Does this sound like a god idea? - Poor Man's PAYG 2G iPhone -

[iParis]

So I was going to buy an unlocked iPhone 2G 8GB from one of my mom's friends' for $150 and just use it as an iPod touch with a camera and mic.
But a couple hours ago a lightbulb went off in my head.
I though, "why the hell don't I not just buy a cheap pre-paid phone that comes with a sim card or get a sim card."
So if I did that would all the phone features like SMS and calling still work with the cellular service?
And all the data stuff (Safari, Mail, Stocks, apps, etc) would all still work when connected to Wi-Fi, right?
I was thinking of using either this sim or this sim, OR I may use the sim card that comes with this pre-paid T-Mobile phone.

Thank you!

 

[bki122689]

So I was going to buy an unlocked iPhone 2G 8GB from one of my mom's friends' for $150 and just use it as an iPod touch with a camera and mic.
But a couple hours ago a lightbulb went off in my head.
I though, "why the hell don't I not just buy a cheap pre-paid phone that comes with a sim card or get a sim card."
So if I did that would all the phone features like SMS and calling still work with the cellular service?
And all the data stuff (Safari, Mail, Stocks, apps, etc) would all still work when connected to Wi-Fi, right?
I was thinking of using either this sim or this sim, OR I may use the sim card that comes with this pre-paid T-Mobile phone.

Thank you!

if it is unlocked yeah that should work

 

[iParis]

if it is unlocked yeah that should work

Awesome. Well, I'm not sure if it is or isn't. I really don't care, I'll unlock it myself if it isn't.
Do you know which sim card I should get?

 

[Theaser]

Awesome. Well, I'm not sure if it is or isn't. I really don't care, I'll unlock it myself if it isn't.
Do you know which sim card I should get?

Be sure to block data or else you get a heart attack when you receive your phone bill.

 

[iParis]

Be sure to block data or else you get a heart attack when you receive your phone bill.

If it's on a pre-paid sim card then I don't think they will even have my address. Data... just won't work. I've used a prepaid phone before.

 

[504A!]

Be sure to block data or else you get a heart attack when you receive your phone bill.

Not if u get a cheap plan from cingular pay as you go, which i am using on an unlocked 1st gen 8gb on 2.2 firmware, i use unlimited data pick ur plan and works perfectly

 

[iParis]

Not if u get a cheap plan from cingular pay as you go, which i am using on an unlocked 1st gen 8gb on 2.2 firmware, i use unlimited data pick ur plan and works perfectly

I was just planning on doing one of those prepaid things where you buy more minutes. And they will in know why have any reason to need my address, at least that's not what happened the last time I had a prepaid phone.

 

[aerospace]

On tomobile you can get 1000 minutes that last a year for $100.
Comes to about $8/mo.

 

[iParis]

On tomobile you can get 1000 minutes that last a year for $100.
Comes to about $8/mo.

Sounds good. Especially since I mainly text. I'm going to need to buy a lot of minutes if each text is a minute.

 

[iParis]

Another question, does it matter what SIM carrier I use?

 

[fireshot91]

Well, no if you're going to unlock. if not, AT&T

 

[iParis]

Well, no if you're going to unlock. if not, AT&T

So if I get an AT&T PAYG sim card I don't have to unlock it?

 

[ikermalli]

No because it comes locked to AT&T in its' original state

 

[iParis]

No because it comes locked to AT&T in its' original state

Amazing. I'll probably get an AT&T one so that I don't have to worry about messing up the phone when I upgrade.

 

[uiop.]

As a side note, $150 is a great price for an unlocked iPhone. I sold my old unlocked 2G 8GBer on eBay for $420.

I don't think you'll run into any problems with the pay as you go SIM though.

 

[bki122689]

one question

when you put in another sim card from a prepaid phone, then when you use the internet data, how does it charge the data. Does it use money you paid for the minutes and subtracts from minutes???

 

[iParis]

As a side note, $150 is a great price for an unlocked iPhone. I sold my old unlocked 2G 8GBer on eBay for $420.

I don't think you'll run into any problems with the pay as you go SIM though.

One of the many reasons I won't pass up the chance.

one question

when you put in another sim card from a prepaid phone, then when you use the internet data, how does it charge the data. Does it use money you paid for the minutes and subtracts from minutes???

I don't think that data works on a prepaid type of deal, it'll only work when connected to Wi-Fi.

 

[Nermal]

one question

when you put in another sim card from a prepaid phone, then when you use the internet data, how does it charge the data. Does it use money you paid for the minutes and subtracts from minutes???

I can't speak for the US, but I believe that the "normal" way is for it to be charged at a certain rate per MB. So you have, say, $20 on your phone then use 10 MB at $0.10 per MB and end up with $19 available.

Edit: Looks like you don't get prepaid data on AT&T based on what iParis just said.

 

[iParis]

I can't speak for the US, but I believe that the "normal" way is for it to be charged at a certain rate per MB. So you have, say, $20 on your phone then use 10 MB at $0.10 per MB and end up with $19 available.

Edit: Looks like you don't get prepaid data on AT&T based on what iParis just said.

Ya... I've never heard of any carriers do that.
Probably because most PAYG phones don't even have data features, other than some crap watered down browser.

 

[504A!]

Ya... I've never heard of any carriers do that.
Probably because most PAYG phones don't even have data features, other than some crap watered down browser.

Att go phones have the option of just minutes or u can get a pick ur plan, me for an example, i have 200 mins and 200 texts for 29.99 and added unlmtd medianet for 20.00, i still have a "instink"which i use to make most calls. That's my suggestion as 2 what u can do.

 

[iParis]

Att go phones have the option of just minutes or u can get a pick ur plan, me for an example, i have 200 mins and 200 texts for 29.99 and added unlmtd medianet for 20.00, i still have a "instink"which i use to make most calls. That's my suggestion as 2 what u can do.

So your phone is PAYG? That $20 for the data, how long does that last before it expires?

 

[504A!]

So your phone is PAYG? That $20 for the data, how long does that last before it expires?

On pick ur plan u hv to set up automatic payment, so the data lasts until ur next payment and 1 of the best parts is u have rollover mins so if u dont use that many mins like i do it works out great