Use the Original iPhone as a Wifi iPod

[Rocketman]

VoIP

Apple's only restriction on VoIP is it cannot be used over the cellular network. That protects the higher cost (profit) access method from overuse and unpaid use.

Wifi is such short range that when mobile there is about a 90% chance any call you get would have to connect via cell, but, with a VoIP app installed, you can make your way to a Wifi hot spot when and as practical and switch over to voip to "save minutes".

I believe this is about to change. The premium AT&T plan is already unlimited minutes and in about a year or so that will migrate down to lower priced plans. Within 3-4 years all cell phones will either be unlimited or like those 911 phones, just for occasional light use.

AT&T will still be happy because their subscriber base will have more than doubled and the network will have been fully capital recovered even with increased 3G provisioning.

Rocketman

 

[arn]

I thought if you restored the iPhone it would have to verify activation again??? If not, it will make a great Wi-Fi VOIP Phone with that new app being released.

I emailed Alex King who had done it to his phone last year, and he said he was able to upgrade software versions on his iPhone without it locking again.

arn

 

[Rhalliwell1]

doesn't help.

I don't weather to sell my iPhone and get a new one, or to keep it, or what!??

Adding this to the equation hasn't helped!

*Sigh*

 

[skellener]

So there's an iPhone that does everything with a whomping monthly plan.

There's a iPod touch that does iPod stuff (music, videos, etc.) and internet (browser, email, etc.) with no plan. Now an old iPhone can be made to do this without a contract as well.

So where's the missing device? The iPhone that just does iPod stuff and a phone? I just want my iPod to also be able to answer a call. No texting or data plans or any of that. Music, Videos and a phone. Period.

 

[offwidafairies]

Buy why can't it be used as a phone? If someone paid full price for it they should be able to get it unlocked and used for whatever they want.

Seems unfair to be told that AT&T doesn't want you using the device somewhere else for it's intended purpose.

agreed.

isnt the iPhone going to be unlocked in australia? or am i wrong. or maybe its just that there is no contract...

 

[gkarris]

Does the phone need to have a sim card in it for this functionality?

I wonder how much second hand iPhones will fetch now with this little gem of an idea......!

They've always fetched a great price, since you can unlock the old ones.

The new ones are tons more money as they must be activated before leaving the store.

 

[amusiccale]

Excellent news! I was holding off on an ipod touch for something to replace the functionality of a n800 for Voip. This might be it.

 

[jwpedersen]

RE: activation

I thought if you restored the iPhone it would have to verify activation again??? If not, it will make a great Wi-Fi VOIP Phone with that new app being released.

I have never had service on my unlocked iphone, and use it regularly as a wi-fi ipod. Looking forward to a voip app.

 

[KevanDual2.5]

Am i missing something here?

The original story requires only a one word response....


Here it is...... are you ready for it?


ZiPhone

... The End

 

[bytethese]

Why would I want to do that? Why not just sell/give it to someone who can utilize all the iPhone's functions.

 

[kavika411]

I think it would be interesting (although unlikely) if there were a website somewhere that charts the day-to-day average resale price of a specific 1G iPhone, such as the 8G. Although I may be entirely mistaken, it seems that with each announcement - like this one - that the value of 1G iPhones shifts. I picture something like stock ticker tape. "On news today that non-activated 1G iPhones could still be used - and leaving open the idea of VOIP usage - prices for the iG 8gig iPhone soared to ___!"

Just a thought.

 

[macson]

Why is this even a news?

First, I'm already using my iPhone as an iPod often. I travel a lot these days and I need 3G speed as well as sporadic tethering. iPhone can do neither, so I got a LG CU500 phone and use it with iPhone SIM card. In the mean time, I love listening music or watching movies on my iPhone.

Second, what does AT&T have to do with this announcement? I might see the (slight) point if the announcement came from Apple, but AT&T? We paid full price for the phone, and AT&T has no right to restrict or permit features as long as those don't touch their network. Using iPhone as a wifi ipod is totally out of what AT&T is concerned, and they shouldn't try to disguise themselves as offering something nice while offering none.

 

[lazyrighteye]

"...recording audio..." is mentioned as an iPhone feature?
Besides either A) calling yourself & leaving a voicemail or B) recording a new greeting, exactly how can a never-jailbroken iPhone record audio?

Regardless, this is great news for current iPhone users.
As expected - due largely in fact that the device is almost completely software driven (aka: no buttons) - the original iPhone continues to be an incredibly viable device.

