Ignorant question: iPod touch or iPhone WITHOUT service?

[KittyToy]

just add

did you use them before ? can you trust them? do you have any idea how much they would be ?

//

is there any link on AT&T web site to check if we can use the iPhone with existing plan ? I don't wanna go on hold for 20 mins lol ... while I'm working !

all you have to do is add the data plan to your exsisting plan, i had cingular for like 8 years and just went to the AT&T store bought the iphone and paid the 18 upgrade fee and they added the 20 dolla data plan to my exsisting plan they also activated the phone for me so when i left the store i was able to use it.

 

[Me1000]

I have to ? or it's just optional for ultimate data ?
I should be able to use it as a phone only (with wi-fi of course)

unless you want to hack it, or something you are required to add an unlimited data plan,

You have no idea how glad you will be though, once you do!

The data plan makes the iPhone whole!

 

[Iced Angel]

Thanx guys ...

I'm still confused. what if I don't want to add the unlimited data plan ? can I still use it as a phone, with Wi-Fi support of course? I'm pretty sure I won't surf the internet on a 3.5" LCD ... lol

If i can only do that, I'll get an iPhone in replace of my iPod, if not, the touch is waiting for me out there

 

[shoelessone]

Just another bump.

I'm really looking for somebody to say, "Just get the iPhone! You are hacking the Touch anyway, so you might as well get the iPhone as it has the features you want. There are enough people out there interested in activating the phone to use as an iPod that you won't have to worry about loosing support for the device in the hacker community"

 

[benlee]

My question is can the phone be later activated with att service. I'm not willing to switch yet but may be in the future and I too think the extra $100 is worth the camera and ability to use it in the future as a cell phone.

 

[shoelessone]

My question is can the phone be later activated with att service. I'm not willing to switch yet but may be in the future and I too think the extra $100 is worth the camera and ability to use it in the future as a cell phone.

Yes, it can be.

But that still leaves the question of everybodies thoughts on this...

Give me some positive input people!

 

[benlee]

I'm in the same boat then man. I want a touch, but may want an iphone in the future (as soon as i can confince ghe old lady). We need some empirical evidence. You buy a touch and I'll buy an iphone and we will see who is happier in a couple months. Hahah. I dont know what to do now!!!!!

 

[shoelessone]

I'm in the same boat then man. I want a touch, but may want an iphone in the future (as soon as i can confince ghe old lady). We need some empirical evidence. You buy a touch and I'll buy an iphone and we will see who is happier in a couple months. Hahah. I dont know what to do now!!!!!

How about I buy the iPhone, and if I end up getting screwed when I can no longer activate my iPhone because of a firmware update, then we swap

Anyway, we could also kee this thread alive until somebody who WAS in our situation voices there opinion .

The thing is, I'm not worried about things currently, I'm worried that the next firmware release for the iPhone (for instance) will include something that changes the way the phoen is activated, making it difficult/impossible to activate without AT&T service.

 

[BigCanoe]

Your certainly not alone, I am having the same dilemma! I have Verizon as well, and I want an iPDA

 

[shoelessone]

Here is a related question perhaps somebody could answer:

Question:

Is "Activating" the iPone a prerequesit for getting any of the further "unlocking" (i.e. so the phone can be used with another carrier) done?

I ask for a somewhat unrelated purpose: I am seriously considering purchasing the iPhone to use primarily in place of an iPod touch for the next 10 months until my VZW contract is up. The only reason I hesitate is because I'm worried that further firmware/itunes updates will leave me without a way to "Activate" the iPhone. Then I'll have an iNothingButAnUnusable400DollarPaperWeight.

Anyway, I figure if the first step in any unlocking/etc process is to activate the phone (which is all I need), then the moding/hacker community will always have significant interest in the activation process. And I'll rest a little easier knowing that activation process won't get thrown away in the future leaving me out in the cold.

 

[benlee]

Here is a related question perhaps somebody could answer:

Question:

Is "Activating" the iPone a prerequesit for getting any of the further "unlocking" (i.e. so the phone can be used with another carrier) done?

I ask for a somewhat unrelated purpose: I am seriously considering purchasing the iPhone to use primarily in place of an iPod touch for the next 10 months until my VZW contract is up. The only reason I hesitate is because I'm worried that further firmware/itunes updates will leave me without a way to "Activate" the iPhone. Then I'll have an iNothingButAnUnusable400DollarPaperWeight.

Anyway, I figure if the first step in any unlocking/etc process is to activate the phone (which is all I need), then the moding/hacker community will always have significant interest in the activation process. And I'll rest a little easier knowing that activation process won't get thrown away in the future leaving me out in the cold.

I'm pretty positive it is a pre-req. However, they are making the unlock programs and all-in-one GUI program now. So they may not be seperate processes for long.

May I suggest that by the time your verizon contract is up in 10 months there will probably be a revision to the iphone, in which case you are going to want that one instead. Just a thought!

 

[Maxington]

So I guess it's not possible to get an iPhone and just add the unlimited data plan?

