Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Need an iPhone-like phone without a camera for when at work!

A

AML225

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 11, 2010
192
1
Guys,

The company I am about to start working for does not allow camera phones on the complex. I'm an AT&T user and I need a phone that doesn't have a camera so I can switch my SIM card into that phone while I'm at work and switch back to my iPhone the rest of the time. The alternative would be to get another iPhone (or any phone) and break the camera infront of security but I'd prefer not to do this for warranty reasons. Are there any smart phones without cameras that are compatible with my iPhone service plan? Ideally I'll just pick up the iPhone 5 this summer and break the camera in my iPhone 4 for when I'm at work, but that might be the most expensive option since I'm not due for an upgrade.

I appreciate any suggestions, thanks!
 
Don't think you'll find anything like that. Cameras are pretty much standard now on all smartphones and even most dumb phones have a camera on them. To find a phone without a camera you'd probably have to hit eBay or something and find something super old.
 
You could just get a cheap 2G iPhone and black out the camera with a sharpie or whiteout.
 
I wish someone would make a custom backplate for the iPhone 4 that covered the camera. Who manufactures backplates for the iP4 maybe I can get into contact with them?
 
It will be very, very difficult to find another AT&T phone that meets your needs. The biggest reason is the iPhone 4 uses a micro-SIM card instead of the standard SIM, so there are very few phones you can swap the iPhone SIM into.

Also, very very few smartphones with data plans have no camera nowadays. My friend works at a similar place, and he just leaves his phone in the car while at work.

My best recommendation would be to go to an AT&T corporate store and ask. They may have a Blackberry or something without a camera. Still don't know about the SIM issue though.
 
mikethebigo said:
It will be very, very difficult to find another AT&T phone that meets your needs. The biggest reason is the iPhone 4 uses a micro-SIM card instead of the standard SIM, so there are very few phones you can swap the iPhone SIM into.

Also, very very few smartphones with data plans have no camera nowadays. My friend works at a similar place, and he just leaves his phone in the car while at work.

My best recommendation would be to go to an AT&T corporate store and ask. They may have a Blackberry or something without a camera. Still don't know about the SIM issue though.
Click to expand...


Just buy a micro SIM adapter. I have one (actually, about 5) that I keep in my other phones, and just pop the iPhone 4's SIM into the adapter when using one of my non microSIM using phones. I think I bought 10 for $10 (sold all but 5).
 
No a cheap solution, but what about getting another iPhone 4, or actually a 3GS and removing the camera? No sharpie, getting the camera out of the phone.
 
chris975d said:
Just buy a micro SIM adapter. I have one (actually, about 5) that I keep in my other phones, and just pop the iPhone 4's SIM into the adapter when using one of my non microSIM using phones. I think I bought 10 for $10 (sold all but 5).
Click to expand...

Oh, cool! Didn't know those existed.
 
notor1oustg said:
That's a silly company... Communist!
Click to expand...

I think you'll find that this is standard procedure with most defense contracting companies as well as secure government agencies or any agency dealing with sensitive information or matters of national security.

Communist indeed...
 
Have you looked at the policy in detail? For example, does it actually ban camera phones themselves or just prohibit photography? As silly as it sounds, at one place we were able to achieve compliance by putting a piece of tape over the camera. Also, keep an eye out for someone with a camera phone and ask how they were exempted from the policy.
 
Your employer is well with in it rights to demand you not have a camera on your phone and can and will, fire you if you are caught! These cases have already be found in court and the employer won!:p
 
I'd probably just get a 3GS, have iResQ remove the camera, pick up a MicroSIM adapter and keep your iP4 intact.


...and I'll save "the smartest guy in the world" some trouble and say that if you're handy, I'm sure you could probably remove the camera yourself.
 
I know it's much different than an iPhone, but some BlackBerry models came/still come without cameras. I'm not sure about AT&T, but on Verizon, the Bold, Tour, Curve 8830 all came in non-camera models. Even though it's not an iPhone, at lease you'll have your email and such on hand.
 
You should check your workplace's policy about removing the camera. It may still not be allowed since from their perspective you could always put it back in and take pictures. Everyone knows the iphone has a camera and would be suspicious. Is it worth your job just to have an iphone at work?
 
notjustjay said:
I think you'll find that this is standard procedure with most defense contracting companies as well as secure government agencies or any agency dealing with sensitive information or matters of national security.

Communist indeed...
Click to expand...
Banking and finance industry is pretty similar.
They allow camera phones in the general office areas where I work, but camera phones are off limits if you work in the data center.
They will take it away from you when you pass through the screening area and return it to you when you're ready to leave.

Security will send you home for the day if you get caught with one inside.
If they find any pics of the data center (interior) on your phone, it's bye-bye to your job.

Communist... nope. Just protecting customers info. They don't feel like getting sued for data loss. Never mind the bad rep for losing it in the first place.
 
1.) i would talk to security and get an email saying that blacking out the cameras is good enough

2.) if 1.) doesn't work I would ask security if you buy a 3GS for $100-200 and physically remove the camera if that is good enough. again make sure you have an email of their ok.

3.) if 1.) and 2.) are a no go just buy a dumb phone and switch cards every day

4.) go blackberry without camera

check what the people with company sponsored smartphones use. we in theory are not allowed to have camera phones but since everyone has company paid blackberry's with cameras the ploicy is not enforced at all making it safe to bring your phone in.
 
Here's the policy:

Employees or visitors who have a personal cell phone, IPOD, or PDA with a photographic and/or video capability must be able to demonstrate, or provide evidence, to a representative of Security at an entrance gate or in the Security Compliance Office (Building 210) that the capability(ies) has been disabled or is inoperable. Options for disabling the feature(s) include:
• The unauthorized capability can be disabled by some means (breaking the lens, epoxy over the lens, etc.)
• The capability can be professionally disabled or removed (i.e. by the supplier of the device)
Once inspected and approved, a Security sticker will be applied to the personally owned PED certifying that it may be brought into the facility.
Click to expand...

I completely forgot about the iPhone 4's front facing camera so that's out of the question. I also forgot about the microsim but if need be I'll just buy an adapter.
 
AML225 said:
Here's the policy:



I completely forgot about the iPhone 4's front facing camera so that's out of the question. I also forgot about the microsim but if need be I'll just buy an adapter.
Click to expand...

are you sure you're even allowed to post that policy in a public forum? most of the time company documents are for internal use only and are not suppose to be made public in this way.

either way, a sharpie i suppose could work, but why go through teh trouble of busting up an iphone or another smartphone, you're at work, you shouldn't be on your personal cell phone anyways, except for the occasional emergency phone call. just get a regular phone for that and swap your sim if you want a smart phone for when not at work. why waste money on a phone that you won't be using features of anyways
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back