iPhone without the phone?

[jerH]

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Have a question regarding the iPhone 3...I run a lot and have been using the Nike+ GPS app on my iPod touch to track my runs. Since the touch obviously lacks GPS though the Nike+ app becomes less and less accurate as my runs get longer. On 10+ mile runs it's not uncommon for the app to report distances that are off by over a mile. I have no need for an iPhone as a phone, but was considering picking up used one to basically act as an iPod touch with GPS. Are there any issues with trying to use the non-phone functionality if the device is never even activated as a phone? Thanks!

 

[MaxBurn]

I do believe GPS works without a SIM in the phone. Should anyway.

 

[jerH]

Cool...I had seen some other forum posts where people had described issues with trying to do something like this, though they were all with 2g models.

 

[MaxBurn]

Will need an app like tomtom or navfree that has offline maps though.

 

[jerH]

The Nike+ GPS app will handle the mapping...I'm assuming it can download whatever it needs to via wifi...

 

[Hermes Monster]

Don't you need the sim card in to activate it in iTunes? I could be wrong, but I vaguely remember this being the case. Either way, if you're buying the phone, just get a free pay as you go sim card to put in it.

Also, have you tried Run Keeper Pro? I'm not sure how it compares to the Nike+ app as I've never used it, but RKP is excellent.

 

[jerH]

That's my big concern...that a SIM is necessary to get things up and running and might be required everytime you want to update iOS. I'm not all that savvy when it comes to phones...how might I acquire a SIM to use strictly to get things moving?

 

[Hermes Monster]

That's my big concern...that a SIM is necessary to get things up and running and might be required everytime you want to update iOS. I'm not all that savvy when it comes to phones...how might I acquire a SIM to use strictly to get things moving?

which country do you live in?

In the UK any of the networks will send you a free sim card (from their website usually), some even with credit on. I can't confidently say what the state of play is in the US but I would hope they would do they same!

 

[jerH]

I'm in the cosmopolitan metropolis that is Dayton, Ohio so I'm not holding out hope for a vibrant trade in SIM cards! I'm sure I could sort something out though. I'm probably not going to undertake this until the iPhone 5's come out and the prices on old 3's and 3GS's drop as more 4's come on the market.