 

[Me1000]

So I guess it's not possible to get an iPhone and just add the unlimited data plan?

You mean without a voice plan?

 

[mac000]

it sounds very stupid to buy a phone and not use it as a phone, just my opinion

 

[benlee]

it sounds very stupid to buy a phone and not use it as a phone, just my opinion

indeed. But it is the same as an ipod touch. Except it has a camera, external speaker, and bluetooth. As well as addtional software.

 

[shoelessone]

I'm pretty positive it is a pre-req. However, they are making the unlock programs and all-in-one GUI program now. So they may not be seperate processes for long.

May I suggest that by the time your verizon contract is up in 10 months there will probably be a revision to the iphone, in which case you are going to want that one instead. Just a thought!

Good points.

As far as the whole "there will be another revision in a year" thing:
Honestly, the primary reason I'd be buying the phone as apposed to the iPod is for the camera and the mic/speaker. I'll be backpacking around europe next summer and although I'll be bringing a Canon TX1 (for 720p vid) and my 350D for photos, I'd really love to be able to take photos to post to my blog while I'm on the road. Also, by that point I imagine there will be some sort of Skype client available, which could make calling from Europe cheap enough to handle.

Anyway, in reality I suppose by that point I can always buy a used iPhone for relatively cheap I'd assume.

Meh. I'm pretty wishy washy on this, but I have a feeling in the end i'll end up with a Touch.

 

[cazlar]

I'm in the same situation. I don't use my phone enough to justify a $60/mth fee (I'm currently on a tmobile PAYG). Was all ready to buy a 8GB touch when they were announced, thinking I get all the iPhone stuff (minus the phone) without the risk of it becoming a paperweight in the future. I do plan on hacking whichever I get to add apps etc, but the iPhone is not "meant" to be used away from AT&T, so I imagine there's always the (slight) chance that it might get cut off somehow.

But in the meantime since the announcement, they've crippled the touch's calendar, and I'm wondering if that plus the camera/mic/speaker might be worth the $100 (or half capacity if I go 4GB). Now, with the free iPhone software unlock, I could even use it as my PAYG phone.

Argh - decision, decisions...

 

[mac000]

indeed. But it is the same as an ipod touch. Except it has a camera, external speaker, and bluetooth. As well as addtional software.

i dotn know, from waht you said it seems like there are not the same, doh!

 

[jblock]

I'm in the same boat, but have pretty much convinced myself to get an iPhone. My current cell contract isn't up for 10 months, but there's plenty of wi-fi where I would use the iphone. I'm mostly interested in the mail and full calendar functionality. I'm also not too happy about the ipod touch going back to the shiny metal back. I could easily fill up the space on the phone with music, but really don't do videos so 8 GBs is enough. I believe any of these "activation" methods makes the youtube icon on the iphone useless, but you can always go to youtube via the Web.

The iPhone Activation Tool seems the most straightforward to use so I'll probably "activate" with that. But I may just try AT&T pay as you go for a month and then cancel.

Also interesting that the iPhone comes with a dock and AC adapter, while the iPod Touch does not.

 

[njpodder]

Thanx guys ...

I'm still confused. what if I don't want to add the unlimited data plan ? can I still use it as a phone, with Wi-Fi support of course? I'm pretty sure I won't surf the internet on a 3.5" LCD ... lol

If i can only do that, I'll get an iPhone in replace of my iPod, if not, the touch is waiting for me out there

I have been talking to ATT because I am about to upgrade to the iPhone. The way I understand it is that you MUST have the data service to use the iPhone. There are two options to do this. For a new subscriber, the cheapest plan compatible with iPhone is 59.99/month. For an existing customer, the cheapest plan is $39.99 per month, and you add $20/month for the data. Either way, you cannot have one or the other. It is the whole package, or nothing.

 

[mongoose8p]

anyone who needs help unlocking and using just as an ipod/wifi/camera etc. private message me i know what im taking about and be glad to help! This is what I did for a couple weeks before iphonesimfree came out now by iphone runs on tmobile which is great but anyway just private message and I'll help you out. And to who ever said you can't use ATT without a data plan is wrong. You can and its not to difficault. I'll be glad to help anyone with questions.

 

[jblock]

I just got back from purchasing the iPhone and have successfully activated it using the iPhone Activation Tool. I just plugged the iPhone in and then ran the tool. I then quit Itunes (I'm using 7.4) and restarted it. I then was able to download the latest firmware and had no trouble with the phone showing up. When it tried to take me through the activation process I just hit cancel and I was able to manage and sync the phone. Right now I'm syncing tons of stuff. Music, photos, mail accounts, contacts and calendars came over no problem. Everything but YouTube works fine.

Is there a way to get YouTube to work? Even when I got the youtube site through Safari it keeps asking for Flash. Can anybody point to a youtube video that should play using the iPhone's video viewer?

Yes I guess it's just a glorified iPod, with less storage than the iPod Touch, but it's enough for me and I get mail and all the other apps. Once my current cell contract runs out I'll just move over to ATT.