling it for 250, then don't think about twice, GET IT! If it is already activated I think you could also stick any AT&T Sim Card and use it with that, as long as you don't restore it.

What?
That would be $100 more than a 16GB Touch.
And that iPhone is normally only $300.
Why would I pay $500 for it, or even $700.

 

[Cynicalone]

If you can legally get it for $250 dollars then by all mean's get it.

 

[Cask]

The iPhone is sold at 300 because it is heavily subsidized by AT&T, I believe the real price for it is around 600. If she cancels the service she or her company WILL HAVE TO PAY an Early Termination Fee, because they are no longer eligible for the subsidy. Also, I believe that since the company is paying for the phone they would probably just want it back and assign it to another employee. If she put that iPhone on ebay, she could probably get around 700 USD. If she is selling it to you for $250.00, you are getting a pretty sweet deal and you should get it.

 

[iParis]

The iPhone is sold at 300 because it is heavily subsidized by AT&T, I believe the real price for it is around 600. If she cancels the service she or her company WILL HAVE TO PAY an Early Termination Fee, because they are no longer eligible for the subsidy. Also, I believe that since the company is paying for the phone they would probably just want it back and assign it to another employee. If she put that iPhone on ebay, she could probably get around 700 USD. If she is selling it to you for $250.00, you are getting a pretty sweet deal and you should get it.

As to what I was thinking.
She didn't mention anything about a termination fee.
Also, she already talked to her mom about canceling the service.
And when I said her mom's company pays for it, I mean they pay for the service, they had a selection of phones to choose from and the iPhone 3G was one of them, her mom had to pay for the actual phone.

 

[Cask]

Well, then just get it, you won't find a better deal anywhere for an iPhone 3G without a contract. Make sure you get it fast before she realizes what a big mistake it is LOL

 

[iParis]

Well, then just get it, you won't find a better deal anywhere for an iPhone 3G without a contract. Make sure you get it fast before she realizes what a big mistake it is LOL

I can't get it until the end of September, that's when my birthday is.
And she hate it for some reason so I think I'm safe.

Then I just got bummed out about 5 minutes ago.
Someone told me that the iPhone 3G locks up when the contract is canceled.
Like I can't use it as a Touch.

Does anyone know if this is true?

 

[iblastoff]

I can't get it until the end of September, that's when my birthday is.
And she hate it for some reason so I think I'm safe.

Then I just got bummed out about 5 minutes ago.
Someone told me that the iPhone 3G locks up when the contract is canceled.
Like I can't use it as a Touch.

Does anyone know if this is true?

no not true. i still highly doubt your friends mom will be able to just cancel it without huge fees. you and your friend clearly do not know how it usually works.