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]

$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi.

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

arn

 

[jericho53]

$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi.

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

 

[Fearless Leader]

$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi.

ahh but, It really is a great ipod, I wouldn't have bought it at 600 for the 8gb just as an ipod + internet device. but at 450 yes I probably would.

 

[dmw007]

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

 

[j763]

$600 for a mediocre ipod and wifi.

Remember that the TCO of iPhone is at least (cheapest rate plan) $2,100 over two years. A discount of $1,500 for not being able to use AT&T's craptacular wireless service -- which is virtually unusable where I live for much of the year -- is a fantastic deal.

 

[jericho53]

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.

 

[flir67]

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

wifi phone for the world and ipod.

 

[phillipjfry]

Most expensive iPod ever. (best Comic book store guy voice)
I wonder if the near-future ipod widescreen touchable will have some sort of wifi built in to share songs kind of like how the zune did it (please dont shoot me for wondering if a zune feature would be included in a future ipod release!!)?

 

[glennsan]

iPhone as iPod + Wifi

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.

 

[pdpfilms]

Watch out for that restore though... could cost you another $49.98.

 

[A Pittarelli]

this is silly, wait for a new ipod or just use it as a phone

 

[AJ Muni]

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.

 

[arn]

Exactly. I saw the iPhone today in person for the first time, and my god that device is unreal. 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 this fall.

Right... and another thing that's possible is that the iphone could go back into lock-down mode after a certain period of time without a SIM. Just speculation, but it would make sense.

arn

 

[0007776]

so has anyone actually tried this or is it just speculation? It is too much money for me to want to bother with it, when I could probably wait until the end of the year and get an iPod with fullscreen for less.

 

[smccostlin]

crazy

if you are one of these people who actually does this to your iphone you are crazy. I think that apple will come out with a widescreen ipod that has touch features soon enough, and there is not need to kill your glorious iphone.

 

[pdpfilms]

Right... and another thing that's possible is that the iphone could go back into lock-down mode after a certain period of time without a SIM. Just speculation, but it would make sense.

arn

Jeez arn, you're really getting into the iPhone stuff! I don't think I've ever seen you post this much... ever!

 

[bluebomberman]

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.

 

[rstansby]

Right... and another thing that's possible is that the iphone could go back into lock-down mode after a certain period of time without a SIM. Just speculation, but it would make sense.

arn

The way I read it, they never even cancelled the pay as you go plan. So it is entirely possible that after cancelling the plan the device would stop working the next time it was sync'd with iTunes.

 

[Neptunian]

Hi. I'm from Malaysia. No iPhone over here..... So cruel.... hehe... I want one! Hopefully it will be available in Malaysia early next year (as early as possible).

 

[1984]

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.

 

[rlreif]

i could see doing this...

i have been loud on these forums bashing the iphone for lack of 3g... im on att already, and i use their 3g network a lot, and am quite happy with it... im not giving up my unlocked htc tytn... yet.....

BUT i would love to have an iphone in my car just for music... my nano is only 4GB anyhow, and the iphone would be a great replacement


one other idea this gives me is as a way that someone on att who wants an iphone now but doesnt want to extend their contract for 2 years more... they could do this hack, then put their existing sim card in the iphone and not pay the $175 fee, or have to extend their contract

 

[10th Wonder]

i posted this on the Iphone board and barely got posted on. Plus i took the info from TUAW.com and gave credit to its OP.