Good. Move. Apple.

 

[ruc2827]

Why is this news?

It has always worked this way, so I'm not sure why this is news.

 

[Sweetbike40]

oh boy. how nice AT&T is allowing people to do what they want with the $600 phone they bought!!!!! it shouldn't even be a question. geeze

 

[Prometheus2000]

All hail to the phone!

At first I was tempted to put my old iPhone into a class cabinet in order show my grandchildren where it all started...

Just jailbreak it, sure 2.0 will be hacked and put in a pay as you go card, or like me sell it to a friend and finance the 3G phone. Or give it to an absolute iPhone hater among your friends to spread some love!

Make iPhones not Wars!...

I guess lots of use are known in the family to pass down old hardware and gadgets, did that for years in with my windows PCs.

 

[mr_matalino]

What if you were to buy a 3G iPhone and sign a contract with ATT and then cancel after 30 days (paying the early termination fee)? What would happen to the iPhone? Wouldn't it still function as a Wi-Fi iPod? And do we know anymore about it's GPS? Does it still work without a cell signal or Wi-Fi on Google maps?

 

[Otaviano]

What fantastic news, after paying for the phone and fulfilling all your contractual obligations you can use the phone for everything but a phone.



This is a load of crap, the phone should be unlocked at that point and you should have the right to sell it to anyone or use it with any service. A bit of disgrace the way we let these companies stick it to us.

 

[Bridge51]

Why not just use a wireless router? Unplug the ethernet cable from the computer, plug it into the router, connect both devices to the wireless, and voila, you have internet.

Anyways, too bad I already bought a touch. I would've liked to have a Wi-Fi iPhone with a camera

I of course have thought about this, but I'm talking about something smaller than a book-sized router. something like a USB key that puts out a small range wireless network, like 20 feet or something. The idea is that I could walk into work with just my jacket and have everything I need to make a phone call.

 

[7on]

I of course have thought about this, but I'm talking about something smaller than a book-sized router. something like a USB key that puts out a small range wireless network, like 20 feet or something. The idea is that I could walk into work with just my jacket and have everything I need to make a phone call.

Airport Express?

But talk to your IT depart. first... After all the security they put up they most likely wouldn't want a WiFi point popping onto the network undoing all their hard work.

 

[Niiro13]

Buy why can't it be used as a phone? If someone paid full price for it they should be able to get it unlocked and used for whatever they want.

Seems unfair to be told that AT&T doesn't want you using the device somewhere else for it's intended purpose.

"If the [original] device is not re-activated as a wireless phone after you’ve upgraded to iPhone 3G, it will still work as an iTunes player and can access Wi-Fi,"

So you can still use it as a phone.

They're just saying that if you upgrade to the iPhone 3G, your current iPhone doesn't get locked back to the emergency call screen.

 

[Otaviano]

"If the [original] device is not re-activated as a wireless phone after you’ve upgraded to iPhone 3G, it will still work as an iTunes player and can access Wi-Fi,"

So you can still use it as a phone.

They're just saying that if you upgrade to the iPhone 3G, your current iPhone doesn't get locked back to the emergency call screen.

But only with AT&T which in my opinion is wrong, you've fulfilled all your obligations and should be able to use that phone with any service you want at that point. I hope someone sues over that, because it stinks!

 

[imwoblin]

Looks like the value of our gen 1 iPhones just got an added boost in value. Slightly off topic, does anyone know for sure if the gen 1 iPhone dock will fit with the gen 2 iphone? Everything I've heard is that they are not compatible. I've got the standard dock, and the Apple bluetooth headset with its dock for both the headset and iphone and if I pull the trigger on the gen 2, looks like I'll have to sell the docks along with the gen 1 iphone and bluetooth headset.

 

[Bevz]

Planning to buy an iPhone 3G next week, so last week i thought of exactly this scenario and removed the SIM in my first gen iphone to see if it was still usable.... It worked perfectly; iPod, Wi-Fi internet; everything worked that didn't need a cellular network.... Not sure what will happen when i try and upgrade the OS, but all looks pretty good so far!

 

[Wolfpup]

The iPod Touch holds no interest for me because it lacks hardware buttons of any sort and a speaker. I assume you can raise and lower playback volume on the iPhone with the side volume controls, and playback audio/video if you want through the internal speaker.

Those two features would make the iPhone a LOT more useful to me than the Touch.